Industry Issues: The Truth About Freelancing

When you think freelancing you think freedom, work when you want, no one telling you what to do, late starts, early finish - and though that may be well and true - it is misleading. In this article we are going to correct the misconceptions, debunk myths and reveal the truth about freelancing. 

Freelancing is working independently as a company, having no long-term commitments, no boss and flexibly working on gigs at your convenience. Sounds great, right? Well, it has been reported by Twine et al (2020) that finding a steady flow of work is the number one obstacle most freelancers face. When starting out as a freelancer it can be difficult to find any work nevertheless have a steady flow of work coming through. A lot of people think it's a case where jobs will naturally come your way and when you get to a certain level it can be like that, but to start off with you need to go out and find work constantly, network with the right people who can open doors to more opportunities and ultimately put yourself out there and let it be known you are available for work. 

Here’s the funny thing about freelancing you can go from struggling to find work, practically begging to be booked to overworking yourself and not knowing when to turn down a job. A lot of people go into freelancing for a healthier work life balance only to find themselves acquiring the exact opposite. As a freelancer you are required to wear many hats; including accountant, project manager, administrative staff etc. This makes it hard to know when to switch off even if you’re not booked and busy. It's important to create schedules and keep a well-informed calendar for yourself, be intentional with your time and allocate yourself tasks, create daily to – do lists so that you don’t find yourself becoming overwhelmed. 

Rejection, loss, failure – are inevitable in the creative industry but as a creative freelancer this is magnified. The  National survey of Mental Health (2022) reported gig workers mental health and life satisfaction worse than those employed full time and part time. When you start out as a freelancer your mental health is at its most vulnerable. Not knowing when your treatment plan will be accepted, or when you will be booked for your next shoot can easily cause anxiety. However, you must remind yourself why you chose this to begin with, of your passions and love for your craft. Freelancing is a rocky road and can easily lead to a downward spiral of fear, regret and depression. Make sure to take days off, have some time for yourself, spend time with friends and family, always remember to enjoy life and remain hopeful. 

Now don't let this article put you off freelancing, take it as cautionary advice. Although it is easy for the fantasies of freelancing to cloud the harsh realities of it there are so many benefits to freelancing and the reward when you are successful at it is great. But do your due diligence to find out what it really takes and the truth about freelancing.