11 Tips for Going Freelance

11 Tips for Going Freelance Ah, freelancing. It gives you more creative freedom, the chance to travel more, and the opportunity to try new things that you never would have experienced otherwise. For many dancers, freelance means independence and more variety, but it also means uncertainty. Taking this route, rather than signing a contract with a company, isn’t necessarily stable, and can cause a lot of stress - so what does being freelance really involve? And how do you handle being your own boss? We’ve got the rundown on what it means to be a freelance dancer. Side jobs are common. As much as we’d all love to be able to support ourselves from dancing alone, very few people are that lucky. Waitressing, babysitting, and bartending often go hand in hand with freelancing, especially when you’re starting out. At the end of the day, you need to be able to support yourself, and if work is slow, it might not cover rent, bills, food, classes, dancewear, shoes, and everything in between, so although it may interfere with potential dancing time, it might be a necessity for getting by. Your best bet is going for a flexible job with hours that work around your other commitments. Know your limits. If you’re lucky enough to be offered a few jobs at once, you need to consider how much you can handle, how you’re going to balance each job, and time each rehearsal and performance so that there’s no overlap. Prioritise, but be dedicated to each job without letting yourself burn out. Figure out what your limits are, and don’t push them. Rest days are just as important as working, so don’t bite off more than you can chew. Learn how to balance and be flexible. You have to pay rent, eat food, see friends and family, work for your side job, work out, and find time to rest whilst working for two companies, rehearsing, performing, and trying to find the time for auditions. It can seem utterly impossible, but it isn’t as long as you organise your time properly. You’re in charge here, so you have to be able to plan everything and form a hierarchy for your work so you know exactly who and what comes first. It’s all up to you to overcome roadblocks and keep everything in check. Develop thick skin. You might get turned down and criticised. You might be strapped for cash. You might get injured, and everything will go up in the air. You need to have systems in place for how you’re going to deal with different, and sometimes urgent, situations. Do you have an emergency fund in case of injury or lack of work? How will you commute if your car breaks down? Will you still be able to make it to all of your arrangements that day? If you take on a new job, which other jobs are going to suffer? Some days will be tougher than others, but you need to keep your head held high regardless of the pitfalls. Your body is your business, so treat it that way. Market yourself! That means you’re going to have to take control of your social pages, and treat them almost like business pages. Make dance shots your profile pictures, upload videos of performances, take advantage of anything that could potentially catch the eye of somebody willing to hire you. Utilise social media to follow people in the industry and maybe even strike up a conversation. Don’t underestimate the power of assistants either. Follow them on social media, turn up to their classes and workshops, show enthusiasm for their work, and you might impress them. You are your own marketing tool. Make connections. This is part and parcel of marketing yourself. Go to popular classes, watch performances, talk to people. You might get recommended to a director by a friend, or end up standing in for somebody if they’re sick. You could catch a director’s eye whilst taking part in a class and end up with a lead role in their production. You never know what’s around the corner, so network with other dancers and industry professionals to find out more about what’s happening around you and keep up to date with auditions and classes. Small jobs are still jobs. When you’re first starting out freelancing, you can’t be too picky, and any experience you can get is great to add to your repertoire. Once you’ve got the ball rolling and more opportunities arise, you can be a bit more choosy. Opt for the things that will give you the best experiences and opportunities for advancement. What looks good on your CV, and is likely to get you hired more in the future? What’s going to fund your classes this month? What’s going to give you the best opportunity for growth? Be versatile. The more you can do, the more work you’ll be able to get. Don’t squash yourself into just one little box or refine yourself down to the specifics - let yourself flourish and experiment with different things. The more versatile you are, the more kinds of jobs you’ll be able to do, so extend your skill set and keep up with what’s current and what employers want. Negotiate. Some jobs might not pay for rehearsal time, essential pointe shoes, or compulsory classes. Talk to who’s in charge and try to work something out that suits both of you. If you can’t reach an agreement, consider if the experience is good enough to do without the money, and if you can still manage to pay rent and get the essentials with a minimal pay cheque. This is your living, and you can’t let other people take advantage of your artistic abilities for absolute peanuts in return, but you also have to be mindful that these people are giving you opportunities to work and thrive. Stay in shape outside of class. Sign up to yoga or pilates, get into running, or find something else that you enjoy to keep your body in tip-top condition over periods when you have little work. There’s no use in auditioning for jobs when your body isn’t in the best condition to go through with it. Only do it if the good outweighs the bad. If you’re under constant stress and find it difficult to balance all the different aspects of the job, maybe freelancing isn’t for you. It isn’t worth running yourself into the ground for if it isn’t something that you enjoy. There’s nothing wrong with dipping your toes in to test the water and then going back to what you know afterwards. Do what works best for you, and whatever you find the most fulfilling.