An Introduction to self-employment

1. An Introduction to self-employment

2. First thoughts • What are you going to do/sell/make? • What are you good at? • What do you know about the sector/market you’ll work in? • What do you know about the sector/market/profession? • Where do you fit in within this context? • What will you make your money from? Will it be more than one thing?

3. Sole Trader (self-employed)) • Easiest, most popular, way of starting in business • Just register with the Inland Revenue • Unlimited liability • Limited access to funding • Artquest website - “Seven Steps” www.artquest.org.uk

4. Partnership) • Like sole trader except a collection of individuals • Can be time limited to one project • Always get details of agreement in writing • Unlimited liability Like sole trader except a collection of individuals - you are liable for the others

5. First things first What do you need to do to get up and running? Best Business Practice & Processes**…legal structure…registration*…writing a business plan… • Studio/desk space; Filing cabinet Rolodex • Sharing? • Are you missing any skills and knowledge…what additional help do you need?

6. The studio debate: • Do I genuinely need a separate studio all the time? • Must it be self-contained? • Could it be a desk space? • Could I hire temporary space as and when, or sub-let? • What should I expect to pay? • Waiting lists and places to try: • www.ACAVA.org - all over London • www.cell.org - east • www.spacestudios.org - east and south • www.acme.org - east and south • www.cubittartists.org.uk - The Angel

7. Money stuff - Tax, NI, income and expenditure • What are your outgoings? Personal and business? • What do you need to make per day/week/month? • How many days off will you have - no weekends and evenings • What can you claim back? • Good book-keeping • Tax return - Accountants are your friends

8. Getting your work out there: • Website • Portfolio - strong and carefully considered - get advice • Printed postcards, publications etc. • Exhibitions • Networking (?) • Public relations (PR) • Marketing and advertising

9. ‘Networking’ • Real relationships • DO YOUR RESEARCH - who and where? Be specific • Don’t be London/UK-centric, Scotland, Europe, America • Trade fair exposure • Call all your friends, family, peers, tutors • Proactivity - polite appointments • Nurcture your relationships - clients, peers etc, ask for recommendations • Do you want an agent or do you want to fly solo? 40% • Always say ‘yes’ to relevant opportunites • Be good, say thank you, behave well

10. Selling your work Corporate/Art Consultancies • Polaroid • Ernst and Young • Deutschbank • Monsoon Commercial Representation Man and Eve, Associates, Limoncello, Paradise Row, M + R, Lounge Gallery Art Fairs: Frieze, Zoo, Basel • Private Collectors • People you know Public • Universities • Galleries • Museums

11. Basic Pricing • Compare yourself to your peers • What is the going daily rate? - ACE • What do people pay for what you do? • What is your expenditure in materials • What are your other overheads • Brief calculation - does this seem realistic?

12. Additional options • Part time job - related • Part time job - unrelated • Working in education • Support in kind • Funding, patronage and philanthropy

13. Part-time job: related - feed your creativity • Galleries/Museums Technician/curatorial • Cinemas NFT/BFI/ICA/Roxy • Arts and Crafts organisatons: V and A, Carfts Council, Tate etc • Bookshops • Art College Technician/Librarian • Designer’s Assistant

14. Part-time job: unrelated • Temping/office/admin • Bar/shop work • A separate career • Alys’ story - New York Nanny

15. Support in kind etc. • Residencies • AA2A • Internships: Chisenhale/Whitechapel/ Gasworks/Iniva etc. • Graduate loans/family/exchange for work/postgraduate funding

16. Residencies: • artistscommunities.org • www.resartis.org • www.re-title.com • www.artquest.org.uk • www.artsadmin.co.uk • Invent your own…

17. Education work • Higher and further education • Schools • Gallery education departments • Workshops: special needs/adults/prisons etc • Private classes - knitting etc.

18. Commercial work within your medium: • Painting and decorating • Photography • Architectural drawing • Video editing • Saskia’s story - Architectural Photographer • Ellie’s story - Opera

19. Funding/Sponsorship/advice Funder Finder-Creative Careers, Davies Street, ECCA • Arts Council www.artscouncil.org.uk • Design Council/Crafts Councils www.craftscotland.org • Princes Trust • NESTA www.nesta.org.uk • Prizes and Awards plc Dewi Lewis • Library/publications • Artquest www.artquest.org.uk • British Council

20. Where to go for support, advice and information: • Employability Adviser • Creative Careers • ECCA - one to one sessions at LCC • ACE artjobs subscribe at www.artscouncil.org.uk • A-N www.a-n.co.uk • SPACE www.spacestudios.org.uk • Tutors/peers/other artists/graduate week

21. SWOT etc: • Strengths • Weaknesses • Objectives • Threats • Short/long term goals In other words: What do I REALLY want to do, what am I good at? Go be it!

22. THANK YOU Where to find us: Student Hub, Davies Street - HQ CSM, Innovation Centre LCC, Elephant & Castle www.ecca-london.org info@ecca-london.org