Tips For Transitioning Into A Creative Field 

It’s been over a year since I left the typical “9 to 5” career job and started working the blog full time while freelancing and working part time on the side. I won’t even lie to you though. When I initially stopped the 9-5 routine, I was confused, overwhelmed and to be honest, it took a toll on my self confidence, but luckily after a lot of self care and love, Stella got her groove back.

Whether you are moving into a more creative field from a more “traditional” career path or starting off in the creative field, it can sometimes get a little overwhelming with how you approach your look, your brand and really, everything else in between.

However, don’t worry. I feel you!
If you are looking to jump into a more creative field and don’t even know where to begin, read on for a guide to how you can do it. 

First things first. Business cards. Just because business cards have got the word ‘business’ in the title, don’t be put off! Business cards are important even if you’re venturing into creative. They add an air of legitimacy to things and show that you are taking them seriously. They also work as a fantastic way to end a conversation with someone.

Furthermore, they give your contact details to someone in a tangible form you can keep. On yours, be sure to include your name, phone number and an email address. If you have a website or place that you share your art, include that also. Finally, make space to include your social media info. Your Facebook page address and Twitter handle, most importantly.

On the subject of social media, how is your presence here? It could be the case that you cannot afford to pay for advertising in these spaces. After all, this can be prohibitively expensive, but there are free ways of developing a presence on the main social media sites. Take Facebook, for example. You can set up a page or group for yourself that you maintain. Thanks to all of the different features that Facebook offers, you will then be able to use the group to share what you are doing or creating. So, if you are a photographer, you can make whole albums of your best work. If you are a YouTuber, you can upload segments or snippets of your own videos. The options are really endless! 

You also need to think about how you are making your product or venture appear aesthetically. What does your packaging look like? If you are selling your own CDs, for example, does the cover art look presentable and does it focus on your brand? Imagine an artist you like – it has to tell a story just from it’s cover, so you can easily purchase professional looking packaging like Nationwide Disc Replication, but if you are a photographer, you making a portfolio to show to potential clients should consist of your full look and brand. Consider upgrading the quality of this since your brand is your voice. It will be one of the first impressions that these potential clients get of you, so be sure that it is a good one that makes it look like you take your work seriously.

Take a look at the aesthetic of your marketing and advertising also. If you are handing out flyers or business materials, do they look good? Would you take one if someone tried to hand it to you? Let’s say you are a theatre director putting on a play. Take Edinburgh Fringe Festival where thousands of creative acts, from musicians to comedians perform, vie for advertising space. You would need a poster that is really going to stand out, right? Spending a little more money on the appearance of these things can make a big difference. Even just a better quality of paper, or printing, can elevate you from ‘amateur’ looking to professional looking!

One final thing you may want to consider is attending trade shows. Doing so will put you in front of the right people. These might be potential consumers, competitors who need to know about you, or even potential future clients. If trade shows doesn’t work for your particular venture, just simply putting yourself out there and attending events, meetings and workshops can really make all the difference! 

Do you have any advice for those who are going into a creative field? Leave a comment below!

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