Freelance 101: Finding work (Patreon)

Consistently finding work is one of the toughest parts of starting to freelance. Even after a few years of experience, it can take time to find jobs that are a good match for your services. It requires a LOT of patience and perseverance until you have a strong client list. Here are some of the lessons I've learned regarding seeking out freelance work.

In-house experience

I highly recommend, if possible, getting studio experience before doing freelance. Seriously. This gives you a lot of insight into the inner workings of a studio and how different teams collaborate with each other, plus it teaches you what each discipline needs and does on a daily basis. It also builds a lot of credibility, which is absolutely essential for freelancers. By demonstrating that you can work 8 hours/day, build positive relationships, and consistently output professional-level art on a day-to-day basis, you're laying a foundation of trust...and remember, don't burn bridges on your way out. The network that you build by being around other professionals often leads to opportunities later. Even getting a year of in-house experience will help a LOT and allow you to save up some money for while you're searching for gigs.

Building a strong client list

This is another big part of building credibility. Working for well-known, reputable studios leads to a client list that sends a strong first impression. This obviously takes years of time, but do know that having an impressive resume helps a LOT with finding work later. Nailing down a few contracts with companies that are generally well-known in the community is an good goal to have in order to shorten time off between contracts.

Social media

I've gotten a HUGE amount of my jobs through my online presence. Twitter is the #1 source of gigs for me, but participating in forums, Facebook groups, and other online communities helps too. Again- reputation is really important. Becoming known and having your name associated with professional-grade work creates opportunities in ways that have really surprised me. 

Building an online presence, like all things, takes a lot of time. I've been on Twitter for 6+ years and have been tweeting game dev/art advice for about 4 of them. Gaining a following and getting exposure is a slow and tedious process, but it can lead to work if you're consistent and have found your voice. 

Becoming a "twitter famous" creator isn't just about creating art and posting it- it's about being consistent and contributing to the conversation. More folks have found me due to advice threads than my actual art, so that's kinda become my online brand. How I share my experiences. How I speak and what I speak about. I didn't start dishing out game/art advice because I wanted to be popular on twitter, I did it because I saw a need and I was frustrated about how secondary education doesn't cover that need. So I angry tweeted about how I thought things should be! Ranting! And here we are.

Talk about what's important to you. Ask questions. Participate! Be consistent and kind! That's what using social media in a productive, lucrative way as an artist really comes down to.

Reaching out to companies directly

Every time I'm looking for work, I send out my information and portfolio to a bunch of companies. To be honest, I very rarely hear back when doing this. Social media is my #1 source of gigs because the people that reach out *to me* are the ones that are actively and currently interested in my services. When cold emailing companies, you're placing a bet on if they need your work, if they need it now, and if they have the budget. There are a LOT of factors that have to come together for that. 

When directly emailing companies, make sure to make your art very accessible and to treat the email itself like a little cover letter. State who you are, what service you offer, your availability, and why your work fits their projects well. Be concise, clear, and professional...and very patient.

I'm not saying that I don't recommend reaching out to companies directly- I have gotten great jobs by doing this, but don't get stressed when you don't hear back. A lot of artists will reach out to several dozen companies (or more) before they hear back from a studio that can and wants to work with them.

I generally don't recommend emailing the same company over and over again in a short period of time. If you don't hear back but really want to work for them, don't apply 4 times in a few weeks. It's obnoxious. Give it a couple of months, and make sure that your portfolio is improving every time.

Utilizing your network

This overlaps a bit with using social media, but networking is a HUGE part consistently finding opportunities. Build relationships with other creators. Go to local events, and participate in forums and Discords and other online communities. Meet and connect with people on a human level rather than trying to pass out your business cards as fast as you can. Develop a genuine, professional reputation and don't be afraid to ask for help. Share job openings for others even when you already have work, and post that you're open for gigs when between contracts. 

These human connections are so, so important to making freelancing sustainable. I would not be here without the generous help of mentors that took time out of their busy days to guide me and point work my way. Don't underestimate how important going out and *talking to people* is!

The "I can't find work" checklist:

Here's the hard part of the conversation: if you can't find work and don't know why. The reality of the situation is that a lot of people that struggle to find jobs aren't making work at a professional level yet. The #1 factor to finding gigs is the quality of your art, hands down. If no one is even getting back to you or expressing interest, this requires some self-reflection. Ask for feedback on the quality of your work in forums or communities that you trust to be honest with you. Provide some context into your situation and goals, and ask for critique.

Another common issue is strong work with poor presentation. Taking the time to make sure your art is displayed in a way that is cohesive, clean, and consistent is SO important. Make sure that your portfolio loads quickly and is well-organized. It's absolutely necessary to make a strong first impression when a recruiter/director/manager/etc is scrolling through dozens of portfolios in a day. Spellcheck. Don't diss yourself, sound desperate, or ramble.

Another point to consider...are you easy to find? Are you easy to get in touch with? Make sure your contact information is visible on every page of your site or add a contact form. Use the same name or screenname (which I generally recommend against, but that really comes down to preference) across all social media. Link all of your social media to each other so people can look at all of your work in a click of a button. Make a profile on Artstation and keep it updated.

At the end of the day, the best things you can do to find work is to keep creating, post consistently, push your online presence, and build genuine relationships with people. This stuff requires patience. A lot of it. Sticking to it and being willing to accept feedback will help you build a positive reputation and a professional network.

Stay kind and be generous. Good luck out there, yall.