Side-Gigging as an Artist: How to Balance Creativity and Financial Needs
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When you're a professional artist, you have to manage your time in such a way that you have the bandwidth to create, as well as be available for shows, gallery openings, and other events and opportunities for showcasing and selling your work. Making your living this way can sometimes create alternating periods of feast or famine when you don't necessarily have a steady stream of income. Side gigs can help bridge this gap in a way that's enjoyable, profitable, and even has potential to turn into a business at some point in the future.
“Sequins” //Oil on Canvas// by 4th Edition Finalist, Marion Cadet
Benefits of Side Gigs
Side gigs are essentially part-time freelance work opportunities that you do when you have extra time on your hands and need to earn some fast cash. Rather than having a set schedule, side gigs are typically flexible, giving you the freedom to work as much or as little as you want, on an as-needed basis. This way, when your artwork is selling well and you’re in the creative zone, you have the time to focus on your passion. When things are slow or you’re not in a creative mindset, you can augment your income in other ways. Never look at this as “selling out.” You’re making prudent choices to support yourself as needed.
How to Choose a Side Gig
According to Oberlo, depending on what part of the country you live in, some types of side gigs may be more readily available or popular than others, so your best bet is to choose something you’re comfortable doing, as well as something that has the potential to help you earn the income you need to survive. If you're just in it for the money and flexibility, things like ride shares and food deliveries are currently the top “in-person” side hustle hot tickets. Online options should also be considered – for example, gigs doing virtual tutorials or creative consulting. You might also consider selling your work - including prints - via online art venues.
"Aviva at Secrets”// Fuji XT-2 Camera// by 1st Edition Finalist, Jessie McCall
Art-Related Gigs
If you want to find a side job that allows you to utilize your artistic talents, there are a number of places to look, including Freelance Art Gigs. For example, you might be able to earn extra money working as a substitute or part-time art instructor at a school, community, recreation center, or even in an assisted living facility. You might also find side work as a street artist performing during events and festivals. Other options could include working for interior designers, serving as a docent in a gallery, or even doing demonstrations in craft, art, and hobby centers.
Non-Art Gigs
While ideally, you’d probably like to support yourself via your artistry, if you have another skillset you can monetize, consider that an option, as well. For example, you may be a sculptor who also has exceptional bookkeeping skills and can work on occasion as an independent contractor for an accounting firm or small business. Maybe you’re a novelist who can generate winning ad copy and find occasional work with an advertising or marketing firm. Consider all of your abilities and think about how you might profit from your array of talents.
“Statuary” //Digitally Composed Photography// by 3rd Edition Finalist, Kathy Servian
Where to Find Gigs
Many in the gig economy rely on online job boards and freelancing sites to find customers and clients. You may be able to find ongoing or repeat business in these venues, or you may be satisfied with one-off projects that allow you plenty of time to focus on your craft. You might ask about opportunities within your artist community, as well as inquire with businesses and organizations you regularly frequent. For example, if you’re a painter and you buy all of your supplies from a particular art supply store, they may have a community bulletin board or website where artists can find different gigs.
Managing Your Time
While a number of gigs offer significant flexibility, allowing you to generate extra, rather than primary income, managing your time appropriately will still be a key to success. For example, if you have a certain time of day you’re most creative, block that out for your artwork. If you have art show dates already on your calendar, make sure you don’t schedule any gig work during that time that could interfere with your plans. This is especially important if your side work is more regular and structured than something like driving rideshare.
“The Story” //Photography// by 2nd Edition Finalist, Maureen Denny
Learning How to Budget
When you have a variable income stream, it’s important that you develop exceptional budgeting skills. Start with your set base monthly expenses, like rent, revolving debt payments, insurance, car payment, and other recurring costs. Next, estimate what your monthly income is from your artistry, erring on the lower side of the typical scale. This will help you determine how much you need to supplement your artwork to cover your living expenses. If you have an over-the-top successful show or a big commission, try to use that as “financial padding” for leaner periods.
In life and in business, cash flow is the main indicator of good financial health. If you’re serious about staying out of the red, it helps to have a comprehensive financial reporting tool that gives you a clear view of your cash flow at all times. This way, you can determine trends in your income and expenses - even from different periods and categories - so you have a better idea of what to focus on.
Building a Business From a Gig
In the gig economy, many people find they enjoy the work, the flexibility, and the income this working model provides. Some find it so appealing that they eventually morph into a small business. For example, if you find you enjoy teaching the occasional art class at a recreation center, you may decide to build regular art classes into your own studio work in such a way that you’re able to simultaneously work on your private projects while also teaching students. If you decide to launch a small venture, there are some important steps you need to take to ensure it’s profitable and well run.
“Puzzle” //Oil on Canvas// by 4th Edition Finalist, Huaqi Li
Setting Up a Business
Any time you enter the gig economy or start a small venture, you’re considered a small business owner in the eyes of the U.S. government. This means you need to have appropriate business licensing and insurance. For promotional purposes, you’ll also want to create a website and social media presence, as well as develop a business and marketing plan where you detail all of the key operational functions of how your company will run. Having this in place not only legitimizes your operations but makes things easier when it’s time to file taxes.
Hiring Employees
If you get to a point where you’re hiring employees to work for you, you’ll want to hire people well-suited to the roles. Whether you employ independent contractors, freelancers, or full-time employees, tracking their hours and paying them on time will be a key business function. You may find the simplest approach is to use an Excel spreadsheet to track work hours, but in the big picture, an automated system is more efficient, and still allows you to integrate Excel sheets via templates, which are easily downloadable online.
Artists are typically highly creative and talented individuals who have a number of ancillary skills and talents that can be monetized in different ways. Find approaches to balance your time well so you’re not giving up on your artistry, but rather, creating a reliable income stream that allows you to support yourself while you pursue your passion.