Who is going to TomorrowsWeb conference?

[Excellent2]

Actually I can and do, but not about php because I don't know anyone that is on this forum.

I know only 1 person that's better than me at php and he taught me a large portion of the basic stuff when I was learning.

This forum has a small minority of PHP coders, Jew.

Skajo, I don't get your point about Simon being too young? If someone has the skills that he possesses at the young age of 17, he's set for life. I don't mean to preach Simon's life, but I don't know many people at the age of 16 who have worked for a popular social network? I don't know many people at the age of 16 who have moved out, got a place in a different area, and earn enough to live off. I also don't know many 17 year olds who are self employed..

Does it not occur to you that Greg and Simon will be a success? Between the two of them, they basically made Youmeo what it is, along with a few others. Does it also not occur to you that they have their own house, have a solid investment and have been offered £2k for 1 days work on a site?

Think.

[Awfy]

That's bull and you know it.

How is that bull? I didn't get my contacts by being just another designer, you have to work your ass off for contacts that are worth their weight in gold. Otherwise you're just going to get a million business cards with people who are just the same as you, making them worthless if you want to achieve greatness.

[Skajo]

I'm sorry, but I'm really not sure how you would know about contacts in the real world, interviews, or anything.. when you're (as we call it in the south) probably a "young'n" yourself.

I mean, you're offering advice and criticism, when your main job is an "Event Organiser" on a Habbo fansite.

I don't know how you dare to be honest. I'm not a young'n, I'm 2 days from freedom, Caleb. You're probably younger than me. I have a job - a job that I've had for nearly two years and one I will have for at least a further year.

I'm not offering my advice. If I wish to criticise it then that is my choice, not yours. At least it's constructive and elaborated criticism. Greg, it's a contacts business. You obviously have to have the necessary skills but MANY THOUSANDS of designers do - they don't have contacts, though.

[Awfy]

I don't know how you dare to be honest. I'm not a young'n, I'm 2 days from freedom, Caleb. You're probably younger than me. I have a job - a job that I've had for nearly two years and one I will have for at least a further year.

I'm not offering my advice. If I wish to criticise it then that is my choice, not yours. At least it's constructive and elaborated criticism. Greg, it's a contacts business. You obviously have to have the necessary skills but MANY THOUSANDS of designers do - they don't have contacts, though.

Getting contacts like I have isn't even slightly easy yet you're making it out as if I've just been lucky. 8 years of my life have been invested into the web and after the 7th it started to pay off. There may well be thousands of other designs with the same ability as me however they're not putting the work to get the contacts they need to get places.

You're also forgetting I'm not purely a designer, I'm also heavily focused on ideas and brands. That is what makes myself interesting to people looking to invest in online businesses as it's a characteristic that is potentially worth millions.

[Skajo]

I never said it was easy, all I said is that it is a contacts industry and one that can rely on luck. And you disagreed. Now you're agreeing.

[MrPinkPanther]

On the note of Calum hiring you - no, he wouldn't of. But THOUSANDS of other people probably have on par or above skills than you. That's the problem with this industry - no contacts, nearly no hope. Which is unfortunate.

I totally agree. Its not all about the contacts but they are really really important. I was used to being paid about £10 for a Flash website then suddenly earlier in the month, through a Media Studio that I contribute to, I was offered £500 to create a site which took around 8 Hours. Am I a great website designer? Hell no. Its one of my weakest points and I'd say there are many people on this forum who are better than me. Why did I get it? Because I had the contacts in this Media Studio who referred the people to me.

[Awfy]

I never said it was easy, all I said is that it is a contacts industry and one that can rely on luck. And you disagreed. Now you're agreeing.

I disagreed then agreed with what?

[Skajo]

I disagreed then agreed with what?

The industry is about contacts.

[Awfy]

The industry is about contacts.

I never said it wasn't, all I did was agree with Matt when he said it's not all about contacts. My contacts came to me after my websites started getting popular which then got them press coverage. I then was able to get contacts through those contacts. So to begin with I never had contacts however I had an idea or two which is how I ended up getting my contacts rather than how you put it as "luck".

You have to remember I'm from an area where contacts = 0. The more northern parts of Scotland aren't up with internet trends on the whole such as the southern parts of Scotland and England. So I had to go out on a limb and move away from home to get my career off the ground. It's a big step to take in life but if you want to call it luck then sure...

[Skajo]

I never said it wasn't, all I did was agree with Matt when he said it's not all about contacts. My contacts came to me after my websites started getting popular which then got them press coverage. I then was able to get contacts through those contacts. So to begin with I never had contacts however I had an idea or two which is how I ended up getting my contacts rather than how you put it as "luck".

You have to remember I'm from an area where contacts = 0. The more northern parts of Scotland aren't up with internet trends on the whole such as the southern parts of Scotland and England. So I had to go out on a limb and move away from home to get my career off the ground. It's a big step to take in life but if you want to call it luck then sure...

It just so happens that you knew Calum and he offered you a job; if I have this wrong, which I'm sure I don't, then how did you and Calum cross tracks?