The 7 Hardest Lessons You'll Learn As A Creative Solopreneur
Learn from our mistakes so you don't have to learn the hard way
Whether you’re an artist, a content creator, a movie producer, a writer, or any other kind of creative, chances are that you’ve had moments where you truly questioned your life. It’s not just a “you” thing. Deep reflections happen to virtually anyone who works in a creative field — and they won’t only happen when you’re new.
In reality, creative professionals tend to have moments where their entire livelihoods make them miserable. There are lessons that you might need to learn during this time — and they’re not always pleasant. Brace yourself. This article will help you learn some of these lessons the soft way so that you cope sooner rather than later when the tough stuff comes your way.
1. People who have supportive families and friends will have it easier than you, at least to start.
If you have parents who believe in you, count yourself lucky. If your friends actively support you and encourage you, count yourself blessed. Not everyone has these luxuries. Many creatives have to start from nothing, or even less than nothing, because their families don’t have faith in them and won’t help them.
This kind of rejection will sting as you, say, struggle to search for magazine funding while your parents go to Italy for the summer. There’ll be no way to truly explain away to your bandmates why your family never showed up to your concerts. You might have to hide your career from them if they really, truly have a thing against the arts.
There’s no way to mince words. People who don’t have families that support them are going to have life rough. If you fit that description, then the best advice I can give is to not wait up for those who refuse to show up for you. Distance yourself from those who aren’t in your corner before you make it big — and call them out on their lack of support if they ever come looking for a share of your gains. Find your own kind of family who will support you and show love through the feasts and the famines. Don’t wait for supportive people to find you.
2. Creatives are woefully undervalued.
Our society as a whole undervalues the arts. Clients won’t acknowledge how much your work is truly worth, even when they depend on your skills in order for their marketing campaigns to run. You will always have clients who threaten you with the phrase, “I can get it done cheaper elsewhere.”
Sadly, this fact is true in many fields. It’s also true that certain types of Intellectual Property (IP) theft are also common, which can lead to future clients undervaluing you or, worse, ripping you off. The trick is to tell potential clients that you will not tolerate rude behavior and that you suggest they go find the cheaper option if they are so tight-fisted.
Abuse is never okay, even in an undervalued field. You will need to grow a thick skin and a confidence to advocate firmly for yourself so that you don’t become undervalued.
3. The people who you think are your friends could be your biggest backstabbers.
These wolves dressed as sheep can vary from industry to industry, but there tends to be a lot more competition in the creative world than the tech world. This backdrop can lead to a lot of issues — particularly the supply and demand of well-paid gigs, jobs, and shows.
The music industry and fashion industries, in particular, are famous for having people who will fake admiration and say they like you just to get your connections, talent, or name on an account. A good rule of thumb is to watch who treats your significant other well when you’re not looking. For single people, catch how others treat your friends, family, pets, and, most importantly, the real you, when nobody’s talking about work. Either way, true supporters care about you outside of your brand. Know who your real friends are because, sooner or later, you may have to confront that not everyone is not in your corner, and by then, luck might not be on your side.
4. People won’t care if you’re going through shit; they care that you perform.
“The show must go on” isn’t just an adage. It’s the industry standard. Every single major star you’ve seen on VH1 or the Met Gala red carpet has experienced a moment where they desperately needed to take time off, but couldn’t.
When you’re a creative professional, very few people will care about how you’re doing or what’s going on in your personal life. Writers tend to get the most leeway, but when it comes to people like artists and musicians? Oof. You’re going to be in hot water with most clients.
This is a hard lesson to learn, especially when you genuinely thought a certain client cared about your wellbeing. The show must go on. Unfortunately, if you can’t perform, you may end up having a hard time keeping clients.
My advice? Give them a heads up as soon as you notice that you’re beginning to burn out — and, if doable, take a step back before it’s too late. Communication is key, and if you’re open about your struggles before you reach a crisis state, people will appreciate your foresight. Prevention is also key, where applicable. Establish boundaries and prioritize balance to avoid your work taking over your mental and physical health.
5. Taxes suck.
Please, for all that is holy, do not do what most new creatives do and ignore your quarterly taxes. A bookkeeper costs only $200 to $300 a month in most cases, and can save you thousands of dollars over a single year.
No one tells creatives about the tax situation that comes with being a 1099 worker. They just tell you to keep filing, but they don’t say how or when. If you want to do taxes right, get an accountant, get an EIN, and learn about all the tax stuff you can write off. You might be surprised at what you can write off.
With that said, you should aim to save 30% of your income to send to the IRS. At worst, you’ll have paid your taxes and owe little by January of the next year. At best, you saved money and also will have paid off Uncle Sam.
Getting into tax debt is a life-ruiner. Unfortunately, it’s part of almost every freelancer’s learning curve. The sooner you fix it, the better off you’ll be.
6. There’s a good chance you might need to keep your 9 to 5 for the rest of your life.
Honestly, this is not what most people want to hear. It’s not. But, it’s a hard truth that earning a living in the arts is not always feasible with today’s economy. Having a regular paycheck is one of those things that people only miss when it’s no longer on the table.
Most of our society works on predictability. A predictable paycheck, even if it only accounts for half of your income, is a huge deal. It helps you pay your taxes on time, keeps your electricity on, can help you get unemployment, and can also give you an “out” if your current art career goes sour.
There’s nothing wrong with clinging to stability if that’s what makes your life livable. It does not make you less of a creative entrepreneur. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
7. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Most creative freelancers will have one platform that acts as their moneymaker. That’s great…until that platform no longer works. A platform can be wonderful to creators…until they’re not.
Whether it’s a pay cut, a sudden ban, or even the platform going under, the reasons don’t matter. What matters is that there are people out there who lost everything because they put all their bets on a single platform that ended up ending their career overnight.
If you want to succeed in the creative world, you need to be active on multiple platforms. Social media is a must, but so is having multiple storefronts, a monetized YouTube account, your content cross-posted, and your email lists backed up. With this kind of preparation, you won’t be left high and dry if your accounts get banned or your moneymaker crashes.
Any hard lessons you’ve had to learn through pursuing an unconventional career? Has it been worth the blood, sweat, and tears for you? Hop in the comments and let us know! Let’s give each other a hand up in this rat race.