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Being a member of the creative class during a downturn can be a rough road. But then again, you didn’t join the legions of other people the world derisively calls “hobbyists” because you expected to make your first million bucks by the age of 25. If you’ve been playing primarily for nachos and beer or sculpting from found objects because that’s all you can afford, you’ve got to go elsewhere to find the money to support your career — not to mention your life. The following are a few ways to grind it out, no matter what the economy may hold.
1. Do some freelancing
You’d be amazed at how much money you can make by providing lessons to people. If you’ve ever experienced any kind of success, you can spin it into a story of yourself as a successful person. Once you have a good spiel put together, you can begin to sell your services as a tutor for kids who want to be successful in the arts. Affluent parents will pay handsomely for their children to learn creative skills that will enrich them down the road and help them stand out from other kids when it comes to going to college and such.
Another great freelancing thing you can do is to hold group classes in which you teach a skill. Offer a little constructive criticism, some tips on technique and a few assignments, and you’ll help a lot of people. People will compensate you very nicely for this kind of help. Go on Craig’s list or other sites where you can advertise your services, and experiment until you’ve got something written that people will respond to.
2. Don’t spend like a crazy person
The nature of self-employment means that some months you’ll be dead broke and need a loan, while some other months you’ll be swimming in cash. No matter how much you make in any given month, keep in mind that it may not happen again for a long time. So keep your committed expenses at a reasonable level, and your shortfalls will be a lot less frequent than if your spending leaps up to match your income every month.
3. Keep a day job
Day jobs are great for several reasons. For one thing, they can provide you with health benefits. For another, they’ll let you earn a steady paycheck that you can use if your situation gets drastic and you need to see payday advance lenders for an emergency loan. It may not be fun, but your day job can come in very handy when your passion work dries up for awhile and you need to eat and pay rent.
The most important thing you can do when you’re a creative professional is to do your best to always think rationally. The second most important thing you can do is to focus on finding ways to help other people. If you keep your head and focus on helping others, your career will support you.
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