Networking can be hella awkward, especially for artists and creatives. You may despise even the idea of taking time away from creating to get out and network, but it's extremely important! Networking is one of the BEST ways to build up a client base that actually wants to follow and interact with you - not to mention give you their business! Networking can also allow you more opportunities to connect and collaborate with other creative minds, open new doors within your chosen career path and allow you to brainstorm ideas for expanding your reach as an artist with others like you! Did you know that 50% of jobs are found through traditional networking methods?? It might be time to get out of that studio for a bit and meet some new people! Don't worry, it's not as stressful as it may seem (I promise!!). A little practice implementing the tips below will have you networking like pro in no time! According to Format.com's latest guide to Networking for Artists & Creators, not only is networking important but you shouldn't have to be stressed out about it! I am including 10 tips from their guide below and you can read more about each tip (along with even more great information) in their full article here! 1. Don't go into it Expecting Immediate Opportunities - Networking is about the long-run. When meeting new people, the idea is to build up the creative network around you and then hear about opportunities organically through your connections. You don't have to make a sale or score a commission the same day you go out to a networking event!
2. Treat it like Making Friends - Be genuine and interested in other people's work. You don't have to talk exclusively about work, yours or theirs - instead focus on getting to know them and create an authentic connection, just like you would if you were making a new friend! 3. Talk to Everyone - If you are a photographer, don't just talk to photographers- the same goes for artists, makers, etc. The key is to BRANCH OUT! Try making contacts in other industries with other interests. This can allow you to find out about opportunities you may not have found out about otherwise! As an artist or photographer, getting to know the owner of your local yoga studio or coffee shop might mean they think of you first when they need a new mural on their wall or new photos for their website. 4. Ace your Online Portfolio - Be sure that your website or online portfolio is clean, curated to your client base and up to date! People need to be able to find you and you will want to be putting your best foot forward when they do! Watch for broken or outdated links, old information or missing information! 5. Master your Elevator Pitch - An elevator pitch can be described as a 30-second explanation of what you do and what makes you, and your work, unique. In order to do this you need to know who you are marketing to (your target audience) as well as what makes your work special and interesting. Once you have crafted a pitch, try it out in the mirror or maybe in front a friend or family member to build confidence and get feedback! 6. Update those business cards - You don't want to be caught searching for a scrap of paper and a pen to write down your information (we have all been there at one time or another!). Be sure to have professional, up to date business cards that clearly showcase you, your work and your brand identity. Vistaprint, Moo and Canva are all great tools for creating new business card designs. Also, be sure to keep a few cards in your car, wallet, bag, etc. to ensure you are never caught without them! 7. Check how you present yourself - Body language, facial expressions and tone say a lot about you- not to mention what you actually SAY. It may be helpful to role-play with a friend and get feedback on these things before heading out to an event. The more you practice casual networking with people in your community (your hairdresser, barista, fitness instructor, chiropractor, etc.) the easier this will become. 8. Don't limit it to offline networking - In person meet ups are crucial but you can still do some networking from your home or studio on social media. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin all offer great opportunities to join groups and network with other professionals both in and outside of your creative discipline. 9. Follow up and remember the details - Don't hesitate to follow up with people you met at an in-person event! Be sure to reach out while they are fresh in your memory, re-introduce yourself, mention where you met and try and include something specific from your conversation with them. 10. Ask to meet in person - Follow up emails are great, but asking to meet up for a one on one chat is even better; this can help ensure that you keep in touch and maintain a true, lasting connection! If you would like to learn more about each of these tips, need help putting together a follow up email or approaching the subject of meeting up in person with your networking connections, be sure to check out Format.com's full guide for prompts and ideas! Just remember that Networking doesn't have to be stressful! It can be very enjoyable meeting and working with other creative minded people. It can also open new doors and offer new opportunities for you and your work! So, take a deep breath, keep those positive mantras flowing and get out there!!! Be sure to give me a follow if you would like to stay up to date with my latest blog posts!
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How do you manage your work-life balance? (or do you??)
It's Monday again... what does Monday look like for you? If you are an independent contractor, freelancer, artist, maker or small business owner it probably doesn't involve waking up and commuting to a 9-5 job. Our hours and "work weeks" can change at the drop of a hat and keep us on our toes- or knock us on our butts! Don't get me wrong, I love having the flexibility of working for myself BUT I do sometimes miss being able to turn "off" once the clock hits 5 pm... it somehow made the idea of work-life balance a reality that can seem out of reach as a freelance photographer and maker. Instead of trying to "do it all" and achieve balance (I am telling you right now I will not be able to help you do that...) my biggest piece of advice is to prioritize. Achieving a real sense of balance involves learning to make choices that resonate with who you are, what you want for your life, and be at peace with them. Since leaving my 9-5, I have still had the desire to book more work during weekday hours. With this in mind, I decided to design my branding photography sessions to be more affordable if booked at times that make my life a little easier (weekday hours between rush hour times). If a client books me between 10am and 4pm, Monday through Friday, my pricing starts at $100/hour BUT If they need me outside of those hours or on weekends the base cost is doubled to $200/hour. I do this because my husband and I decided early on that our time together was too precious to take for granted. Afternoons and weekends are often the only time we have to spend together and we prioritize that time. SO... that being said, if you need me on "our" time, it is going to cost you a little more, but for me, it is worth the extra charge to have that time set as priority. I asked a few other local artists and freelancers about their strategies for maintaining a work-life balance and here is the feedback I got. I hope this advice is helpful (or that is at least gives you a good laugh this Monday morning!) 1. When Work = Life. If you LOVE what you do, you may have no desire to separate work from life... If you work in a creative field you may see your life as part of your "work", finding inspiration and opportunities to learn and grow with each new day. If you feel this way about your professional activity, maybe it's time to find ways to focus more on what you enjoy rather than compartmentalizing your work. If you are caught up in paperwork, blogging, social media, networking and administrative duties instead of your craft maybe it is time to look into adding to your support team. Outsourcing is no longer just for big corporate companies. Look into new apps and software that can help you streamline your behind the scenes needs, there are SO many options out there that you are bound to find affordable ways to take a few things off of your plate and get back to making creative magic! Maybe adding a few freelancers to your support team like social media specialists, photographers, brand specialists, tax consultants, etc. It may mean taking a hard look at your budget but if it allows you to spend more time doing what you love, it might be worth making some changes elsewhere in your life. 2. It is OKAY to say NO. How much time and energy to you spend dealing with people, activities or even clients that add little to no value to your life or your creative career? Do you say YES to any job or project proposal because you feel like you need the money? Sometimes it is worth taking a little more time to think about whether you REALLY want to do something before you say yes. We all have personal boundaries and it is important to have professional boundaries as well. Feeling like you have a choice is so very important! Learning that is is okay to say no and take a step back, focus on yourself and the projects that bring you joy and improve your overall well being. Is that client who wants to beat you down on your pricing and then demand the world REALLY worth the money?? Or could that time better be spent focusing on your marketing to find clients who will see the true value in your work? "When you’re new and thirsty, you’re gonna get yourself in bad business relationships. Instead of getting really upset during the project, just don’t bother with it. Learn how to read people better. That may require you to take on some boring jobs as opposed to dream jobs." - Artist, Atlanta GA 3. Practice Self Care. A self care routine can be difficult to implement if you are a creative workaholic... we get so wrapped up in the all or nothing mindset and focus on the endless to do lists that we stop being kind to ourselves (often when we nee it the most). When we get overwhelmed and feel like we aren't getting enough done, we tend to be even harder on ourselves, creating a negative spiral. learning to prioritize self-care can give us momentum and confidence to recharge and move forward in a positive way. There are SO many ways to practice self care that I can ASSURE you there is something that will fit into your life and help you begin your own self care routine. I have listed a few ideas below! Stretching. Creating vision boards. Spending more time with family and friends. Meditation. Yoga. Walking & Jogging. Exercise (weight lifting, Youtube Videos, etc.). Tidying up your space. Going out of your way to be kind to others. Prioritizing your time and setting goals for yourself. Take naps and prioritize a sleep schedule as often as you can. Unplug for a few minutes, hours or even a full day. Journaling. Writing hand written notes to family and friends. Organizing your space. Volunteering for a local charity. Getting outside. Finding a Chiropractor, Massage therapist or Acupuncturist. "I practice taking care of my hands; decades of making things have rendered them super sensitive, so I vary my activities quite a bit to avoid soreness." - Susan Lightcap, Artist, Atlanta GA 4. Don't Force it. Creative Blocks are real and forcing yourself to try and create when you aren't inspired can lead to more stress and frustrations and cause you to work longer and harder than necessary. Take breaks, get outside, grab some coffee, do some meditation or exercise and come back after you've had some time to let your brain take a break! Often creative blocks can stem from not taking care of our physical and mental health. When our bodies and brains are tired, they are not going to be functioning on a level that allows us to make that creative magic! If you look up how to beat creative blocks, you will see many of the same ideas listed above in my #3 tip. Exploring, developing and practicing a self care routine that works for us and fits into our lives is paramount to being a successful creative entrepreneur (especially one that's juggling a family and maybe a full time job too). The simple self care rituals that I do on a regular basis - ok, I will admit it is more like "semi-regular" basis include drinking lots of water, taking high quality pro bionics eating as healthy as possible- lots of fresh fruit and green veggie smoothies when I'm on the run and granola bars hidden in my car and travel bags. I also stretch as often as possible- at least 3-4 times a week and see a chiropractor on a monthly basis. I stay active and try to spend as little time as possible sitting on the couch watching Netflix (this is a tough one folks!) and I try to spend as much time working in our garden and doing projects around the house as I can when I am not working. "I don't force myself to try and create when I am not inspired" - Justin McCafferty, Artist, Atlanta GA 5. Prioritize Family and YOU time. Maybe you work a full time job on top of your creative career - this can make things harder. Sometimes it can feel impossible, but actively scheduling time with your family, time to create and time to rest and reboot can be the BEST way to keep from feeling overwhelmed by constant business needs. You may be living through a very demanding time in your life and feel over stretched & overwhelmed. This just means you need to be even more selective about your choices and how you schedule and spend your time. Not only this, but you must remember to take care of (and be KIND) to yourself. You may not find a full day or even an hour to rest or do the things that your heart desires. Maybe all you have is 20 minutes a day to yourself, if that's the case- make the MOST of it! As you practice prioritizing, scheduling and making time for yourself it will be easier to see your priorities clearly and make more time for them when you can! "I used to do craft shows every weekend from the end of October through Christmas but now that I know which shows are most lucrative and worth the time away on the weekends, I have narrowed those shows down to 5 or 6 vs. 10-12!" - Pink Sheep Design, Textile & Fiber Artist, Atlanta GA "I have almost entirely stopped taking gigs on weekends. My son is 7, and since he’s in school (or camp) most of the day, my weekends have become precious to me! I love working in the business world of photography, because almost all of my jobs are M-F 9-5" - Business Photographer, Atlanta GA What are some of the things you do to maintain a work life balance?? What are your biggest challenges?? Let me know in the comments!!! |
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