If you’re a young actor or model looking for a survival job, looking to make extra money on the side, or you’re interested in starting your own small business, there are numerous paths to pursue. You may be interested in regular side work, like a temp job or gig, or you may prefer something with more flexibility. The first step is to assess your skills, talents and abilities and then look at marketable avenues for pursuing work as a freelancer. Take a look at this advice from Solopreneur Grind on how to make it happen!
What Can You Do?
Many people take side gigs as consultants in their professional line of work. For example, an accountant might offer a side service of tax preparation, while a marketing or PR pro can take on press releases services. Still, others turn their hobbies into side income projects, selling handmade arts and crafts, or offering musical instrument lessons. People even find direct sales through the right multilevel marketing to be lucrative opportunities. Some roles may even help you network, meet others in your industry, and potentially lead to full-time job offers. Take stock of your personal and professional skills and then explore the market for your services.
Where To Find Work
Depending on the type of side gig you’re looking for, you might be able to register with online job search portals that provide listings for remote, freelance and gig roles. Industry-specific organizations are another place to look for part-time or temp jobs related to your profession. You may even find opportunities through traditional employment agencies. Other job-seekers use their social networks to advertise their services or ask for referrals from current or previous colleagues, customers or industry contacts.
Getting Yourself Set Up
Depending on the type of gig work you do, you may want to set up a home office. In addition to any type of equipment you may need that’s related to your specific freelance skill set, chances are you may also need a new laptop or desktop if your current model isn’t operating at full capacity. Printers, scanners, extra device chargers and filing systems can also be useful in maintaining a professional image and staying organized.
Also, especially in this day and age, don’t forget to protect yourself against cyber security threats. Often, hackers will target small, fledgling businesses specifically because they’re less vulnerable. So investing a little now could make all the difference.
Keeping The Momentum
When the side gigs start to materialize, keep the momentum going to ensure an ongoing revenue stream. For example, ask satisfied customers for referrals and offer discounts for future work. You might also find it worthwhile to invest in business cards or a simple website. There may even be a benefit to banding together with other gig workers in similar fields. For example, if you detail cars, offering to collaborate and share referral leads with a mechanic can bring in more business for both of you.
If all goes well, you might find that your side gig can function as a bonafide business. While you don’t necessarily want to replace your dreams of acting or modeling, a business that runs like a well-oiled machine can pave the way for you to feel more confident about the work you do take.
When you decide to turn your gig into a business, you’ll need to jump through a few hoops and navigate some red tape. This starts with establishing your business with the state and determining your business structure. Many small businesses opt for the LLC model, which is the easiest to set up and offers benefits like tax advantages and personal asset protection. An online formation service can help you quickly get this task out of the way so you can move on to more important work.
Working a side gig as a young actor or model is a good way to earn money when you’re between jobs, or when you just need to make a little extra money. Research going rates to ensure you’re pricing yourself competitively and set up a record-keeping and invoicing system to track revenue.
Solopreneur Grind is a community focused on helping others through the grind of starting or growing your own business because of how difficult and lonely achieving solopreneur business success can be. So why not stop by and check out the podcast?
