Out of the office
Issue #35
Freelancers embrace shared space
By Jobana Soto
Published: March 1st, 2008 | 3:04pm
Self-employment can be a lonely enterprise. Working from home in your jammies is not always the most productive atmosphere, especially if you like human contact during your coffee break. Your cat may be comforting, but she’s unable to answer your questions about HTML. Plus, it’s sometimes difficult to concentrate in your own digs. “I worked at home for about a month but found it too distracting,” says Kurt Smith, a freelance application scientist. “I didn’t like the feeling of being in my apartment all day.” For freelancers like Smith, the growing trend of shared workspace may be the ticket.
Amit Gupta started Jelly in New York for laptop-loving freelancers in 2006. Jelly (workatjelly.com) is an open congregation of freelancers who assemble twice a month at members’ apartments. Participating is as simple as signing up on a wiki mailing list, and freelancers of all walks of life are welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Jelly inspired freelancer Alex Hillman to start Cream Cheese (indyhall.org), a co-working group in Philadelphia. Cream Cheese gets in the group spirit at local coffee shops without being, well, cheesy.
West Coasters Tara Hunt and Chris Messina have set up a more concrete co-working atmosphere for San Francisco freelancers. In 2006 the duo transformed a musty office space into Citizen Space (citizenspace.us). The 1,350–square foot studio is free for everyone and offers sitting space, wi-fi, coffee, books, and good company (drop-ins should call in advance). “It’s convenient to be able to drop in and soak up the ambiance, see what's going on, and get connected,” says Raines Cohen, a freelance planner for sustainable communities, who’s particularly fond of video editing parties. “I like to help somebody solve a problem and maybe learn something myself.”
Those interested in Citizen Space’s additional amenities — a private desk, access to boardrooms and lounges, space for special events, office supplies and equipment, snacks, and 24-hour access — pay a monthly membership fee that ranges from $250 to $350 per month. Smith, a paying member, says Citizen Space’s benefits far outweigh the monthly fee because he likes having a place to work, away from home, that’s still his own space, as opposed to a café or library. “I can leave things overnight and step away from my laptop without having to worry about it being stolen,” he says. “I also like seeing the people here on a daily basis and having a structured work setting.”
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If you’re wondering if a co-working group has sprouted in your area, visit the online co-working community at coworking.pbwiki.com — or get into the DIY spirit and start your own.
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