Before I became a full-time freelancer, I worked in various start-ups. They were all kind of terrible. My last job had such an awful environment it was legitimately giving me health issues. So, I quit and here I am several years later!
It’s shaped who I am though. I’ve got a very business/corporate approach to my creative work - not so much with the actual creating, but more with everything around it.
I love having this mindset as I’m able to help others and it really helps me with my work. Friends and creative colleagues know they can rely on me to help them negotiate terms, comb through contracts, give admin and organisational advice, write an entire guide on how to do taxes as a freelancer, and so on.
But I can feel out of place in the creative world and I can get frustrated at my fellow creatives for shooting themselves in the foot on the business side of art.
Sometimes it feels like the sentiment is; the less business savvy you are, the more of a “true” artist you are. You’re farrrr too busy getting in touch with your feelings and focusing on the art to bother with something like money or contracts or copyright! In fact, it’s sooo anti-capitalist to not be good at this business stuff, right?
NO.
Yes, the capitalist system we live in is destroying creativity but let’s not get into that because that’s not the point of this post. This deliberate ignorance in order to retain this notion that you’re a purer artist because of it is bullshit.
We live in the system. We must understand and make the system work for us without depriving ourselves. The more money we make and the better we protect our rights as artists, the better things are for everyone.
No more naivety. No more undercharging because you think you don’t deserve that much money. No more giving these corporations too much license and letting yourself get pushed around because you want to be nice and accommodating.
I want to thrive as a creative freelancer, not just survive. I’m not someone who can go home if it all goes wrong or rely on my parents to bail me out. I’m not cosplaying as a starving artist who took a vow of poverty and thinks making art is a cute hobby. This is my life, my business, my money.
So how do we wise up?
It all comes down to community.
You’ve got to find yours and actively build it. We’ve got to help each other. I’m who I am today because friends and creative colleagues were willing to share experiences, advice and resources. I always try to give back, to uplift others, to freely share what I’ve learnt into the general pool of knowledge. Having someone to just talk to or a group chat you can drop a question in is invaluable. My people have helped push me to negotiate higher, picked up the phone when something felt off and I want to discuss, backed me when organisations weren’t treating me right.
We can’t do this alone.
Build your community and get your papers and systems in order. No more being a chaotic artist when it comes to the business side of your work, save it for creating art. These businesses sometimes count on you being young and ditsy to take advantage of you.
These businesses are not your friends. They are not your employers, they are not your superiors, you are equals entering into business together. Politely advocate for yourself, set clear timelines, boundaries and expectations. And get help whenever you need it.
If you have any thoughts or questions, especially on how to build a community, let me know and I can write another post.
Creative colleagues and friends reading this post - please feel free ask me questions with your freelancing!! I would rather you asked me a million questions than see you get fleeced!
Lots of love, see you all next month!