Tips on managing a precarious freelance career

‘One of the first lessons I had to learn in balancing client-work with my own creative practice was that sticking to strict work days wasn’t possible,’ I wrote recently for Artshub.

When projects come in and when they are due are completely out of my control. I had to both get comfortable with this uncertainty, and book time in to write when I can, while trusting enough that the next job will come.

Like most freelancers, I find fluctuating cashflow a much bigger issue than hitting my annual income targets.

‘Be up front with your terms and conditions, and make sure the client agrees to them before you start (even a reply to an email can be a binding agreement). My quotes, invoices and email confirmations say I expect payment within 14 days, and that – as a freelancer – if I get sick and can’t finish a job, the client still has to pay me for the work I’ve done so far.’

And when clients don’t pay?

‘I had to become confident of my rights in chasing up those payments because there are a shameful number of arts orgs and publications who don’t pay artists on time.’

And my hint for survival: ‘If you can, set up a sneaky bank account you can pay into during the months you’re flush with money, and pay yourself out of when you’re waiting for cash to come in.’

This interview was originally published by Artshub.

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