Launch your freelance instructional design career or propel it into the next stratosphere with our 24-week program.
What the Heck is FEAST?
FEAST stands for "Freelance Empowerment and Advanced Skills Training." It's our brand-new 24-week online program for instructional designers looking to go freelance or boost their existing freelance careers.
Here's what FEAST is.
FEAST is an online program hosted in Kajabi that covers a wide range of topics you actually need to build, run, and grow a freelance instructional design career. The whole shebang was authored internally by the IDLance crew, meaning it was written by people who’ve navigated the messy, sometimes scary, very real world of freelancing themselves.
At the end of the program, you'll walk away with structure, a stronger sense of footing, and resources you can actually deploy in your biz!
Long-form, 24-week virtual program
Weekly live sessions for discussion, questions, and feedback
Practical exercises, tools, and resources
Community-driven, not go-it-alone
A lil' bit silly. Still serious! But a lil' bit silly.
Here's what FEAST is not.
Now that you have a pretty good sense of what FEAST is, it’s only fair we talk about what it isn’t.
Because there’s a lot of… let’s call it "creative marketing"… floating around the internet these days, and we don't want you guys to feel like you're being bamboozled into enrolling in a sketchy “freelancing will solve all your problems” course.
Not a certification program
Not a "make six-figures-overnight by taking this magical course" situation
Not a course on how to become an instructional designer
Not a quick, passive content binge
Not a shortcut to success
Who's FEAST For?
While we try to be inclusive here, FEAST was built with a pretty specific audience in mind. So if you're a freelance brain surgeon, this probably isn't for you. But that's a pretty rad niche you've got there. Or is it alarming? We're not sure.
Here's who will benefit most from FEAST:
Instructional designers plotting a freelance escape plan
Freelancers tired of winging literally everything
Talented designers who secretly hate “selling themselves”
People who hate hustle-culture nonsense
People who learn better alongside other people
Outerspace-enthusiasts and silly gooses
What Will We Cover?
Use the drop-down menu below to check out what topics we'll be covering over all 24 weeks of FEAST. This is a good way to determine if the program is a fit for you or if you're too big of a hotshot to need it.
Before you blast off, we’ll help you set clear goals, get your money right, sketch out a sustainable weekly schedule, and start treating your freelance work like the real business it is.
This week is all about figuring out what makes you wildly, wonderfully hireable. We’ll help you spot the strengths hiding in plain sight and start shaping the niche that sets you apart.
In this lesson, you’ll identify the sweet spot where your strengths, values, and client demand overlap, and turn it into a niche you can actually build a business around.
This week is all about vision and mission statements and how they help you make better choices, attract the right clients, and remind you why you started this whole adventure in the first place!
Welcome to Brand Camp! We'll help you shape your freelance identity with a name, look, and vibe that feel authentic. You’ll leave with a starter brand that’s memorable and client-ready.
In this module, you’ll polish up your LinkedIn profile, build (or upgrade) your portfolio, and start shining a clear signal about who you are and what you do.
Learn how to set up your freelance business without totally freaking out. We'll cover registration, taxes, and tools so you can run things like a pro.
Freelance insurance may be boring, but it’s a must. This lesson breaks it down so you can protect your biz and get back to the fun stuff! Well, kind of fun, stuff.
Learn how to grow your LinkedIn network the right way, build real connections, share content that fits your brand, and create a simple posting plan that keeps you visible without going cuckoo bananas.
It’s time to track down those elusive gigs! Explore six rings of opportunity, practice real outreach, and build a system that keeps new projects steadily coming your way.
Learn how to build a sales funnel that actually fits you! No sleazy tactics, no jargon. Just a clear, human system that turns curiosity into conversations and conversations into paid work, baby!
This week is all about putting real numbers behind your work—how to price your services, choose the right pricing model, scope projects with confidence, and set up invoices that actually get you paid!
Discovery calls don’t have to be painful or salesy. We’ll break down how to lead a discovery call with confidence, ask better questions, spot scope issues early, and walk away with clear next steps!
A client said yes. Amazing! Now what? This module covers how to handle the moment after the yes, including all the relevant paperwork, so you can lead the process with clarity and confidence instead of rushing or guessing.
This module is about getting your process out of your head and into a reusable onboarding system, so new projects feel organized, intentional, and way less stressful from day one.
This week is about juggling multiple projects without losing your ever-loving mind. You’ll learn how to prioritize, communicate timelines clearly, protect deep work, and build a system that keeps your business’s engine running.
Not every client is sunshine and rainbows! Shocking, we know. We’ll walk through the most common types of tricky clients, how to handle scope creep, and how to receive and give feedback without crying.
Freelancers who stay booked aren’t getting by on talent alone. They’re reliable, clear, and easy to work with. This week focuses on small touches that build loyalty and repeat business without overextending yourself.
Ready to step out from behind your laptop? Ok, brave guy! This module covers how to show up at conferences (virtually or in-person), network without feeling gross, and turn real-world connections into real opportunities.
The industry evolves. So should you! Learn how to identify skill gaps, choose smart upskilling paths, refresh your portfolio strategically, and make sure your work reflects where you’re actually headed.
Thinking about subcontracting? Offering retainers? Shifting into consulting? This week explores how to scale intentionally so your business grows instead of staying in the same spot.
Bummer news…sometimes money gets tight in the freelance game. This module is about preparing for those moments. We’ll cover financial buffers, diversified income streams, and mindset shifts that help you stay steady when work slows down.
This is the part most freelance “success stories” conveniently skip. The dry spells. The awkward moments. The self-doubt. The loneliness. The irritable bowel syndrome. We’ll share the real stuff so you don’t feel like you’re the only one figuring it out in the dark.
In this final module, we take a step back and look at the big picture. You’ll assess where the industry is headed, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and create a simple strategy to keep your biz aligned with what’s next. This is the grand finale, folks. Try not to cry. We’ll miss you, too.
Take a Look Inside FEAST
No one wants to buy the milk before they… sample the cow? That can’t be right. You know what we mean! You should see what you’re getting before you commit. So take a look inside Module 11, "How to Build a Sales Funnel!"
"IDLance is a living, breathing example that making a living as a freelance ID is not only possible but fun. And it’s such a friendly, welcoming, and supportive space. They're always there to celebrate your wins and lift you up when things get tough."
-very kind community member
Enrollment
So when does this thing open for enrollment?
Soon.
We’re putting the final touches on FEAST to make sure it’s actually ready for liftoff. Enrollment will be open to anyone who wants in, no application process or secret handshake involved, but it will only be available for a limited window.
Dates are landing soon. Add your name to the Launch List below, and we’ll notify you the moment the hatch opens!
Plus, we gotta make sure we clear all the aliens out of the space station before you guys come aboard. They molt. Like, a lot.
"Everyone working at IDLance brings so much joy and enthusiasm into the space; it's hard not to feel welcomed and immensely grateful. I really feel as if I'm part of an IRL freelance ID club!"
-positively lovely community member
Frequently Asked Questions
OK, fine. No one's been asking us these questions "frequently." Let's call it "sporadically." But if you’re considering FEAST, there are probably a few things you want to know!
FEAST follows a structured 24-week schedule. Content will be released weekly (drip-style), so you move through the material together as a cohort.
There will also be weekly live sessions designed to support that week’s module. You’ll get the most out of FEAST by staying on pace so you can participate fully in those conversations.
We’re finalizing pricing and will share full details when enrollment opens. We know, not an ideal answer. Our goal is to price FEAST in a way that reflects both the depth of the program and the current economic environment. That said, you can expect the price to be grounded in reality. We’re not launching a yacht club. YET.
Then you’re human! Congrats!
The program is structured week-by-week to keep you moving forward, but it’s not a boot camp. If you fall behind, you can catch up.
We care more about you building something sustainable than checking every box on schedule.
If you miss a live session, you won’t be exiled from the space station. Replays will be available so you can catch up.
Everyone learns at a different pace, but we'd say to plan for a few (3-4) focused hours per week to move through the module, complete the field assignment, and attend the live session. Some weeks will be more reflective while others will be more tactical.
FEAST is led by Andrea Dottling and Dr. Parker Grant, Co-Head Honchos at IDLance, with Meghan Traynor, our Director of Marketing, popping in here and there. We’ll also bring in a few special guests to share real-world perspective and lived experience from inside the industry.
Fair question! We’ve spent the last six years building IDLance around real relationships and honest-but-kind support to our large community of freelance instructional designers. We work with freelancers daily, so we see what succeeds, what stalls, and where people get stuck. Along the way, we’ve partnered with teams at organizations like Zoom, GE, Etsy, and HP, which means we’ve seen both sides of the freelance equation.
Plus, we're all freelancers ourselves. We've been in your shoes!
When we were first starting out, we couldn’t find the kind of support we actually needed. Most of what we saw felt gate-keepy, overly serious, or weirdly cold. It was either vague hustle advice or high-ticket mastermind stuff with a velvet rope.
So we built the thing we wish we’d had.
Nope!
There’s no application process or approval committee. When enrollment opens (date TBD), it will be open to anyone who wants in.
The only requirement is that you’re ready to treat your freelance work like a real business.
Both, but for different reasons.
If you’re newer, FEAST gives you structure and a roadmap so you don’t spend two years figuring things out the hard way.
If you’re experienced, it helps you tighten systems, refine positioning, raise your rates confidently, and future-proof things a bit better.
We’re not promising passive income or six-figure windfalls. Sorry!
FEAST is practical, structured, and slightly weird. It's also built specifically for freelance instructional designers, so the program speaks directly to the type of work you actually do.
If you dig this page, you'll probably dig the vibe of FEAST.
Nope!
You’ll retain access to the course materials after the live cohort experience ends. The 24-week structure is there to give you momentum and community. But the lessons, frameworks, and resources are yours to revisit whenever you need them.
That would be a bummer!
FEAST is designed as a cohort experience with weekly live sessions and drip content, which means enrollment is final once the program starts. We want you to feel confident before you join. So, take your time and feel free to ask us questions. If it feels like a fit, we’ll be excited to have you. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too!
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