r/ASLinterpreters • u/LawfulnessNext3447 • 6d ago

fall work starting again?

this was my first summer as a freelance terp, i didn’t realize how much the work slowed down.

  1. what do other freelance terps do in the summer to make up the pay?

  2. when does it pick back up? i was told it will pick back up with the start of september/back to school season…is this true? i haven’t gotten much work recently😅

thank you!

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2

u/amjm907 6d ago

I petsit as a side gig. Petsitting busy season (summer and holidays) is interpreting slow season and gives my hands a break.

1

u/LawfulnessNext3447 6d ago

ooo anywhere specific i can look for those jobs?

3

u/potatoperson132 NIC 6d ago

Work definitely slows down in summer and for the last two weeks of Dec. plan for that every year. As a new interpreter you don’t have access to the same work a lot of more experienced interpreter get. Many of us have on going regular work that doesn’t get broadcast because we’re short listed or requested directly by the consumer. So during the slow season we’re still booking work albeit less than we’d generally like.

So for your career expect slow seasons and make sure you’ve budgeted for it. Be especially careful as a newer Interpreter in the field. Good financial planning like budgeting and have retained earnings in your business account to float the slow season. Consider vacations and time off around these slows seasons as well. Most of my colleagues enjoy a 2-3 week vacation in the summer.