Creative Biz Note #12

Keeping Momentum During Hard Times

I see it in the forums and have heard it on podcasts...the world has changed during these difficult times. Jobless friends, companies going under and clients not paying as quickly--everyone has a story. But there is work out there...the world has not stopped. A few of my colleagues even believe it's starting to pick-up!



What I do during slow times:
1. Focus on marketing (blog posts, improve the blog, prepare postcards, make a goal to find 20 more new contacts, create more promo pieces)
2. Working on personal projects like a comic book or sketch everyday until my hands hurt
3. Freak out and get it over with...now enjoy the time off
4. Revisit my budget and update it--keep overhead low
5. Revisit our branding...we're currently doing more with the PB logo
6. Reorganizing my PSD brushes and color pallettes in Ai.
7. Read books on my updated software
8. Workout at the healthclub (no excuse now)

Just know that if it seems like things aren't going your way...quitting is not an option. I find listening to the podcasts on http://illustrationparty.blogspot.com/ really helps. These two dudes discuss everything--including being in a slump and having no work. Not all the discussions pertain to every listening artist but there's always something to learn. Podcasts are a great way to discover that you're not alone!

Now is the time to take action when you have no work!!!! There is always something to do when it comes to promoting yourself. Make more promotional pieces...out-do-yourself!! You always need more work for your book. Scour sites for a rep? Go to the bookstore and hunt for art director names in the front of magazines...even if their email addresses aren't in there...you can still figure it out. Do you have an actual website? Get started on that--if you don't. Do some research on possible advertising or what works and doesn't. Make a budget for yourself. Create t-shirts. Push yourself! You're running a business as a freelancer...you should be reading books all the time. Knowledge is power. Bill Gates used to set aside every (entire) Sunday just for reading. Another thing...keep a positive attitude.

A second source of cash flow helps. My brother and I have plans for doing an app for the iphone--if we can actually fit it in. Think "art" but outside the box.

A Quick Story: When I first thought of trying out freelancing--I had that fear of making the jump. I took on a full-time night-shift gig as a production artist to bring in the money while I looked for work during the day. I didn't sleep much LOL. I started receiving jobs through a freelance placement agency and got comfortable with the way things worked. There were times that I was downtown freelancing during the day(already near my night job) and just slept in my car in the parking lot!! I'd get 3 or 4 hrs and then go to my production job. I did this for 2 months--during this time making a nest egg of 3 months worth of downtime--preparing to take the jump. I kept running and never looked back. Eventually, I started receiving clients of my own through connections and left the placement agency.

The Idea: It's not easy and not always fun. Be prepared, money smart, create art and don't ever stop--that's what counts. "Stay hungry, stay foolish" - Steve Jobs

Check out FreelanceSwitch for more.

Books I've read on this subject: "Awaken the Giant Within" by Anthony Robbins or 'My So-Called Freelance Life''

Next Creative Biz Note #13---The Missing Tear Sheet Link
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