In this conversation, Seth Lowe and Evan Bourcier discuss the ups and downs of freelancing in the creative industry. They share their experiences with slow seasons and the importance of creating financial buffers. They also discuss the challenges of balancing overhead and flexibility in their businesses. The conversation touches on the impact of social media on their careers and the value of learning about the business side of freelancing. They reflect on the joy of setting others up for success and the challenges of navigating multiple roles and identities. They also discuss the difficulties of managing client expectations. The conversation explores topics such as trusting intuition and process, the approach to landing new clients, resistance to pitching and RFPs, the value of not dancing for jobs, the importance of having the right people, the value of advocates and relationships, breaking the rules and challenging the process, financial success and goals, effective communication and feedback, income streams in the film industry, balancing gratitude and ambition, playing bigger games and expanding opportunities, navigating the industry and finding value, creating a transparent and supportive community, and navigating budgets and expectations.

Takeaways

• Freelancing in the creative industry is like riding waves, with periods of high demand and slow seasons.
• Creating financial buffers and managing overhead is crucial for surviving slow seasons.
• Balancing flexibility and low overhead allows freelancers to have more control over their work and take on projects they enjoy.
• Learning about the business side of freelancing is essential for long-term success.
• Setting others up for success can be a rewarding part of freelancing, but it can also be challenging to navigate multiple roles and identities. Trust your intuition and process, and don't be swayed by how others do things.
• Focus on building relationships and advocates who can help remove obstacles and break the rules.
• Avoid wasting time on pitching and RFPs, and instead focus on understanding the client's needs and providing solutions.
• Value transparency and open conversations about rates, budgets, and creative approaches.
• Diversify income streams and explore opportunities for teaching and sharing knowledge within the creative community.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

01:28
The Freelancing Waves

05:23
Creating Financial Buffers

07:08
Balancing Overhead and Flexibility

08:31
Learning from Slow Seasons

10:20
Transitioning to Freelancing

12:12
Riding the Waves of Freelancing

14:31
Managing Financial Buffers

20:09
Navigating the Freelance Journey

23:26
The Impact of Social Media

26:48
Shifting Focus to Business Learning

28:13
Finding Joy in Setting Others Up for Success

30:27
Navigating Multiple Roles and Identities

34:09
Challenges in Client Expectations

36:03
Trusting Intuition and Process

36:28
Approach to Landing New Clients

37:24
Resistance to Pitching and RFPs

38:18
Value of Not Dancing for Jobs

39:10
The Importance of Having the Right People

40:08
The Value of Advocates and Relationships

41:06
Breaking the Rules and Challenging the Process

42:00
Financial Success and Goals

44:19
Effective Communication and Feedback

46:48
Income Streams in the Film Industry

49:40
Balancing Gratitude and Ambition

50:04
Playing Bigger Games and Expanding Opportunities

52:16

Interested in coming on the show, or know someone who would be a good fit? Email us here - [email protected]

Follow the show on Instagram - @thesolocreativepod