Starting Your FREEELANCE CAREER?
Starting Your FREEELANCE CAREER?
The TOP THINGS to remember to HELP YOU on your way!
Maybe you’re just starting, fresh out of school, or perhaps you’re looking at a career pivot. Either way, there are few things to keep in mind when considering taking on the mantle of FREELANCE ARTIST!
If you’ve seen our video on STARTING YOUR FREELANCE CAREER, then some of the concepts below will resonate for you. If not, check it out and then read on. We also have a handy PDF for you to refer back to any time along your freelance journey.
STARTING OUT
STAY IN TOUCH with former classmates, colleagues, and associates you’ve met through your various endeavors. You never know where everyone will end up.
GETTING ON STAFF is a great way for creatives starting out but also for freelancers who want to dip their toes back into the water to expand their NETWORK as well as LEVEL UP THEIR SKILLS.
MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS in your working world. People can see through the veil of job-hopping and level-jumping, but they also appreciate and remember people who are genuinely kind, skilled, and enthusiastic.
GET IT IN WRITING when it comes to any deal, work, or work order. Avoid signing contracts that haven’t been signed by the other party yet. If you want changes or addendums, request them before signing until both parties are comfortable. BETTER YET have a lawyer look over any contract that is unclear. Ask for pricing.
WHEN YOU STOP LEARNING it’s time to MOVE ON. This is great when you’re first starting out or anyone whose career and ambition are still growing. You may have goals for the type of work you’d like to do in the future but feel like you’re stagnating. It’s okay to request a change within a company or to leave to find what you need.
STAFF POSITIONS CAN HELP teach you how to LISTEN, WORK WITH OTHERS, and how to be a VALUED MEMBER OF A TEAM. But it can also help you be ADAPTABLE to a LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.
STAFF POSITIONS CAN HELP YOUR FREELANCE CAREER. They can show you the ins-and-outs of the industry you’d like to continue working in. They can help you learn how to SCHEDULE tasks and ESTIMATE task durations.
AGILITY IS IMPORTANT for the Freelancer. Whether it’s staying on top of the latest tools, or bouncing between different projects, you need to stay on your toes. It can be important too when work dries up for too long and you need to jump back on staff. The vice versa is true, too. ALWAYS. BE. PREPARED.
TOOLS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
GET YOUR PORTFOLIO together and maximize your ONLINE REAL ESTATE. If you have a WEBSITE keep it SIMPLE & DIRECT. Share it on SOCIAL MEDIA sites and update as often as necessary.
Behance | Artstation | Instagram | Wix | etc.
MAKE SURE THE ART IS DOWNLOADABLE especially from your website as Art Directors, Editors and Art Buyers tend to share it with their teams.
RECOGNIZE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND. What is it that you do that is both UNIQUE and the BEST YOU CAN DO? Lean into that as you improve on your other skills.
MAKE YOUR NAME & CONTACT INFO CLEAR & EASY to get to and on all your artwork.
YOUR RESUME SHOULD BE UP-TO-DATE & EASILY ACCESSIBLE. One sound practice is to update your resume as soon as you start a new job with all pertinent information. It’s the last thing you want to think about when you decide to move on.
GETTING AND MAINTAINING WORKFLOW
JOIN COMMUNITIES in both REAL LIFE and ONLINE.
LinkedIn | Discord | Local Agency User Groups | Facebook | etc.
ATTEND TRADESHOWS and CONFERENCES to meet peers and potential Art Directors.
Lightbox | Trojan Horse is a Unicorn | CTN | FanExpo | Siggraph
START a SUBSTACK and WRITE ARTICLES on LINKEDIN or MEDIUM. By sharing your insights and observations, your reach can be wider and gain you some level of respect.
EASIER to hire SOMEONE YOU KNOW than a total STRANGER.
SELF-PROMOTION through DIRECT MAIL is a great ALTERNATIVE TO EMAILING.
TIMING & LUCK have a lot to do with getting work. By getting out to mixers and organized gatherings your luck increases exponential. Being ACCESSIBLE and EASY TO CONTACT also increases your Luck.
COLD CALLING studios to find out who the Art Director or Hiring Manager is helps when it comes to direct mail Self-Promotion or to set up meetings at Trade Shows.
THINK OUT of the BOX and MAKE YOUR BEST CREATIVE IMPRESSION
SIGN-UP ON LA411 and IMDB PRO to get access to studios and film companies addresses and phone numbers. This will help mainly in the areas of film, television, and streaming.
START AN LLC as this is a way to not only protect your personal assets but can better serve you as a preferred vendor for larger companies. Information can be found at places like LEGALZOOM or a local lawyer who can also potentially help you with contracts.
APPROACH ARTIST REPS whether in Storyboards or Illustration. SUBMIT CONSISTENT SAMPLES of your work. Remember they can take anywhere from 10-25% of your earnings, so make sure you understand that before signing on with them.
ART REPS will feed you work, but they will take a larger percentage. If you get YOUR OWN CLIENTS outside of the ART REPS referral system, then you keep what you make.
IF A CLIENT has used your REP to get to you initially, then ALWAYS REFER them back to your REP.
DON”T BRING THEM YOUR CLIENTS. You found them, you keep them separate. Just make sure you clearly manage your schedule to the work you take on.
IF you’re lucky enough to be in the ART DIRECTOR’S GUILD the max a REP can take is 10%.
SETTING SIGHTS ON YOUR FUTURE
KNOW YOUR EXPENDITURES so that you can better understand HOW MUCH YOU NEED TO MAKE.
HAVE THREE MONTHS of SAVINGS to cover your costs during dry spells.
START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT as soon as you are able. The earlier the better.
MAXIMIZE YOUR 401K if you work at a staff job OR sign up for PERSONAL 401K through a financial manager and MAXIMIZE that.
SET-UP an AUTO-DRAFT that can go directly into a ROTH IRA.
INSURANCE is a must. YOU are YOUR BUSINESS. You need to take care of yourself.
IF you JOIN the UNION they do have HEALTH BENEFITS.
There are small companies that provide INSURANCE for GIG WORKERS.
MAINTAIN HEALTHY LIFE & WORK BALANCE to keep things enjoyable.
FREELANCE offers VARIETY OF PROJECTS with a QUICK TURNAROUND.
ALWAYS. BE. HUSTLING. if you want to maintain a constant workflow.
Doing WELL FOR YOUR CLIENTS will help with REFERRALS.
PASSIVE INCOME is a way to supplement your earnings through selling Stickers, T-shirts, Artwork, etc.
ETSY | Big Cartel | EBAY | Gumroad | Patreon | Ko-Fi | etc.
THE BENEFITS OF FREELANCE
SCHEDULE your WORK AROUND LIFE and not the other way around.
FREELANCE gives you the FREEDOM to CREATE YOUR OWN SCHEDULE.
FLEXIBILITY in your schedule is great!
If you can LIVE WITH UNCERTAINTY and have the discipline to find and maintain regular work, it really can be key to a successful, self-made career.
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=BTP=