Related question: I recently left my previous job and am now looking for consulting work. I have never done consulting before. I have RoR / Ruby / machine learning / startup experience. How should I go about finding clients?
http://jobs.rubynow.com http://jobs.37signals.com http://bostonrb.org/jobs
If you also just google "rails jobs" you'll find the other useful rails job sites out there.
The best way to find work, however, is to build your network. One of the best clients I had was referred to me by a fellow I happened to have lunch with when I was in NYC for a couple weeks. Another of my best clients was referred to me by a friend. Where are you located, btw?
Another way to find work is to find other web development companies and just email them asking if they need help. I've found work this way as well, and have had more success contacting local companies.
edit: One thing that helped a lot was I developed a rails tool (Palmist, http://www.flyingmachinestudios.com/projects/) , then I gave a presentation on it at the Boston ruby group. Since then, many interviewers have perked up when I mentioned it because they had either seen it or used it.
Hope this helps!
I've actually seen a fairly steady number of job postings the past couple of months (it's always been a somewhat low volume jobs board -- 3-5 new posts per week, I'd guess -- but the volume hasn't dropped off).
I don't think you have to push your RoR experience, since many business owners won't get it.
Find out what problems business owners are having and offers suggestions to solve it, even if it's doesn't include your services.
Exactly, business and dating have more parallels than people like to admit, it all comes down to forming relationships.
Numbers are good, first impressions are better, and solid performance are best. Once you have a track record it is a lot easier, because woman .. err .. businesses always want the guy everyone else has.
Being spread across a few clients lessens your risk a great deal, but it shouldn't become unmanageable to keep in touch with all of them.
[Edit] I should have said - couldn't agree more about the conferences. Whether full on conferences or more community driven events like BarCamps, they're a great place to meet very good contacts.
I currently have a F/T job at a bay-area startup (which I don't want to leave), but am extremely interested in supplementing my income with some consulting/contract gigs.
Craigslist used to work wonders for me.
I did a bit of consulting years ago, for another software shop --- I think the general rule is network in the area that your customers are going to be.
If you need a Rails consultant, contact me. :) http://andrewcantino.com