5 Tips To Start an Artistic Side Gig
5 Tips To Start an Artistic Side Gig
Guest post by Mary Green
Whether you are a painter, photographer, interior designer or something in between, breaking into an artistic field can be a challenge, especially if your goal is to turn your creative passion into a career. Since building a name for yourself takes time, many people design as a side gig until their business grows enough to become a full-time job.
If this describes you, these five tips can help you run a profitable and flexible artistic side gig until you can invest in your business full time.
1. Try New Projects
Perhaps your collections consist primarily of nature scenes but you have a friend asking you to take newborn photographs. Or maybe you love constructing minimalist graphic designs but have a potential client who wants something edgier. Whatever the case may be, do not shy away from projects that are outside your comfort zone. You may find you have a knack for something unexpected. Even if you do not particularly enjoy the project, it expands your experience and builds your portfolio.
2. Remember Your Long-Term Goal
While selling your artwork is currently a side hustle, do not lose sight of your long-term goal to grow your business. Keeping this top of mind helps you make strategic decisions to reach this goal.
For example, while you may not have many sales at the moment, eventually you will, so it is important to keep detailed records of all transactions. Establishing an effective record-keeping process early on prevents you from struggling when numerous sales start occurring.
Taking a business course is a fantastic way to learn the basics of owning and managing a company. Online courses can offer more flexible schedules than in-person classrooms, so research class options to find some that are beneficial to establishing a business.
3. Choose a Business Structure
One key consideration when choosing this structure is how much risk you are willing to take on. Are you comfortable with your personal assets being at risk if the venture fails? If so, a sole proprietorship or partnership may be a good choice for your business. Alternatively, if you want more security and would be better able to weather any financial setbacks without endangering your personal finances, it might be worth exploring an LLC. Learn the rules around forming a Virginia LLC before getting started.
4. Invest in Quality Tools
If you are serious about turning your creative endeavors into a career, invest in quality products for work. It may cost more, but it is worth the investment when you constantly use your brushes, camera or canvas to create a masterpiece.
Additionally, invest in a reputable laptop. Whether you use it for creating or not, a reliable computer is a valuable tool for communicating with clients and storing business data. One report states that companies spend up to 16 days a year searching for paper records; save yourself time and headaches by having a trustworthy computer for managing your growing business.
That being said, don’t hesitate to take advantage of free resources, as well. For instance, you can use a free online invoice maker to maintain records and send professional-looking invoices to your clients.
5. Leave Availability in Your Schedule
If you are scheduling tasks and jobs back-to-back, you will not have the flexibility needed to meet client's demands. Make sure your calendar has open blocks of time; this way if you receive a last-minute project, you are not overwhelmed trying to squeeze it in.
No matter what your artistic talents may be, having a side gig gives you the opportunity to develop your skills and make a profit at the same time. Follow these five tips to establish a successful side job and pave the way for starting your full-time business.