Every creative person knows the feeling of being ‘in the zone’ or in flow when they are doing what they love. But how does ‘doing what you love’ translate into making a healthy income? 

Whether you are a performing or visual artist, author or dancer, poet or songwriter, in order to live an abundant creative life, free of money worries, you need to know the 6 key concepts successful creatives employ to generate a consistent and reliable income stream.

As a coach with over 2 decades of working with creative artists, I have observed that creatives who are successful at making a living from their creative projects, performances and services adopt a professional business mindset, and they approach their art differently to other creatives.

Creative success lies in developing a variety of channels by which you can earn your income.

1. Set your ‘professional’ mindset

For a vast majority of creative people, the thought of making money is a burden. It is often associated with getting a part-time job to supplement their creative work.

Marketing is not their ‘thing’ and in fact, many have an allergy to marketing. They have a resistance to promotions and they are repelled by the thought of ‘selling’ themselves. Some also believe that when art is mixed with money creative integrity is compromised.

It’s true, there are plenty of stories that reinforce this position, especially by people who are stuck in an old paradigm. In the past, it was common practice for a manager, producer, record label or booking agent to manipulate the artist to conform, where the creative person felt pressured to sacrifice their artistic freedom if they were ever to make any decent money.

For sure, there are still some individuals and companies that operate in this manner, but we now live in the ‘indie age’ where creative freelances can be the conductors of their own creative lives.

To be successful, we must move from an amateur mindset to a professional, ‘business’ mindset. 

2. Develop multiple sources of income

Successful creatives know what to charge for their gigs and services and they build multiple income streams.

For example, most musicians play music in the evenings and on weekends and supplement their income by selling merchandise, teaching music, offering online courses in a related field such as music production.

Diversity is key. Adding a podcast, online courses, teaching or mentoring services can boost your income for minimal expenditure and overhead.

Additional products and services elevate your profile in the marketplace.

3. Think ‘outside the box’

Creatives can leverage income-generating opportunities in a variety of ways by thinking ‘outside the box’.

For example, in addition to selling an original product such as artworks, music or a book, you could increase sales in the following ways:

• Sell tickets to exhibition, concert or launch (Partner with a charity for a percentage to go to them.)
• Sell ‘gift cards’ during the event and via your website and social channels
• Ask for a gold coin donation for an official program or magazine
• Sell ‘artistic’ merchandise featuring your logo, lyrics, artworks or words
• Conduct a ‘silent action’ for products or future events
• Sell ‘Dinner with the Artist’
• Offer products at multiple price-points
• Sell advertising at the event or in the program or magazine

4. Repurpose content & retarget your audience

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you wish to offer a new product or service. Take inventory of what already exists and consider different ways to re-purpose the content.

Here are some examples of repurposing content:

• A singer/songwriter may release an album of recorded songs and re-purpose lyrics in the form of a slide presentation that focusses on a particular theme such as love, compassion, caring for the earth or dealing with grief. These slides could be used as lead magnets or sold as a pack for use by schools, coaches or personal development facilitators.
• A visual artist may hold an exhibition and re-purpose images of the artworks or photographs as note cards or screen savers, which could be sold for an affordable fee.
• A video presentation could be visually interpreted to form an eBook or a series of inspirational infographics.
• A podcast series could be repurposed as an eBook, a cartoon, a magazine/newsletter, or a slide presentation.

Low-end sales may not significantly increase your bottom line however, these buyers are now customers with whom you can directly market other products and services.

In addition to repurposing content, we can become fixed on a particular audience or demographic. This can limit the potential for increased sales.

Here are some examples of audience re-targeting:

• Tweak a product by changing the branding or message so it appeals to a wider or specific audience to give a product a second life.
• Performing and visual artists may have products or services that appeal to schools, sporting or religious organisations or a younger or older demographic than originally intended.

When you consider a new product, it is helpful to explore ways that you could repurpose the content to create an additional product or additional markets that could be targeted.

5. Collaborate

Today is it relatively easy to partner with other creatives in a mutually supportive ‘commission’ style arrangement on sales. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of placing an ‘expression of interest’ or an ‘invitation to partner’ on your favourite Social Media platforms.

Some examples of lucrative collaborations are:

• Be an agent to help sell the work of other creatives for a commission on sales
• Collaborate with other creatives to host and organise creative events like concerts, exhibitions, art shows, performances, talks and conferences, and charge for tickets
• Do joint ventures with other creatives who can bring their audience to an online or live event
• Co-author a book with an illustrator, poet or visual artist and sell online and in person

6. Get help

Successful creatives seek help. They know that it is unrealistic to think they need to ‘know it all’ when it comes to marketing and making money. They understand what it takes to be successful and they know they don’t need to be the person who ‘does it all’.

If you are a creative who wants to take your creativity to the world without the ongoing burden of not knowing how you will make ends meet, please reach out today. Don’t let fear or your lack of knowledge hold you back.

Book a free 30 minute ‘Creative Artist Career Check-Up’ call with me today. I’ll help you get clear on how you can increase your income doing what you love. 

The post How to Make More Money, Doing What You Love appeared first on Creative Edge Coaching.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard a creative person speak negatively about business, especially sales and marketing, I would be a wealthy woman!

I get it… creative people generally don’t relate to the business world, finding it brash, ruthless, insensitive and significantly scary!

Business Jargon

Business jargon and terms such as sales targets, networking, metrics, marketing plans, business goals, strategy and frameworks cause many creative people to break out in a rash, freak out or close down whenever they are confronted with the idea of needing to market themselves.

Some creatives are quite repulsed by what they perceive marketing to be about, and try to avoid it like the plague. They often associate the business world with coercion, sneaky sales tricks and dishonesty. And you know what? In some cases they are right.

But here lies the tension.

Many creatives hold the belief that if they participate in marketing they will be compromising their creative integrity.

Most creative people desperately want to share their creative gifts and talents with the world and make a decent living in the process. Unfortunately, there is no avoiding the fact that this requires them to engage in marketing and making sales. But how can they do that without establishing a business? Well… they can’t.

‘Doing’ Business

If you want to move from being an amateur to a professional (in other words, earning a living from your creative gifts and talents), then you will need to find a way to ‘do’ business without feeling that you are compromising your creative integrity, and without having to twist and turn yourself into a style of business that does not resonate with your creative spirit, your skill set, or your interests and energy.

I’ve got some good news.

There is a new wave emerging in the business community that delivers the necessary outcomes (such as branding, marketing and sales), while simultaneously being grounded in building relationships and providing value, rather than being strictly focused on cold, impersonal sales tactics.

Conscious Business

This new way is known as ‘conscious business’. It is a non-traditional business framework that comes from an authentic place, a heart-centered place, a place of integrity and authenticity.

Conscious business is built upon establishing and maintaining genuine relationships with clients, customers and fans.

Conscious business, and associated terms such as ‘conscious marketing’ and ‘conscious capitalism’ offer creatives a refreshing basis for ‘being in business’ without the need to compromise by adopting those more traditional business practices that simply do not resonate with sensitive, purpose-driven creatives, nor the people creatives want to reach and serve.

5 Key Principles of Conscious Marketing

I think we all agree, in order to bring your talents to the world, you need to engage in marketing so potential customers can get to know you and trust you. Selling then becomes a natural progression. 

I have listed 5 key principles of conscious marketing for your consideration. Hopefully, you can begin to incorporate some or all of these into your own conscious marketing process.

1. Build and Nurture Relationships

• Recognise that all marketing is about cultivating relationships.
• Understand your ‘ideal’ customer, client or fan by exploring their needs, struggles, characteristics, and hopes. (Knowing this also informs your creative endeavours.)
• Realise that conscious consumers are more likely to buy if they feel connected and they trust the provider.

2. Be Authentic

• People connect with people.
• Showing up authentically will mean the right people will be attracted to you and your product or service.
• Authenticity and transparency are key to transcending the sleazy, manipulative sales and marketing tactics we want to leave behind!  

3. Emphasize the Transformation

• Highlight transformation to your client, customers or fans.

Examples:

i.) The original pieces in my new art exhibition are all created from sustainable materials and I offer suggestions throughout the installation on how individuals can recycle everyday items.

ii.) If you love peace and quiet, I think you will love my latest recording, in which I have incorporated Indigenous instruments throughout to create a listening experience that is aimed at transporting the listener to a deep meditative state.

iii.) My drama class is like no other. Yes, you will leave with increased acting skills, but you will also grow in confidence exponentially!

• Speak to an experience they can resonate with on a feeling/personal level.

• Explain specifically what they are likely to experience when working with you or when they are accessing your creativity.

4. Be Generous, Surprise Your Clients, Customers or Fans

• Content and value are both crucial in online and offline marketing.

The more value and content you can offer, the better: you will encourage engagement and feedback. People usually love to experience your creative process and get an insight into your world. Be sure to let them in.

• Be an advocate for your work and the transformation you offer.
• Give your followers something they won’t expect – exceed their expectations.
• Continue to market (nurture relationships), even among your most dedicated supporters.

5. Continually Grow Your Business

• Enabling business growth is paramount for any business to be successful.

This requires planning, funding, the right systems, staff, processes, technology and partners. There is no need to feel overwhelmed or out of your depth. Be sure to reach out to coaches and mentors who can help, especially if you feel resistance to the idea of being in business, or you lack business skills.

A Healthy Business

A healthy business means that you can reach many more people, and be prosperous doing so.

If you feel nervous, frustrated, overwhelmed or just downright confused about how to adopt a conscious marketing framework in your business or career, please get in touch for a free discovery call with me so we can explore the exciting options together. I look forward to helping you bring your creative work to the world.

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Monica O’Brien is a professionally trained and accredited Coach and founder of Creative Edge Coaching www.creativeedgecoaching.com.au. She blogs on issues about creativity and small business development for conscious artists and business entrepreneurs. Book your free discovery call here.

Join CREATIVITY UNLEASHED! Facebook GROUP – the Official Facebook Community for Creatives.

If you are a creative person building your career or looking to grow your creative business, this group is for you! Our purpose is to support and celebrate creativity and the talented people who enrich our world with music, art, drama, poetry, words, shape, colour, beauty and innovation. Our goal is to connect with other like-minded creatives, ask questions, reflect, get unstuck, move through resistance and blocks, participate in group conversations, share our stories, learn, get support and feedback for our creative endeavours/career/business and tap into the wisdom of the group.

The post Do You Have an Allergy to Marketing? appeared first on Creative Edge Coaching.

When it comes to pricing your talent it can be a case of ‘test and see’ – however, having a clear strategy for generating your income is crucial to (financial) success as a performing artist.

Before exploring actual strategies about pricing it may be helpful for you to check in with how you experience your relationship with money, and to inquire whether you hold any limiting beliefs about money.

Beliefs About Money

What are your general views about money?

Is money an uncomfortable topic for you?

Do you believe in your worth and the value of your art and creativity?

If you feel uneasy or anxious when contemplating any of these questions I encourage you to set a new, resourceful mental framework that will help you decide what is fair and just in setting your pricing structures.

When I speak about money in the context of the creative arts I try to avoid comments such as ‘what you need to survive’ or ‘making ends meet’. Many of my creative clients used to use these terms on a regular basis because they held limiting beliefs about money. They believed that if they chose to follow their dream of being a full-time performing artist they would have to do it tough… they would never be financially secure or they would always have to take a second (or third) job if they ever want to enjoy a successful life that included extras such as owning their own home, holidays, dinners at a swank restaurant or personal pampering or gym membership. This thinking is sure to manifest scarcity and struggle.

“If you want to develop a successful and financially rewarding career as a creative artist you must develop a healthy relationship with money and a mindset that manifests abundance.”

What you charge for a gig depends on a number of factors including your own personal and financial goals, and the market(s) in which you work. These form the foundation for arriving at your fee structure.

Three Strategies

This post will explore 3 strategies for setting your prices for your performances.

Let’s begin…

1. Accept What Is Offered Per Gig

Most creative people usually start at this point. They are unsure of how much to charge and they are usually keen (or desperate) to perform as many gigs as they can. This is a great strategy if your livelihood does not depend on income from performance and you are happy and content with the thrill and enjoyment of gigging no matter what the financial return. However, this strategy is not sustainable in the long term, especially if you want to make a career of your art and be financially secure in the longer term.

If you adopt this approach you usually ask the organiser what they are offering or they tell you their budget and you decide to accept the deal or not.

With this strategy, you are not in control of the financial outcome but at the mercy of the organiser.

2. Charge Fees Based On What You Need To ‘Survive’

Some performers work out what they need to survive on a weekly or monthly basis and calculate their fees based on how many gigs they are likely to do in a given period. Knowing what your expenses are can be a positive motivator and helps you discern where you need to be putting your energies to ensure you bring in sufficient funds to meet your immediate commitments. This approach can also help you expand your thinking and may lead you to expand or reduce what you offer and where you offer it.

This is a helpful strategy, but it can also fall short if you have goals for long-term financial success beyond the ‘survival’ mindset.

3. Plan To Succeed

I wish to debunk the myth that performers cannot succeed financially. I know many creative artists who have worked full-time using their talents and made a comfortable living in the process, including buying their own home, going on holidays, going out to dinner, pampering themselves and having a gym membership! BUT, they have focused on their art and they have developed products and services that support their performances and tie in together to form a strong personal brand. (Developing your strong personal brand is another conversation!)

Planning is the foundation to financial success.

Unfortunately, talent is not enough if you wish to earn a comfortable living. If planning is not a strong point of yours there are people who can help you. Seek them out, it will be well worth the investment.

As a starting point, and specifically for those people who are starting out, I offer you the following ‘quick budget’ outline to consider when devising your performance fee structure. I have based the following outline on an annual income of $60,000 gross.

Income $60,000

Less Living Expenses            $40,000

Less Business Expenses       $12,000

Less Taxes                               $ 5,000

Allow for Saving                     $ 3,000

In order to arrive at the figure that you have to earn per week, you need to divide your desired income by the number of days you are expected to do paid work. For example, if you work 40 weeks in the year (allowing for down times, admin days, sick days and holidays), this means that you would divide $60,000 by 40 weeks. You would need to earn $1500 per week. Then you would estimate how many gigs you plan to do and at what rate. If you do 3 gigs per week you will need to charge $500 per gig and so on.

When calculating your expenses make a list of all outgoings and don’t underestimate. Be sure to allow for the unexpected.

Wrapping Up

Whatever or however you decide to charge for your performances, one thing is clear – this is a personal matter. What is fair and reasonable for one person may not be the case for another. External factors also play a role in determining the final rate.

I hope this post gives you some food for thought and some helpful information about how to set your fees for your performances.

I’d love to hear your ideas on how you set your pricing. Please leave a comment in the section below.

If you feel insecure about this subject I invite you to join me for a free Discovery Session to unpack those blocks and limiting beliefs so you establish strong and decisive pricing plans that will give you confidence and a reliable income flow moving forward.

Monica O’Brien is a professionally trained and accredited Coach and founder of Creative Edge Coaching www.creativeedgecoaching.com.au. She blogs on issues about creativity and small business development for conscious artists and business entrepreneurs. Book your free discovery call here.

Join CREATIVITY UNLEASHED! Facebook GROUP – the Official Facebook Community for Creatives.

If you are a creative person building your career or looking to grow your creative business, this group is for you! Our purpose is to support and celebrate creativity and the talented people who enrich our world with music, art, drama, poetry, words, shape, colour, beauty and innovation. Our goal is to connect with other like-minded creatives, ask questions, reflect, get unstuck, move through resistance and blocks, participate in group conversations, share our stories, learn, get support and feedback for our creative endeavours/career/business and tap into the wisdom of the group.

The post What to Charge for Gigs appeared first on Creative Edge Coaching.

However, I also began to notice a consistent trend with other clients who did not, or could not, follow through with the agreed plan – even though they had a burning desire to do so. Something inside of them stopped them in their tracks. As their coach, I was baffled. How could I continue to take their money if they were not getting results?

It became clear to me that something was missing in my coaching approach. I thought if there was a fierce desire to succeed or achieve a dream, and there was a well-designed plan in place, then my clients ought to be reaping excellent results.

But this was not always the case. On further investigation, I realized that there was often a collection of ingrained limiting beliefs about their talent or their abilities that was keeping them stuck. This, in turn, prevented them from living the life and enjoying the lifestyle they wanted. They were stuck on ‘Struggle Street’.

Through additional training and learning, I came to understand the power of beliefs and the positive or negative impact they had on results and outcomes. During this time, I identified 5 particularly damaging beliefs that are commonly held by creatives, coaches and business owners.

The bottom line is this: if you want to succeed in your art, your coaching practice or your business and get off Struggle Street once and for all, you must take a close look at these limiting beliefs and reboot your thinking.

“I’m not good enough – I don’t really know if I have what it takes to succeed.”

This is a common belief among many creative people. However, if you hold on to this belief, it will surely become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Lying deep within this belief is an even deeper underlying conviction that you are unworthy.

With practice and a range of personal development tools now widely available, you can move from this unhelpful belief to one that you are worthy, that you are valuable, and that you have an important contribution to make.

Reflection: What new belief can I replace this limiting belief with?

Examples

“I already have everything within me that is necessary for me to succeed and fulfill my purpose.”

“All that I need to succeed is both within me and around me.”

“I trust that my gifts, talents and ideas are worthy and that the world is waiting to receive what I have to offer.”

“What’s the point? I’ll probably fail.”

The fear of failure is one of the most stubbornly ingrained negative beliefs that can be held in mind. It causes us to remain stuck, and this can result in a vicious circle of self-judgement and self-loathing.

As an NLP Master Practitioner, I have witnessed radical changes in my clients who move from this destructive fear of failure when they choose more resourceful thinking. NLP provides a range of techniques to facilitate belief change.

Reflection: What new belief can I replace this limiting belief with?

Examples

“There is no failure, only feedback.”

“I am enthusiastic to ‘have a go’, no matter what the outcome might be.”

“I will learn and learn some more until I’m happy with the result.”

“I always procrastinate.”

Always? You procrastinate about everything? Check your generalizations!

Procrastination is a symptom of something deeper, such as the need for everything to be perfect, a fear of failure, a lack of motivation, an inability to anticipate a benefit, a lack of focus, or low energy levels.

We are masters at making excuses such as ‘I don’t have enough time’, ‘I don’t have everything I need’, ‘it will take too long to set everything up’, or ‘I have other important things to do’. And so the list goes on…

Over time, chronic procrastination is likely to result in chronic stress – and the tasks or projects we had wanted to achieve remain incomplete.

Reflection: what new belief can I replace this limiting belief with?

Examples

“I am capable and I choose to focus.”

“I begin all my tasks with the positive intention of getting them completed on time.”

“I am not afraid. I am ready and focused to complete the task.”

“I don’t know how to plan to succeed.”

The ability to plan a step-by-step strategy is definitely an important skill, and I’d even go as far as to say that it can be described as a talent. Some people find it very hard to devise a plan and they beat themselves up over it. From my observation, many creatives have an abundance of ideas – but they lack the clarity regarding which ideas to foster, and what steps they must take to get from A to B.

It is also worth noting that much emphasis is placed on future planning at the expense of living in the present. It’s good to check in and ask yourself if planning is what you actually need – or if it is more valuable simply to begin.

As creatives, we know that the painter’s brush, the dancer’s body and the fingers on the keyboard often have a ‘mind of their own’, or creative flow that unfolds without preconception or planning.

If you struggle in this area and you know a good plan would facilitate the attainment of your dream or goals, then remember you can seek out others who actually enjoy the planning process. These people can give you the lift and direction that you need to get you on your way and stay on track.

Reflection: What new belief can I replace this limiting belief with?

Examples

“I know where my gifts and passions lie. I ask for help when what is needed is beyond my talents, skills or interests.”

“I hold the vision and the passion for my work, and I bring in others who can partner with me to help me plan.”

“Planning is a skill that I am planning to learn!”

“I lack all the skills I need to succeed.”

Successful companies and organizations thrive on skill-set diversity. Creativity, innovation and vision are the hallmarks of success. This success does not and cannot depend on one person. Each role within the organization contributes to the whole.

You do not need to be skillful at every level of your business or career, nor do you need to know every step required for a particular project in order to begin.

If you have the desire to succeed, and a vision for the end result, then even if you are faced with a knowledge gap, you can choose to learn those new skills or partner with others who are experts in the relevant fields.

Reflection: what new belief can I replace this limiting belief with?

Examples

“I’m open to learning new skills of my choosing.”

“I do not need to possess every skill required to fulfill my dreams and goals. I call on others with the necessary skills to help me.”

“I hold the vision for my business/career/life, and others help me achieve my goals.”

Struggle Street is real. Feeling stuck, unable to move forward, caught in a cycle of inertia is not only frustrating, it can also be soul-destroying. If you want to live in a new neighbourhood, free of struggle, with a strong, robust mindset, make your choice today. Throw off those ingrained beliefs that do not serve you. A whole new adventure awaits you – new experiences, new relationships, new ideas… freedom!

Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below on how your beliefs have helped or limited you in the quest to live the life you desire.

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Monica O’Brien is a professionally trained and accredited Coach and founder of Creative Edge Coaching www.creativeedgecoaching.com.au. She blogs on issues about creativity and small business development for conscious artists and business entrepreneurs. Book your free discovery call here.

Join CREATIVITY UNLEASHED! Facebook GROUP – the Official Facebook Community for Creatives.

If you are a creative person building your career or looking to grow your creative business, this group is for you! Our purpose is to support and celebrate creativity and the talented people who enrich our world with music, art, drama, poetry, words, shape, colour, beauty and innovation. Our goal is to connect with other like-minded creatives, ask questions, reflect, get unstuck, move through resistance and blocks, participate in group conversations, share our stories, learn, get support and feedback for our creative endeavours/career/business and tap into the wisdom of the group.

The post 5 Ingrained Beliefs That Keep Creatives Poor and on ‘Struggle Street’ appeared first on Creative Edge Coaching.