Freelancing in 2020 was a roller coaster, to say the least. As businesses and clients reevaluated their finances, many contracts and freelance opportunities came to a standstill, which led to many workers being laid off, getting their hours reduced, or having their positions eliminated entirely. Industries like advertising and journalism have kept hiring freelancers during the pandemic.
But being a freelance artist isn’t all bad. Fortunately, the gig economy has remained relatively stable compared to more traditional industries, such as retail and marketing. This unexpected stronghold has seen some growth as more individuals take their careers into their own hands.
Even during these challenging times, many freelance artists are thriving. Industries such as advertising, journalism, and design — for which independent and contract artists inarguably serve as backbones — have kept hiring freelancers. Self-employed artists may continue to experience economic highs and lows as the economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. With that said, here’s a look at what being a freelancer means and how you can craft a stable career as an independent artist.
“A true gig job or gig worker job is … something short term [in which] they’re freelancing or they’re doing something on the side,” explains Paul Nichols, executive director of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Dallas. “A lot of these types of jobs are jobs that people can cycle in and out of very quickly based on their schedule or their own needs.”
As your marketing efforts gain traction, begin building up your client base. The strength of an artist’s client base often determines whether they’ll succeed or fail in a competitive market. If the work is of good quality, satisfied customers can help strengthen your reputation through word of mouth, shout-outs, and referrals. In the mix of marketing and building up a client base, any freelancer worth their weight will want to establish themselves as a legitimate business or entity. Doing this not only allows you to market your services as an actual business but also lets you keep your finances and legal paperwork separate from your assets.
In today’s struggling job market, industries such as design and writing have benefited greatly from the gig economy. Freelancers have filled and will continue to fill roles that many companies view as either short-term gigs or long-term partnerships.
