The Courage to Ask
Asking for help or advice or even advocating for oneself is crucial. So why don’t we do a better job of it? It’s about making up our mind, changing our mindset, and getting rid of that fear and pride.
STORY TIME:
The summer can be a challenge for performing artists to earn a steady income stream. Many artists supplement their income streams through teaching or services that are active during the fall, winter, and spring. The summer is usually the time when everyone is taking their vacations.
I recently asked about finding work for a three month period. It was for the summer and I was speaking one of the administrators at the Actors Fund, Alexandria Bellivan. I wanted to find a way to earn some kind of money during the summer while I wasn’t teaching during the school year because I really wanted to break this cycle of having to deplete the income that I earned during the fall and spring. I actually wound up finding work for the summer which really made a difference for me.
I’m going to share some suggestions and insights that she provided for me that might be helpful for you.
1. It’s all about networking. These sorts of short term gigs are not always posted on your typical job search engines. In addition to this, you are not looking for a career change or a new job that is permanent or long term so it can be more of a challenge to find. Start talking and sharing with others that you are looking for guidance in finding short term work. I was told to set a goal of reaching thirty people in two weeks and expect to get five potential leads and maybe one actual job.
2. Try freelance apps and sites. This might be the time to create a lesson package just for the summer. This would give you an opportunity to continue working as an arts educator and maybe add to your private student roster. It might even be a good idea to collaborate with another artist and produce a summer package. In terms of how much, consider how much you need to make for the month or weeks and base your pricing on that but be reasonable on what you are asking and make sure you always provide value.
3. Apply to multiple temp agencies. Temp agencies can be a great start to help you transition careers, add to your skill set, and get temporary work or even permanent work. The reason you need to apply to many agencies is because the work pool is so large. I suggest doing more networking and not solely rely on the temp agency. I have heard many stories that getting work from an agency can be hard and a long wait.
4. Be specific about what you are willing to do and observe your mindset about the skills you might have to learn for that job. If you are fine with taking on learning new skills in a short period of time. This is always important because you want to approach any job with enthusiasm or at least a mind set that you are wanting to do the job and not dreading it.
Other actions to consider
You will also have to be prepared to do a “low buy” or a “no spend” for the time you are not earning an income. This might mean starting your low buy a couple of months early so you have enough money in the bank to pay for your expenses but also not drain your account to the point that you are in a place of weaknesses.
Buckle down on what you want and get more specific in pursuing it. Life never stays the same and what worked for you two years ago might not work as well now. Don’t forget to get specific about what you need and focus on one or two things that will help you reach your goals. Once you achieve those benchmarks and keep going.
Don’t forget to network consistently. You want to network beyond when you need something. We always want to be in a place of strength and if you network, share, and communicate you will have an easier time getting what you need and want.
-Medina
