Slipshod business school for the self-employed

…5 tips for artists with entrepreneurial inklings & the resources to realise them

A year ago, with the advent of my newsletter, I reluctantly and skeptically began taking myself more seriously as an entrepreneur.

In early 2020, I formed a Mastermind with two friends who run small business. Carlyn runs Tiny Ritual & Talia runs Primer

Every week we meet on Zoom and talk business. We each get the floor for 20 minutes to share what we’re working on and enlist ideas, expertise and advice from the others help us troubleshoot biz stuff.

When we first got going I felt like a fraud. 

“My business” I’d say with air quotes, “is a ragtag collection of things that keep me afloat.” 

Between my voiceover work, book writing, solo show creating and touring, acting gigs and teaching, I grappled with how to distil what I do into a sentence that captures what my business is?!

I’m still not sure. But try this on for size:

Haley McGee is an artist and educator who loves your guts.

She creates funny and disarming shows and books, and teaches artists how to overcome their creative blocks, finish their projects and earn money from their art.

 
Feedback welcome!
 
Anyway. Talia and Carlyn encouraged me to set up my Online Solo Show Creation Lab and held my hand as I fumbled through the tech and the challenges of selling an online course. Their troubleshooting and emotional distance from my project was hugely beneficial and I can honestly say, the reason I was able to get it up and out. 

Side note: As with my live course, I’m totally in love with all the students in the online course and so enjoying all our interactions. It’s a total pleasure and joy.

Yes, Haley McGee Industries (I joke – or do I!?) needs better branding and a sexier website. But I certainly feel like I’m stepping into my role as an entrepreneur and I like it.

As a freelance artist, so much of our work depends on the whims of gatekeepers. Seeing myself and behaving as a business-person has given me a real sense of agency and control.

If you too would like to seize the reigns and become the CEO of your ragtag “business” here are the first 5 things I’d recommend doing!  I’ve also included the resources I use to make them happen (NOT sponsored, just to help you out).

Tips & Resources for Artists with Entrepreneurial Inklings

  1. Start a mailing list
    - Be consistent (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) and offer people something valuable each time, even if it’s simply encouragement or good vibes.
    - I use Mailchimp, which is free up to a certain number of people on your list. From Carlyn, I hear FloDesk is great.

  2. Share your knowledge
    - Be generous with what you know. It feels good and it builds community. It also is great to test our ideas if you are thinking of teaching or offering workshops down the road.
    - You can check out all my free resources for artists here.

  3. Share your ARTISTIC WORK
    - Don’t hide it away. Tell people what you’re doing. Share about your process. Your audience wants find you – help them!
    - I built my website on Squarespace. If you want to share your work via social media, you can use Later to schedule a month’s worth of posts and it’s free.

  4. Go after the money but make your art no matter what
    - Pursue grants and opportunities but find DIY, low-cost ways to do them if the money doesn’t come. Trust that the money will come. Keep applying and KEEP CREATING.
    - My faves for help with this stuff are Generator in Canada and Arts Admin in the UK.

  5. Outsource and ask for help
    - Outsourcing can feel indulgent at first but employing an expert do the things you loathe or aren’t skilled at (housecleaning, video editing, admin etc) frees up your time to devote to projects that move the needle forward.
    - Take my word, hiring the amazing Eliza 4hrs pw has made so much possible in my biz. There are sites like Upwork and Fiverr that can help you find people, but my fave method is putting a call out on my social media.

Are these tips and resources useful to you? I have more to offer on my free resources page! Or sign up to my mailing list for new tricks each week.