Creative Strategy - Going Freelance

LIFE AS A FREELANCER

My current concerns:

- gathering a professional reputation and getting work

- knowing how much my work is worth

- knowing how much work to make to meet my clients expectations: process vs. product

- identifying how a non-practice would pan out: 
          WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO BE AN ILLUSTRATOR?

What would be the shape of a working day/ week:

- if home-based; get up and treat the day as if leaving for work

- identify one activity that marks the start and end of the day e.g. walk, answering emails etc

- aim to complete wok during the week, don't rely on weekend as work will expand to the time available

What are your strengths? Practical skills/ management/ people skills etc

- professional communication skills; able to write a thorough and coherent explanation/ proposal

- wide body of practical skills/ different analogue technical competencies; niche skills/ specific skills set

- professional and confident verbal communication skills

What do I need to develop?

- confidence in my own work and its value

- time management and motivation

- commitment to briefs; don't give up

- find passion in my practice without the end goal of being a freelancer; If I do not want to be a freelancer, why is my illustration practice important?

Networking: Contacts who may be useful in the future

- peers (reference/ advice/ collaboration); Hollie Fuller, Lucy Scott
- curators & heritage workers; Elizabeth Llabres, John McGoldrick, Chris Sharp
- library staff (maintaining collection work); Nick Norton
- workshop staff with external practices (teaching opportunities); Mick Welborne
- volunteering & paid archive/ heritage opportunities; Gemma Brown, Jane Kay
- research based practitioners; Amy Goodwin, Andy Gray
- fellow creatives (skills swap/ collaboration/ advice on other contexts); Saul Studio, 
We Are Margot

Where will I be working and what might I need?

- Intent to work in heritage and culture with illustration as side project

LOOK AT - apprenticeships/ training schemes/ residencies

BUY -  library subscription/ print workshop membership/ adobe suite/ high quality, larger scale printer

Developing a support network

- maintain relationship with course mates
- sustain an up to date relationship with tutors and workshops staff to keep in the loop for vacancies/ presentations/ outreach opportunities
- keep going back & keep in touch


TIPS TO REMEMBER

- finish your working day with a set amount of ideas or outcomes  to reflect on, keep consistent goals
- maintain THE HUMAN TOUCH; try a skills swap if you need help, host a workshop, in-person networking
- always remember to follow up on meetings; stay in peoples minds
- appreciate your followers
- DEFEND YOUR CASTLE
- take your budget seriously, be transparent and you will be taken seriously
- maintain clear and consistent T&C's
- BE RELIABLE
- don't be afraid to turn work down