With lockdown part 2 officially in session, thereโs no time like the present to get in on the gig economy. Aspiring artists, are you ready to become your own boss?
The time is nigh for those looking to make a buck in the creative industry.
Social distancing regulations imposed by Covid-19 have well and truly ushered in a burgeoning DIY culture. Economic fallout spurred by the pandemic has shaken up entire industries, and the concept of job security is becoming less tangible as the months trickle by. Feeling good?
For the aspiring artists among us, lockdown has been something of a double edged sword. More time than ever has been freed up to hone oneโs craft, but the conventional route (if there really is one) of advancing through a specialist college into a lucrative career is largely out the window.
With such massive tuition fees, and arguably no worse time to dip into your savings, going it alone and delving into the gig economy is proving a good course of action to make money in the industry. If youโre interested in joining the party, here are some simple steps you can take right now to boost your chances of landing that big break โ or just the odd commission.
We spoke to Gen Z marketing executive @zckmed about his impressive work as a #YouTube strategist, #musicindustry campaign leader, and social activist. It was inspiring to hear his storyโฆhttps://t.co/D7LDzeFzFj#GenZ #Entrepreneurship @charlie_coombs pic.twitter.com/K0PeJNkEf6
โ thred. (@ThredMag) November 2, 2020
Get on Instagram
It may sound painfully obvious, but if you arenโt already sharing your work on Instagram, you definitely should be.
Insta is to artists what Spotify is to musicians, and devoting an account to your work is a no brainer. Far and away the most popular visual-based platform out there, itโs the place to get discovered by brands and build out your artsy network.
First up, start to populate your account and develop a knack for standing out on the platform. Upload a handful of tiles, and really focus on the copy. Try to encapsulate what inspired your work and build something of a story around it โ insight into your medium and methods will also add great value for fellow artists and commercial prospects.
To ensure that your work is being seen by relevant people in the first place, youโll need to start being hot on related hashtags. Start to bank 10 โindustry specificโ hashtags, and 10 โgeneralโ which will likely vary depending on whatโs trendy on Insta Insights โ maybe save them in notes on your phone โ and use them regularly when posting. While youโre getting a handle on this, frequently comment on related posts in the discover page and attempt to start a dialogue with fellow creatives.
With 500 million people on stories and IGTV every day, itโs worth chucking up a few โbehind the scenesโ type snippets tooโฆ though perhaps go a little more nuanced with your theme.
Facebook Groups and forums
Granted, Facebook is a little like boomerville these days and organic reach is tricky to come by without opening your wallet, but Facebook Groups is still a valuable resource for networking. Do not stoop to Chat Roulette.
If youโre looking to join communities of likeminded people who can possibly connect dots in a professional sense or even just appreciate and share your stuff, this is the place to go.
As a current member of 5 private groups I forgot even existed, it has to be said that some groups are completely dead in terms of engagement. However, when it comes to art, there are tons of groups that receive hundreds of daily contributions still and are a great place to improve visibility.
On that front, forum sites like Reddit can be goldmines in getting your work seen by those you want to see it. A quick peruse now, and youโll find bustling subreddits related to everything; from your methodology, your medium, your concept, your subject, your brush stroke โ everything. Get involved in conversations, share your work, and maybe bounce people to your online portfolio.
A teenager from Co Offaly has been "inundated" with orders for his handmade reindeer decorations after his mother put up a post in a popular Facebook group. pic.twitter.com/67cGofyXA0
โ RTร News (@rtenews) November 9, 2020