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How to make a living in Europe...

C.H.Haskell

C.H.Haskell

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Greetings Comrades...

Some heavy changes happening in my life at the moment and while business with RED in NYC could not be better, I am considering Europe. I suppose this thread focuses on the European REdusers for advice but my main concerns are...

1. Is there a demand for RED owner/operator expertise in your part of the world, if so where?

2. Is it hard to get work in the EU as an American citizen, I know it differs from country to country but if I packed up my bags today and headed to Amsterdam for example, would I be able to work freelance as I do in NYC and survive?

3. Is it possible or very hard to obtain residency as American looking to live and work in the EU?

I love my country and all, just looking to get for a while...I plan to set up shop here in NYC so I will always have a place to hang my hat when I get home.

As I mentioned above I am focusing on Amsterdam so if you have business there and looking for another RED well then please PM.

Thanks for any and all advise.

Cheers.

Clayton Haskell
 
In all seriousness, hope all is well and if you do move, I hope you land some good gigs overseas. Traveling abroad is a good thing to do while you can.
 
immigration for freelance work is no easy task since most work visas get applied through a multinational corporation. Hire an immigration lawyer in the country you wish to immigrate to and formulate a plan. Options can range from journalist visa to artist visa to investor visa... But you must deal with it. You can't simply move to a country and set up shop unless you have a European passport. Be prepared for this process to take several months and cost you several thousand dollars every 2-3 years. Same thing here in the us. I moved here from europe 10 years ago and it's still a pain in my neck.
 
florianstadler.com said:
immigration for freelance work is no easy task since most work visas get applied through a multinational corporation. Hire an immigration lawyer in the country you wish to immigrate to and formulate a plan. Options can range from journalist visa to artist visa to investor visa... But you must deal with it. You can't simply move to a country and set up shop unless you have a European passport. Be prepared for this process to take several months and cost you several thousand dollars every 2-3 years. Same thing here in the us. I moved here from europe 10 years ago and it's still a pain in my neck.
Click to expand...

Has it been worth it?
 
Haha...I dont know that I am running from anything yet Steve! I would be crazy to leave now since I am getting about 5 calls a week for RED, I just
hope I can continue scoring work abroad. NYC market is demanding at the moment, so my game plan is to save up some green and then journey.

Thanks for sharing your advice and experience Florian.
 
I've often contemplated the possibility of moving to Europe-to France, specifically. It is kinda risky. Imagine getting there and finding yourself spending your last dime without landing a stable means of survival doing what you love to do. But man, I'd love to live there for a while. But who am I kidding, in reality, my ulterior motive are the women...lol I'm obsessed with them, hehehe I can't believe I spent all those years in college majoring in French literature and have yet to visit Paris...lol
 
Been there. Done that. Albeit some time ago. All I can say is this, it's perfectly doable. If I could do it again, I would... in a heartbeat. But it's probably harder now than it was back when I did it. It all depends on how you play it. There is always a way, no doubt.

At any rate... good luck, Clay!
 
I have been considering France, Spain, Holland and Germany mainly cause these locations I have some connection or leads in. Thanks for the PMs and feedback, many valid points have been expressed that I am strongly considering before making any decision.

NYC took serious dedication in order to break into the market and I would hate to bail just when I become stable. Really a potential partnership or business venture could expedite my flirting with the european market.
 
I'm also considering a move to the EU. I am from England originally, so I have the advantage of an EU passport.

One suggestion, look into working for a US company while you are there, even if it is your own company. I don't know the rules, but I have a friend that lived in Paris for 5 years and was paid by a US company the entire time. Perhaps if you can bill through a US corporation, you can make it work? Good luck!
 
Don't do it.
Go to Texas or Alberta
We are complaining that gas is expensive at $4/gallon?!
What about $12/gallon in UK and $10 in Switzerland.
 
You know, I just spent about a year living in Europe working on a project (with a temporary work visa) and it was pretty nice, but to be honest, there are a lot of Europeans there...
Rob Gardner
 
Really? Let me check [goes to window and comes back]. Jeeze, you were right! The place is crawling with Americans, just crawling with them! They are everywhere. SUV driving, flag-pin wearing, overweight bellies, country music playing, jingoistic attitudes... But you know, you still have to love them...

Or maybe you don't...
Rob Gardner
 
There is a saying that if you can’t make it in NY you won’t make it anywhere.
But talking to many friends about it, if you can’t make it well in a city, change the city, change the environment. If you are at the top and you change something, you have good chance to end up at the average level, so don’t do it.
If you are near the bottom, if you change everything in your life, then you have good chance to end on the average level, so do it.
If you feel like American, stay in America, just change the City. Pick the city that is booming or it is easy to do business that you are good in. If you are in high-tech go to high-tech cities, if you are in movies go to ....you know where.

Problem is that you will lose 5 years for each change-experiment like this before you know if it works for you.
 
Haskell said:
Greetings Comrades...

Some heavy changes happening in my life at the moment and while business with RED in NYC could not be better, I am considering Europe.
Click to expand...

Another dude with another untold personal story is looking to stay here.
Good luck.
 
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