Using a Side Gig to Grow Your Career as an Artist

Author: Abby Holt - craftability.org

Photo by Matthieu Comoy on Unsplash

Truth be told, achieving steady, sufficient, and reliable income as an artist can be challenging. Gigs are sporadic, art is seasonal, and stability is hard to come by. Even as a full-time artist, there are periods of low cash flow. Staying true to your dreams while struggling to earn a living can be discouraging and many artists diverge from their artistry. Side gigs offer a much-needed income stream to ease your anxiety and allow you to focus on building a career you love.

Having a side gig does not mean that you have failed in your artistic career. It can actually help you sharpen your skills and elevate your career to the next level. Many great artists you know today started out working side hustles as they built their brand. Your passion and goals in art should influence your part-time hustle. Wire Trap Tutorial invites you to read on to learn how you can benefit from having a side gig on your journey towards a successful art career.

Benefits of working a side gig

There are many ways you can benefit from a side gig as an artist.

1. Extra cash

Having multiple streams of income never hurt anybody. A side gig can keep money coming in as you find your footing in the art business. The money will help you lessen your financial burdens and ease your anxiety. Less worry will allow you the freedom to focus on the creative process of making amazing art.

2. Inspiration and opportunities

Working a side gig can benefit your artistic career. It allows you to experience new situations and meet new people. New experiences can offer you inspiration for your art projects. A side gig in the art scene can spark your creativity and broaden your imagination.

Networking through these side gigs can also help propel your art career. It gives you platforms to promote your work and meet people who may become the biggest supporters of your work. You can make connections with art agents, established artists, or galleries that can transform your career.

3. A chance to refuel

A regular side gig like bartending or waitressing can offer you a much-needed break from the creative world. Focusing on an activity that is not art-related can give you the opportunity to refuel. It will be like a paid vacation where you get to rest your creative brain. The break will boost your creativity and improve your art.

Turning your side gig into a business

The greatest advantage of working a side gig in your artistic field is that you can turn it into a business you are passionate about. Some tips to make this dream a reality include:

- Put in the time

Starting a business is hard. It demands commitment and sacrifice but it can be truly rewarding. To launch a full-blown art business, you have to create a lot of art. While there is no rule on the number of finished art pieces that you must have before launching a business, you need to have a good amount available to showcase.

If you have space at home, you could set up a small art gallery to showcase your art to clients and customers. This is a great way to get your work in front of people while saving up money to create a gallery outside of your home. Keep in mind that changes you make to your home can add value to the property should you decide to sell at some point down the road.

However, you should not rush the process, so take advantage of your side gigs to explore and discover your artistic style. Find your target market of buyers from the people you interact with and make sure you are ready before you launch.

- Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

An EIN will provide legitimacy to your business. It may seem unnecessary for your sole proprietorship but the benefits are hard to overlook. Applying for an EIN takes less than ten minutes. It provides identity protection, protects your personal assets from business losses, and allows you to establish credit for your business. The Tax ID Number also makes filing federal and state taxes easier, quarterly or annually. To hire employees, even temporary ones, you need an EIN. It allows you to set up a payroll system. IRS EIN filing is how the IRS tracks payroll taxes.

The takeaway

Taking a side gig does not mark the end of your artistic career. If anything, it should make you a better artist.