I really hope this helps 💞like I mentioned, it's totally an overview so let me know if there's anything you want me to go into in more detail and I can :) Thanks for watching! cam xoxo
Def building a shop and generating traffic. I've tried a few times in the past to sell what I think are pretty niche and rad items that people would dig, but just never got off the ground. month after month of dumping money into it I eventually cut my losses.
which apps in Shopify are great for people who are trying to use it as a FTP account (budget constraints) and which apps are worth investing the monthly payments into?
“There’s enough money to go around, so why not you” is such an obvious and simple way to look at it, and I never really thought about it like that before, thank you, actually more comforting and motivational than most of the other (good and bad) advice I’ve heard before when it comes to encouraging someone to monetize a creative skill set.
Its all a big circle those with established careers one day will stop (retire etc) so others will take their place and those just starting provided their consistent, patience and practice their skills will also move on. Nothing stays still and nor does it have to be linear.
When I worked as a junior estimator for a custom precast concrete manufacturer, when we were asked to provide a quote for a job the chief engineer did not really want, he would crank up the profit margin a lot. That was so the request for proposal was not turned down directly which would hurt our chances of getting asked again by that construction management company. And if they went for it, bonus!
I’ve been a graphic designer and illustrator for 16 years. Struthless is right on this stuff. My advice on charging clients is keep your hourly rate private and never tell the client; a flat rate is the way to go. During an introductory conversation with a client, I ask pointed questions to figure out what their budget is and give them a couple quotes based on what they are wanting. I sent my quotes in a “design agreement contact”, which outlines my process, the parties’ responsibilities for, expectations, etc. I can usually tell by their reaction to the “design agreement” if they are going to be a client I want to work with or will need to pass on.
Yes you really need to have things written out in black and white as a contract. I used to bid jobs as a two-phase contract because I was doing design work that involved a lot of material purchasing and really high overhead. I would bid a design process and a build process, essentially. That way I could bill for design services regardless if the client backed out of the job (which could happen from time to time) - the client had an out, and if they wanted to they could take my design and hire another contractor to do it, because I tended to be more expensive on the build side than a corner-cutting contractor who didn't have the creativity to do design work. Of course I only came up with this two-stage bid process after getting screwed over a few times, so often times you gotta take your hits early in your career to learn the ins and outs of how to protect yourself and make sure you get paid fairly.
Thank you for your amazing advice too!! I have a question- what do you mean by “pointed questions”? Could you give an example? I often struggle finding out the budget of my client without literally asking (which doesn’t feel like a smart move)
As an accountant, I can confirm this is all excellent advice. Much respect for being open about the rates charged, that sort of information is so helpful for people looking to get into creative industries and it makes me sad when I see people not valuing their time enough.
I got knocked on my ass out of art college. I worked multiple creative jobs (murals, hand drawn maps, websites and graphic design) and the companies cut my final price to peanuts every time. It stung my soul. Confidence is a huge necessity in this business. Thanks for the video and the SPECIFICS!
i wish you the bestttt, im currently having to apply to university and im still choosing whether to continue accounting, taking business or go to an art college, im just scared that my skills arent good and that i cant do it as my full time job after, but i hope youre doing well currently and not letting your experiences shy you away from creating :]
@@populationme if it feels most fitting and fulfilling for you to study art I say go for it! I myself am in my 2nd year of an illustration degree, before I started I was nowhere near ready to be working at a consistent professional level, my style was often different from week to week and I struggled a lot with drawing proper scenes. Now from being on a good course for a while, not even for that long, my illustration style has really developed, settled more and from all of what I've learnt it seems very viable for me in the future to go on to make books, comics and make work for videogames/animations. Definitely recommend an art course that teaches you the business side of it too, encouraging professional ways of working but also to be playful, experiment and have fun. Some courses seem very polarised, I've had friends that have done degrees and they're not equipped to be a professional, then heard of courses that are so focused on professionalism that there's no room for fun. Find what's right for you, many of us have imposter syndrome and feel we're not good enough but don't let that stop you and do the things you want anyway! Wish you well on your path :)
18 years after college I have a super fulfilling job working with kids in my community. I get to do something different, challenging, and artistic every day. I created my job by being a hard worker, personable and professional with each job I’ve had. I don’t make much money but I’m satisfied with a nice house and family. My advice is this: nothing matters unless you have the drive, discipline, and professionalism that make you a confident business person enough that any trade you do will be successful. You need to know what you can handle and make yourself a little uncomfortable with risk-taking. I see a lot of crappy artists making tons of money because they keep at it every day.
You have to get thick enough skin to simply straight out refuse people who don't want to pay what you're worth. You'll find good clients. You're better to work odd-jobs IMHO than to be an unpaid intern of exploited artist.
One of the most interesting pieces of advice I've heard was "Never avoid paying taxes... paying taxes means you're making money." I'm not sure about all countries, but in the US, tax is always a percent of PROFIT (deductions are meant to avoid taxing you for income that wasn't profit). This means that you'll never be taxed out of profitability (if you're calculating things correctly). So, taxes can be scary because it can be complicated paperwork, but taxes should never (in the US and similar tax environments) be scary because you're worried that you'll pay more in taxes than you make in profit.
Exactly. Paying your taxes wisely, such as investing in "third-world" countries like Goergia or open an oversea account for you or your business, isn't not paying your taxes : it's sending a part of it to a place where it's win-win for you (because of currency trade up), for them and for your government. This isn't the same at all as sending your money into a tax-free paradise.
I pay my taxes mostly because if I don't, men with guns will come and take my things and sell them, arrest me and put me in prison, and when I get out, I would have to pay the tax anyway.
This pandemic and lock down really hit me hard. For 6 months I was in the dark, and it's pretty dark for a person who hasn't even crossed 20's yet. I was not doing so well mentally.The only thing that made me feel useful was drawing, so I used it in my favour and started to draw 2 hours or so daily, Some days i used to draw but felt depressed, but I drew anyways. I found your channel 2-3 months ago, and I'm working on myself ,you're being a great help,your views and opinions really help alot. Keep making these videos. I love you :)
Sending lots of love to you Lily! Pandemic hit me hard, too. I knew it was an opp to get my own work out there, but had no idea how much baggage I'd need to work through before I could be creatively productive. But I've done the work, I'm finally there, and the time is now. (Not that work on our personal selves is ever really done, but I'm at a point where I can do this.) Anyways, wishing you loads of success and hang in there, cuz this community is something really special. 💗
@@LyndseyMacPherson Thanks, Lyndsey!! I'm doing much better these days. It's nice to hear that there is someone who understands the effect these seemingly small problems can have and take a lot away from you .And yeah Creative productivity is something I struggle with a lot, I make plans that I'll draw these things, I'll draw anatomy and use the poses to turn into something of my own, I mean there's a lot I need to do but no matter what I do I'm never able to satisfy my hunger ,but the good part is it keeps me busy. I sometimes wonder, does this even matter? Is my art even getting where I want it to? But the effective solution I was able to find to this was just to keep drawing (or whatever work you want to) cause I can't control anything other than me practising daily.I learned to enjoy and believe in the process and expect nothing. Thanks,for letting me vent this long lol. I hope you're doing well too. We'll definitely get where we want to, keep shining and believing yourself. All the best wishes to you!!! :)
I hate to be the 1 asking this, but since everyone sent the replies of comfort (which you can just copy paste and know I think the same). How's your drawing after all of that?
Really good, helpful outline. So appreciate that your advice isn’t “get a degree, intern, network”. You gave a flexible framework that folks can apply to their situation. For some, that’s college, for others it’s a mid-career shift. Thanks for an inclusive approach. Very practical tips.
I have trouble with confidence. It’s a hurdle to believe my work is valuable enough to monetize. I’m also slow to produce and worry I don’t have time to build the necessary skills beforehand, and in an environment where folks seem to expect instant results and a high volume of work, I start to feel resentful that I can’t just let go and do it, like in the mural example. In a word: perfectionism.
you may want to check out a book entitled 'secrets of six-figure women.' yeah, i thought that would never be me, either (not that it is), but it is REALLY good advice for straightening your mental attitude towards money and earnings, and your self worth.
I struggle as well but this thought helps me: I’m not going to tell myself something won’t work. I’m going to put myself out there and let the world tell me whether or not it works. Limiting myself means I’ll never start. But putting something out there and measuring how well it’s received is really valuable information that can help me decide what to do next. You can always pivot. But you’ve got to allow yourself the room to start, knowing you’re imperfect.
This was great. I've been freelance full-time for going on three years, and the bit about the 1 in 50 bites on emails/DMs was super encouraging (thought I was alone in that). And yes, absolutely get on the paperwork early. I hate paperwork so I've worked with an accountant since the beginning for all my tax stuff, and went through a local university's law school for the legal side of setting up the business entity. Since they're students they get credit and experience for the work, and it's free for businesses. It's also all reviewed by their professors so I knew it was all good to go. That's something to look into. Some bigger universities and colleges have small business centers or other resources like that, too. Highly recommend looking into them because it's usually free or low-cost and is also a great opportunity to meet folks.
TOTALLY into more videos like this - setting up your shop, getting traffic pointed there, etc.! I wanna know it all! Thank you so much for this video, it was really helpful!
I picked up sewing clothes at the thick of the 2020 pandemic. It was such a creative rush for me. And of course I’d share my work and WIP on my socials. Naturally too, people began telling how I could start selling my work. Several would ask me how much I would charge if I make this or that for them. Since then I’ve been going back and forth whether I would or could push through selling my work or sewing for profit. I’ve only been sewing for a little more than 2 years and I’m just not confident enough to sell for profit. There’s just so many expectations - also all the paperwork, making sure I make profit, making sure I’m not undercharging or overcharging, etc. This video really helped me somehow pick the cluttered directions of my thoughts about my dilemma. Now, I have a kind of outline and checklist to go through as I consider monetizing my creative outlet. This channel rocks!
What usually also helps, when you already have a skill (let‘s say its photography) give your client add-on options. I‘d say in 80% of the time in my case this has helped me to get more money from a job. For example: You‘re asked to do a photoshoot - tell your client you could also film a short video or help him with graphic design. You get the idea - something simple but yet useful for your client. Regarding the add on price… I‘d say it can reach from 15-30% extra of what the initial price was.
I am a creative (mostly fine art/sketch). I find what is tough for me is I'm interested in art as a career but don't know what to focus on. Art is a passion of mine but that is pretty vague. I love hearing that you made profit on murals when you never did it. That is really inspiring 🥰 I am excited to have some art in am upcoming exhibition. Small steps 😁
I would try to find a niche or a couple of niches that are really in demand and get REALLY good at those. If you want to make money you have to provide what people want. Be good and be fast.
@@legacy7381 not yet. I've just been experimenting. I was able to sell a piece at the exhibition and I have 3 commission pieces to work on! Still nothing specific. But as long as I'm enjoying the process I can't complain 🥰
For me (I'm a motion designer) the formula of life expenses + what I would like to put aside / days I'm planning to work = a daily rate. And it's easly scalable so if my daily expenses gotten bigger I charge more, if I felt like I should by some gear or have a bit more comfort I charge more. And it organicly grew over the years, you just have to be resonable with your expectations. For past few years I'm working full-time and calculating my annual salary came down to the same formula.
How did you get started in motion design? Im a illustrator but I’m not sure on how to begin the process of who I should even contact for work. I’ve gotten so many rejections because of my art style
@@artistate9596 Painfull truth is that if you want to work with specific clients / industries you should show in your portfolio that you can do the job they need. And it's also about the style. If you want to go the other way around, find a studios / companies / agencys that might work with style similar to yours and write to them directly. With time you can develop your own brand, become a motion designer with a certain distinctive "own" style and then you'll find a niche were clients would like to have it done just as you do it. But at the beginning - find out what approchable clients need from a motion designer and show off in the portfolio that you can do it.
@@szymonbrygidyn9513 thanks for taking the time to respond back to me! I am definitely working on updating my portfilio to something that's more consistent. Thank you for the advice
That "Hi Jessica, thanks for your email" made my choke on my salad 🥗 Love these tips. I took a break from freelance art making for money because the winter was kicking my mental butt. It's time to begin again! I got your book but I haven't read much of it yet 👀
Just finished your book and can say: as good as advertised and a whole lot more. Your way of condensing the information, making them actionable and relatable is astounding. Thank you!
Wow, this video is like a full on guide to monetization! So cool that you've actually experienced what you talked about and it's not just theoretical. I'm sure this video will help A LOT of people. Thank you! :)
I love your videos Struthless!! They've helped me SO much, and I find myself being so much more productive than I was last year. I'm halfway done reading your book too! Hiiighly recommend
This is one of your best videos, and the competition is tough. The information you are giving here is so important and so rare to find. I'm a writer and I only just started making money from my skill recently, although I already published three novels with established publishers. It's due to a lot of reasons: having babies, the pandemic... but really, It's mostly just me doubting myself and undercharging. That undercharging bit was such a bitter laugh. You inspire me to believe my good-paying gigs now are not just a fluke, and that I will be making an even better income later in life.
Great video! When I had a small art gallery, there were many good artists who had no idea how to price their work. It really does make sense to track the hours and materials and decide that maybe you're better than $5/hour, and maybe a client isn't going to respect your work if you don't put it in a reasonably professional frame or pedastal. I had no problem selling my work because I always had a good story or pitch that becomes part of the buying experience. A little wine and cheese doesn't hurt, either.
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Every little thing about this video makes perfect sense to me -also, the specificity in all of it-. I am close to 50 now and I have been dealing with self doubt for the last three years even though I have made everything I sought to do when I was younger and I know I can still make a living. Thank you SO much, God bless ye, mate.
This actually does give me a new angle. I have a bachelor's in media specialising in sound design and I was reading up ways to market yourself and it always was about having a portfolio site, doing a video reel etc. and the task felt daunting, not to mention that I was burned so much in the industry I decided to quit it and just do music as a hobby, till I lately have been thinking of monetising my hobby into a side gig say for sound work for games or making game music etc. This is giving me new ideas and a new thinking angle, thanks a lot Struth!
This video is like a road mad to my life lol. I'm an Architectural designer and artist, I've been wanting to go out on my onw and freelance for other firms, while building my artist website, and although that sounds daunting this video make it all feel so possible. Thank you for always dropping so much knowledge and giving actionable steps for us to follow. have an amazing day.
This is a very helpful video, thank you! Another tip, look for commercial art industry conventions- not little art fairs. The Jacob Javits Center in NYC has a massive commercial art convention where artists can sell off portfolios of original work or get approached by art directors for licensing. It could be a big windfall after months of building up original art with no plan for it. Rejected client work or practice/concept work could get sold off here. You never know what someone is looking for and your random sketchbook doodles could be it.
Liked, subscribed and now writing a comment because a lot of the points mentioned were indeed something that I did try and worked to my favour. Now, if I can add a little disclaimer - DO NOT QUIT YOUR FUCKING DAY JOB especially if you think (now) you don't have any creative skills to sell. How to find your creative skills? Remove the pressure to monetise. This is THE MAJOR creative block for anyone really. If the next thing you're going to say is something like "But I don't have any talents" etc. then hold on to this - "Creativity in the face of adversity". Adversity is hardship, anything that's stopping you to do from something is hardship. Fear is hardship. If it is hard to remove the pressure to monetise, don't you think it is time to get creative? Every time you overcome hardship, it is one step closer to your talent. Just keep repeating the process ie. keep creating not for selling but to find your talent.
I was thinking it might be weird to say that I love you, but Google says "love" can be defined as "have a soft spot for" and "take great pleasure in" and "like and enjoy very much." So, yeah. I love you. You add so much value to my life. Gratitude abounds. ❤️
The tax evasion part is a real thing. "Tax evasion" is such a scary pairing of words, yet most people who start up a small business or freelancing endeavor do it. There's little to no education on taxes in the public schooling system (where most people go as teenagers with undeveloped minds and a tendency to maintain a state of distraction), so naturally when creative people are left to their own devices in the world of never ending possibility (business), mistakes are made. I'm pretty lucky my debt for not managing taxes properly in the first couple of years wasn't entirely significant because it was only one of the arrangements with one of the clients that wasn't executed properly. You live and you learn. I'd say good on you for posting such awesome content, but that would imply that it was something that was out of character. - a committed subscriber
dude you're always so fucken helpful!! everything you talk about every video, every tip, EXTREMELY VALUABLE, IMPACTFUL AND DIGESTABLE. You helped me through so much and even though I've been following you for over a year this is the first time I leave a comment like this cuz I wait for every video of yours and you're the only one I have notifications turned on for. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
You do so much for us; and what you're doing is really important work that no one else has taken on in a way that's terribly helpful. Creatives aren't, by nature, usually business heads. So, thank you. This is like, a masterclass on monetising creative work. I'm even taking notes. Would absolutely LOVE advice on how to build an online shop, but it feels like too much to ask.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for real advice. I recently unsubscribed from an artist because they made a video that said it's wrong to pay people for art because you should do it because you love it. 🙄 Granted I think this is somewhat true for passion projects, but no other craftsmen (chef, musician, actor, model, etc) has this "my craft should be free because of love" thought virus in their head. I can say that I have gotten work from upwork. I've also gotten a lot of leads by drawing on my tablet at restaurants and wineries since that is where art collectors hang out. Drunk rich people love buying art. And if they can't by your art, they'll frequently take your business card and buy you a drink. 😉
This is the first true practical video on the subject of how to make money online! Many others brought only more question marks and even left me feeling defeated. This video inspires me and offers a clear, realistic and detailed path. I’m stoked!
Seriously been looking into being a freelancer, making my own RUclips Channel or how to monetize my creativity and came across this video which made me subscribed to you- you may not even see this comment since this is a video you posted 8 months ago but I’m sure it isn’t just me who can say that this video helps a lot. Thank you for the time you placed in this, the tips you’ve provided and your amazing personality.
This video is exactly what I needed today! I do some freelance writing on Upwork, and I write on Medium which pays per view. I’m super interested in branching out, and expanding my horizons in this path. This video has helped me figure out what my next step is on the path, and even given me some new ideas!
hi ! just suscribed to Upwork and I was wondering, how do you declare your taxes when doing so ? same for Medium ? is any of what you're doing 'official' ? i'm only a full-time student trying to figure things out haha
@@cacciatore_5320 oh and deductions are money that you spent on your business whether it is a subscription like Grammarly to help you write or printer ink , keep all of those receipts even if it’s virtually like by scanning them in an app!
@@DiannaCarney oh i'm sorry i believe there's a message of yours that's missing ? but thank you very much for only thinking of replying this comment section is always so wholesomeee
This video is so helpful as a beginner in the world of making money as an artist, your channel never disappoints! also yes PLEASE to a video on starting an online shop. I'm an oil painter and have had more clients reaching out about prints lately and want to jump in and start a shop but have literally no idea how to actually get the ball rolling. Thanks!!
Keep stacking skills. Life is a process of learning and sharing. I've been running my creative business for about a decade now, full time since 2015. Depending on what projects I'm working on, I can realistically expect $20-$40 per hour. Last year I took time off to start learning about natural sciences. Got to learn about and work with new materials which serve my main set as well. Integrate all the things! Also, WORKSHOPS are another great way to make money from your creative skills. Sometimes people aren't even learning, they just want to pay you to art and chill. Good stuff. That's the life for meeeee~
want to add my voice to all the thanks and praise for your straight-up advice and fun videos. the part that hit me the most was the thing about 'only one in a million people make money' at this. because THAT was DRILLED firmly and repeatedly into my head when i was a 'creative' child; that nobody makes money from art. thankfully, my parents quickly changed their minds when i decided the right 'real job' for me was a zookeeper. still, i haven't really 'made it' as an artist. so i'm STILL stuck in that mindset, rather poor, and trying to get out of it.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this video man. I appreciate all of your videos but as a creative who is trying to become independent I feel like it’s too late for me if that makes sense, I just turned 29 and feel like this even though others say I’m still young. But as you said, that’s the way the world works. It takes time to learn new skills and start new projects. I’ve been working a typical 9-5 job for the past 5 years now. My first job was social media and marketing where I assisted with graphics and stuff, now I do more logo work and renders for a golf ball company. While this work has been stable, it’s burned me out and the pandemic woke me up to the idea that I cannot stand working around other people and for corporations. I’ve been trying to find new work, but the market is so oversaturated right now. My job isn’t terrible by any means especially compared to the seriously toxic and abusive places I worked prior. So, I feel bad for complaining, but I want freedom. I want my time back and I want to sell art for me. I know doing your own thing can be way more demanding, but at least the effort I put in will give me more for what I’m doing. I’ve been working more at honing my illustration and graphic design skills, I’ve been trying to get better at video editing too. I opened an Etsy shop of May of last year and I know I need more items, but it’s a process and I also want to have my own independent store. So I would love a video about setting up shop, I have a Wordpress portfolio and I’m probably gunna roll that into squarespace because they seem to give you the ability to have a blog and have a portfolio with a shop. Wordpress was great back in the day, but it’s too clunky now with the plugins. I used QuickBooks because it auto imports everything and registered with my state and government to sell too. I didn’t make a ton (around 200 dollars) from my side stuff, but I still filed it along with my expenses because I didn’t want to be stuck like everyone else and hit with a bill. I made sure to learn tax and logistics stuff as much as I could before starting. I don’t think many think of that, so thank you for bringing that up. The US just passed a law too that people who make 600 or more in sales need to file along with their regular taxes. I’m not big on freelancing it was too much when I did it in the past, maybe one day, but right now I’d love to sell my work on merch like prints, shirts, keychains, etc. I’m working on card designs too for Mother’s Day and weddings, but again I always feel behind the curve. I’m also planning to open some POD shops to generate passive income and license some handmade fonts and icons in design marketplaces. I really like how you broke everything down and made lists, I think that will help me organize my plan and projects that need to be done first. I have too many things I want to do because everything sounds fun and I do actually enjoy running a small online shop, the people who have bought from me make me feel good. I’ve had to put a lot of that on hold too because some personal and family related issues have come up, so I haven’t been able to get to what I’ve needed to for a couple months now. I’m still drawing and working on things, but nothing to make money right this second. Sucks how life gets in the way of creativity and we have to prioritize other things. That would be an awesome video to make balancing your creative life when shit happens. I also really appreciate your transparency of what you charge. Too many artists I see say “charge more” or “charge your worth” that’s not at all helpful because I think when you’re first starting out you shouldn’t charge as much as those who’ve been in the game longer. Start reasonable and build up like you did.
Cam, I only found your channel two weeks ago. I bought your book and so far I am LOVING it. Thank you for putting out such awesome content. I cannot tell you how appreciated it is by me! I have ADHD and the thought of getting started on a new career path that is self-driven is terrifying. For some reason the way your content flows and your humor is spot on for my brain, and things just start to click. Thank you, all the way from the western USA. 🤘🏼
Hey! I don’t actually know a good way to message you but I just got the feeling I should share the feels, I’ve been consistently thinking about how the shitstorms of life inherently come with a new ability to resonate with people and understand others pain, which is forever valuable, so shitstorms can’t really come without value even at their worst - and how the good may not outweigh the bad but it can accompany it and I can grateful for the accompaniment - and a lot of this thought pathway is thanks to you holding and sharing that value yourself so I wanted to thank you and remind you that you’re doing meaningful work and it ripples it ways you might not ever see, but doesnt make it any less real and amazing ♥️ have a good day home skillet
I loved this video, its so refreshing to see someone share the money side of freelancing without being vague. And I'm so glad you're doing so well & getting paid 👏
im a 22 yr old artist, just came out of uni, was feeling pretty lost and finding your channel and your videos and advice have helped me so much.. Also to make me feel like i can do this and I will be fine and motivate me. Great video
Oh I love it when you go into detail on anything! And I'm definitely interested in hearing more about getting traffic to your online shop. Also I got two copies of your book and my 7 year old says you did an amazing job on the cover. So, full marks all around!
This is immensely helpful. Not only is this inspiring and really opens the gates, but it gets down to specifics. Nobody ever gives specifics when they talk about this shit. Killing it.
YES i was waiting for this one and was rooting for this the most out of the poll on community. thank you so much for making this. I'm an architect and illustrator and I've just had bumpy starts with everything, if even that. For illustrations, i've now decided to do a year of daily illustrations. the current goal is 100 days, and i'm now at 35 days which is nice but i keep having all these doubts about competency even though i know i'm good at this. and as for architecture, I just haven't had any luck with good clients. I'd get people asking me for pricing and timeline and then just completely ghost me. Like, i've been at this for months now and have't really made good profits. I just hope i can find the willpower to keep going
This might be long winded buuut I’ve been watching you for nearly a full year now and have been going thru that whole “bettering myself journey” if that’s what ya would like to call it and your videos have been so helpful to me, now I’ve quit my full time job to work so,etching mundane for part time and pursue my art full time which is really great!(I have a toddler so yes she is also her own full time job on the side for me lol) these tips have been so helpful and I’m even gonna be brave and try making my website on Shopify even though I’m definitely not savvy in that department. This year is all about learning new things yay! Thanks so much for all your advice 💗💗💗 it means the world to me 😊
Thank you so much for this video. I've been trying to get into this sort of work myself (creative writing primarily,) and finding solid information has been an uphill battle in order to start it. Not only will this help at least get me started, but it might even help my resume since I'm usually bad at listing my skills. You're the best.
Hey Cam! This vid was delightful to watch! As someone in her mid 20s, who is still fidgeting around life, your vids give me a sense of direction lol, thanks for your generosity, honestly I would pay for this content :) 💜💙🧡 Another tip to sell without social media is to make your fancy ass influencer frens wear your merch! 💯 Also, can you make a video on setting up shop online? Ik the process is straight forward but there is plenty of knick-knack advice a business owner can give in hindsight, aka you! Lou, me. 🐸♥️
I love this channel. This video was really eye-opening because I'd heard so much of the whole "monetise your art through social media" advice that I'd genuinely forgotten that there were other ways to do things. Thanks 👍
Thanks a lot for all the videos you do! I've been trying to start as a videographer/editor and EVERYTHING has been an excuse to slack.. the way you expose your journey and overall positivity are so helpful i might get to actually start doing it 🙏🏻
Bro, I literally laugh and feel inspired when I watch your vids. I'm on the path to working for myself and you've definitely helped me get into the headspace to do so. You give real practical advice, nothing to trick people to keep watching.
This was so so valuable, love your approach to business and how you explain things. You cut the crap and get straight to the good stuff. Thanks so much
I love how you said how what people say to charge... "How much do you think your worth? 🤣👌 Because it's sooo spot on. So I guess I should say well 1mil per design then eh ? 😂😂😂 Exactly I can't charge that unless some company's are gonna pay that much for my creative skills. Also funny is how half these people have never done anything creative in their lives but yet tell you what they think you should be doing right now as if it is sooo easy to just whip up 10 Absolutely Fabulous Brand New Giant Paintings or make numerous physical products that these people would expect you to give them out to them, when they have no clue how long all these things take to make, how much money is involved in making physical products etc. This is why artists need to keep supporting other artists and helping one another by collabs or as you are doing with inspiring informative videos like this! Thx again for keepin it real mate! Cheers! 🙏
Thank you so much, this was a great way to start my day - your content and production is drooool-worthy! I just bought your book and YES please! I'd love to hear about setting up a shop, especially how you're thinking about best "productizing" your merch. Love your work - You are 🌈 for the soul!
At 8:55 it would be helpful to talk about how your evolving day rate tracked against your ability to pay the bills. i read a book about consulting that said you should generally be charging roughly 2x the rate of a salaried worker to compensate for downtime, volatility, time spent on admin/networking, lack of benefits... To distil that into a question, if you were charging your day rate of $2.5k and devoting *all* your work time to delivering on projects, seeking projects, and doing admin, how much do you think you could expect to make in a year? Great video!
Oh boy, I needed this video so much. As someone who just started out getting into freelancing- it really helped, and hopefully in like a year from now or so I can come back to your comment section and tell you that I am a full-time freelancer. Thanks a lot
I really appreciated this video. I was feeling burnt out from my day job today and frusterated with having to say no to an event related to my long term goals.
Thank you for your video. A lot of time people focus on fluffy editing, but it takes away from the content. The info and advises you deliver are helpful, straight to the point, and your vibe comes out great! I'm a coach and sell coaching program, but I still take a lot of great stuffs from your video. Thank you again!
Waking up to a notification for a new Struthless video filled me with so much joy, no better way to start the day😎 love your videos man keep up the great work✨
Another idea is teaching your skills at an arts centre or being an artist in residence. In my area there is an arts centre with a little gallery shoo. You can have an exhibition and while it’s on you can run a workshop and sell stuff in the gallery shop. One spinoff of a workshop is that you can keep any excess materials. There are lots of people who will sign up for workshops because they want to learn a skill with a real live person and with a group all working together. We even have a summer school here which is very popular with families.
This video was super great! I’m lost in my career right now, having a degree in commercial photography but mental health and Covid derailed everything. Now I work at a music store running their social media for fun and creating a little content, but it’s not sustainable longterm. I want to create something of my own, my own brand and platform, but I get lost in what. I could do guitars and try and work with brands since in surrounded by hundreds of different guitars and have a bit of a portfolio, but the minute I leave I’ll lose my content here. I want to create a website and social media for hemp products, but that shit gets you banned easily sometimes. I don’t have hobbies like I used to 😭 I don’t illustrate, film, or act. I just take pretty good portraits.
I'm at such a low point in my life, and just as i'm about to move house with no money, i found your channel. I Get so much energy from your video's because they are so darn real! Thank you
Another option for selling is what I would call "distributed retail space". We have new stores popping up here in Canada, where you rent a "nook" inside the store on a monthly basis. They staff it, they don't get a commission, you keep all profits, you just pay the subscription. We're usually behind the trends here so if we have them I'm sure these must exist in other countries as well. Great video. Would love to see one on setting up a web store!
Mel Robbins has a brilliant piece of advice regarding how to value your services. When a prospective client/employer asks how much you charge, ask: 'What's your budget?' And when they tell you, say: 'I usually take double.' She says it works like magic.
hi struthless, i just found your channel about an hour ago and have been binging your self help videos. they’re *actually* helpful, uplifting, comforting, and motivating. i’ll be re-watching all i’ve seen so far, but this time with a notebook in hand, to do the journaling exercises you talk about. i’m a firm believer in being open about past traumas and struggles, and you embody that belief i have perfectly. you’ve mentioned in other videos (not this one, i’m just commenting here ‘cause it’s your most recent video at the time of me writing this) that you’ve been sexually abused as a child. and y’know what? me too. you’ve also mentioned drug and alcohol issues, which i don’t actually have, but my mother struggles with alcoholism, and i still live with her. i’m able to empathise with substance addiction since i see it in such a close member of my family. perhaps the closest. you’re open about your insecurities and negative beliefs about yourself (e.g. “i don’t deserve to be loved”), which i think so many people have trouble with admitting to themselves. i used to think i was pretty intra-personally intelligent, but after seeing a handful of your videos, i think i’ve been refusing to acknowledge some key aspects of myself. tl;dr: your vibe is amazing, i love your videos on self-help, you seem really down-to-earth and a loveable, fun guy, and you’ve gained a new subscriber. your life guidance videos are exactly what i need for my mental health. thank you, and keep doing what you’re doing. i wish you all the best, haven
This video title is exactly what I needed to see. I'm a poet & short fiction writer and can't seem to figure out how to make any money from it. Maybe I'll summon up some courage to find and message people who might be in need of stories. Thanks struthless!
Could you please make a video for people who lost all their creativity once they went to school for their discipline? Ever since I’ve been in uni for fashion, I feel like all my work sucks and I have no motivation and desire to make absolutely anything creative (even not related to fashion). I used to have so many ideas and creative energy, but now all I think about is hitting the deadlines and pleasing my tutors and it has completely destroyed my genuine creativity. And literally all of my friends who are also creatives in school feel the same way and we all just suffer together 😭😭😭 your videos are one of the few things that actually makes me feel I will be okay again lol Also if anyone else has any advice, please help lmao
I'd love to hear the details on pricing your own art and the evolution of it! I'm currently starting a mental health project to help fund people in therapy and one of the ways I want to raise money is by selling my shitty art (I can hardly paint a smiley face without f'ing it up!). The point is that someone will get something positive & cute as art on canvas as a "thank you" for helping to contribute to the project, but it would be fun to see the evolution of your own pricing & skills over time, of course if that's something you'd be willing to share!
The timing of your videos always amazes me - so frequently you put something out there just at the perfect moment for me. This video is especially true to that. I have just been working myself back to the decision that I need to pursue my art as my means of earning my living (I was on track with that goal and summer of 2020 was going to do it for me, but March 2020/Pandemic got here first and stomped me into the ground.) Anyways, literally YESTERDAY I told someone that I am going back to my former goals and going to get serious again about pursuing my art business. They said, "well, they don't call them starving artists for nothing..." Then I woke up this morning and here's another video from you, chock full of the most helpful information and so on topic for me! I know I've got a lot of work and a lot of adjustments to make but I am rolling up my sleeves and getting to it! Thanks for this video, and also I am definitely interested in a video on setting up a successful online shop - I've already got three unsuccessful shops online and I believe THE big problem is probably getting interested parties to the websites. Plus I don't do a lot of "trendy" art just for the sake of making a sale... I make art that I like, and I think there must be others out there somewhere who will like it too and want to buy some. Of course this may be one of those places where I need to make some slight adjustments... but my decision to go forward is made and your videos are always extremely helpful. Thank you!
You are best! You are the only artist out here talking about reality life situations such as taxes and stragetic business plans. Thank you for creating your channel.
this is just for me bc i plan on rewatching this video alot, lmk if someone has already done this or smth .·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. [ TIMESTAMPS ] 0:00 1:05 - {pt. 1} Identify your skills 2:55 - {pt. 2} Freelancing 10:00 - {pt. 3} Selling Your Art 15:00 - {pt. 4} Paperwork ˚ ༘♡ ·˚ ₊˚ˑ༄ؘ
Love your channel so much, Campbell! I'm an animator and am always so impressed by your video quality and use of text. You definitely have one of my favorite channels these days. Keep killin' it!
Even before the part 1, I already liked the video just because of your "vibe" I'd say. Always makes me smile when you post a video, great work every time :)
I always creative my whole life, but being a student with strict parents, not much i can do. Now i kinda free, i want to trying to find living with my art, still very early stage, but thinking some of the way i can do that. This certainly gonna help me find my way, thank you so much!
It's been years since I want to monetize some of my creative skills too and I've watched many videos on the topic. This is by far one of the best! :D as always, some more practical, out of the box and thought provoking approaches and advice. Keep being so smart and funny, your videos always made my day! "That's a lot of fours." LOL
Your videos are so clear, actionable, and specific - it's really a breath of fresh air compared to most other videos I see on how to be successful. Keep up the great work!
This was super helpful and encouraging, thanks! Also yes please on the shop how-to! I'm low-key planning to monetize my fantasy map illustration hobby this year, hoping to do some commissions but also sell prints/greeting cards and the like.
All of the practical tips are SO helpful. (In this video and all your others!) Would love to see a video on building a site too. PS have your book (in Seattle, WA) and it’s helped simplify and define so many thing during a time where my mind seems all over the place! Thanks!!
I really hope this helps 💞like I mentioned, it's totally an overview so let me know if there's anything you want me to go into in more detail and I can :)
Thanks for watching!
cam xoxo
How many hours are in your "day" rate? 8 hours? 10? 24!? 😝 Hope not that last one.
Def building a shop and generating traffic. I've tried a few times in the past to sell what I think are pretty niche and rad items that people would dig, but just never got off the ground. month after month of dumping money into it I eventually cut my losses.
You’re inspirational man, we appreciate you🙏🏾
which apps in Shopify are great for people who are trying to use it as a FTP account (budget constraints) and which apps are worth investing the monthly payments into?
I love how honest you are. Please make vid on how to make your own website to sell products
“There’s enough money to go around, so why not you” is such an obvious and simple way to look at it, and I never really thought about it like that before, thank you, actually more comforting and motivational than most of the other (good and bad) advice I’ve heard before when it comes to encouraging someone to monetize a creative skill set.
Its all a big circle those with established careers one day will stop (retire etc) so others will take their place and those just starting provided their consistent, patience and practice their skills will also move on. Nothing stays still and nor does it have to be linear.
Huh. Yeah
When he said that I kind of cried a little. (Or a lot.)
I really loved that , I guess we all think it could never be us but it really can be
Except it isn't true, because at the end of the cycle all money ends up hoarded by those who already have the most of it.
saying no with a price is probably one of the greatest pieces of advice i’ve heard
I was doing this without knowing it, golden advice
When I worked as a junior estimator for a custom precast concrete manufacturer, when we were asked to provide a quote for a job the chief engineer did not really want, he would crank up the profit margin a lot. That was so the request for proposal was not turned down directly which would hurt our chances of getting asked again by that construction management company. And if they went for it, bonus!
I’ve been a graphic designer and illustrator for 16 years. Struthless is right on this stuff. My advice on charging clients is keep your hourly rate private and never tell the client; a flat rate is the way to go. During an introductory conversation with a client, I ask pointed questions to figure out what their budget is and give them a couple quotes based on what they are wanting. I sent my quotes in a “design agreement contact”, which outlines my process, the parties’ responsibilities for, expectations, etc. I can usually tell by their reaction to the “design agreement” if they are going to be a client I want to work with or will need to pass on.
Yes you really need to have things written out in black and white as a contract. I used to bid jobs as a two-phase contract because I was doing design work that involved a lot of material purchasing and really high overhead. I would bid a design process and a build process, essentially. That way I could bill for design services regardless if the client backed out of the job (which could happen from time to time) - the client had an out, and if they wanted to they could take my design and hire another contractor to do it, because I tended to be more expensive on the build side than a corner-cutting contractor who didn't have the creativity to do design work.
Of course I only came up with this two-stage bid process after getting screwed over a few times, so often times you gotta take your hits early in your career to learn the ins and outs of how to protect yourself and make sure you get paid fairly.
Thank you for your amazing advice too!! I have a question- what do you mean by “pointed questions”? Could you give an example? I often struggle finding out the budget of my client without literally asking (which doesn’t feel like a smart move)
As an accountant, I can confirm this is all excellent advice. Much respect for being open about the rates charged, that sort of information is so helpful for people looking to get into creative industries and it makes me sad when I see people not valuing their time enough.
CPA or CFA
I got knocked on my ass out of art college. I worked multiple creative jobs (murals, hand drawn maps, websites and graphic design) and the companies cut my final price to peanuts every time. It stung my soul. Confidence is a huge necessity in this business.
Thanks for the video and the SPECIFICS!
i wish you the bestttt, im currently having to apply to university and im still choosing whether to continue accounting, taking business or go to an art college, im just scared that my skills arent good and that i cant do it as my full time job after, but i hope youre doing well currently and not letting your experiences shy you away from creating :]
@@populationme if it feels most fitting and fulfilling for you to study art I say go for it! I myself am in my 2nd year of an illustration degree, before I started I was nowhere near ready to be working at a consistent professional level, my style was often different from week to week and I struggled a lot with drawing proper scenes. Now from being on a good course for a while, not even for that long, my illustration style has really developed, settled more and from all of what I've learnt it seems very viable for me in the future to go on to make books, comics and make work for videogames/animations. Definitely recommend an art course that teaches you the business side of it too, encouraging professional ways of working but also to be playful, experiment and have fun. Some courses seem very polarised, I've had friends that have done degrees and they're not equipped to be a professional, then heard of courses that are so focused on professionalism that there's no room for fun. Find what's right for you, many of us have imposter syndrome and feel we're not good enough but don't let that stop you and do the things you want anyway! Wish you well on your path :)
18 years after college I have a super fulfilling job working with kids in my community. I get to do something different, challenging, and artistic every day. I created my job by being a hard worker, personable and professional with each job I’ve had. I don’t make much money but I’m satisfied with a nice house and family.
My advice is this: nothing matters unless you have the drive, discipline, and professionalism that make you a confident business person enough that any trade you do will be successful. You need to know what you can handle and make yourself a little uncomfortable with risk-taking. I see a lot of crappy artists making tons of money because they keep at it every day.
@@populationme even if you choose business those are skills that you will use if you pursue art :)
You have to get thick enough skin to simply straight out refuse people who don't want to pay what you're worth. You'll find good clients.
You're better to work odd-jobs IMHO than to be an unpaid intern of exploited artist.
One of the most interesting pieces of advice I've heard was "Never avoid paying taxes... paying taxes means you're making money." I'm not sure about all countries, but in the US, tax is always a percent of PROFIT (deductions are meant to avoid taxing you for income that wasn't profit). This means that you'll never be taxed out of profitability (if you're calculating things correctly). So, taxes can be scary because it can be complicated paperwork, but taxes should never (in the US and similar tax environments) be scary because you're worried that you'll pay more in taxes than you make in profit.
Exactly. Paying your taxes wisely, such as investing in "third-world" countries like Goergia or open an oversea account for you or your business, isn't not paying your taxes : it's sending a part of it to a place where it's win-win for you (because of currency trade up), for them and for your government. This isn't the same at all as sending your money into a tax-free paradise.
Taxation is theft.
@@jas_bataille dont try in argentina, taxes will destroy you :p
I pay my taxes mostly because if I don't, men with guns will come and take my things and sell them, arrest me and put me in prison, and when I get out, I would have to pay the tax anyway.
*laughs in eastern european*
This pandemic and lock down really hit me hard. For 6 months I was in the dark, and it's pretty dark for a person who hasn't even crossed 20's yet. I was not doing so well mentally.The only thing that made me feel useful was drawing, so I used it in my favour and started to draw 2 hours or so daily, Some days i used to draw but felt depressed, but I drew anyways. I found your channel 2-3 months ago, and I'm working on myself ,you're being a great help,your views and opinions really help alot. Keep making these videos. I love you :)
Sending lots of love to you Lily! Pandemic hit me hard, too. I knew it was an opp to get my own work out there, but had no idea how much baggage I'd need to work through before I could be creatively productive. But I've done the work, I'm finally there, and the time is now. (Not that work on our personal selves is ever really done, but I'm at a point where I can do this.)
Anyways, wishing you loads of success and hang in there, cuz this community is something really special. 💗
@@LyndseyMacPherson Thanks, Lyndsey!! I'm doing much better these days. It's nice to hear that there is someone who understands the effect these seemingly small problems can have and take a lot away from you .And yeah Creative productivity is something I struggle with a lot, I make plans that I'll draw these things, I'll draw anatomy and use the poses to turn into something of my own, I mean there's a lot I need to do but no matter what I do I'm never able to satisfy my hunger ,but the good part is it keeps me busy. I sometimes wonder, does this even matter? Is my art even getting where I want it to? But the effective solution I was able to find to this was just to keep drawing (or whatever work you want to) cause I can't control anything other than me practising daily.I learned to enjoy and believe in the process and expect nothing. Thanks,for letting me vent this long lol.
I hope you're doing well too. We'll definitely get where we want to, keep shining and believing yourself. All the best wishes to you!!! :)
@@lilyw8721 awwww, you, too!
I hate to be the 1 asking this, but since everyone sent the replies of comfort (which you can just copy paste and know I think the same). How's your drawing after all of that?
@@whalefall413 Not sure what you're asking, tbh.
Really good, helpful outline. So appreciate that your advice isn’t “get a degree, intern, network”. You gave a flexible framework that folks can apply to their situation.
For some, that’s college, for others it’s a mid-career shift. Thanks for an inclusive approach. Very practical tips.
This! His approach is v underrated, and I love that it’s accessible to many
I have trouble with confidence. It’s a hurdle to believe my work is valuable enough to monetize. I’m also slow to produce and worry I don’t have time to build the necessary skills beforehand, and in an environment where folks seem to expect instant results and a high volume of work, I start to feel resentful that I can’t just let go and do it, like in the mural example. In a word: perfectionism.
you may want to check out a book entitled 'secrets of six-figure women.' yeah, i thought that would never be me, either (not that it is), but it is REALLY good advice for straightening your mental attitude towards money and earnings, and your self worth.
@@Bloodsong13T Ah, I just saw your comment! Thank you for the recommendation. 🙂
I struggle as well but this thought helps me: I’m not going to tell myself something won’t work. I’m going to put myself out there and let the world tell me whether or not it works.
Limiting myself means I’ll never start. But putting something out there and measuring how well it’s received is really valuable information that can help me decide what to do next. You can always pivot. But you’ve got to allow yourself the room to start, knowing you’re imperfect.
You are the best self improvement RUclipsr. No bullshit hustle culture crap. Just wholesome, informative content.
This was great. I've been freelance full-time for going on three years, and the bit about the 1 in 50 bites on emails/DMs was super encouraging (thought I was alone in that). And yes, absolutely get on the paperwork early. I hate paperwork so I've worked with an accountant since the beginning for all my tax stuff, and went through a local university's law school for the legal side of setting up the business entity. Since they're students they get credit and experience for the work, and it's free for businesses. It's also all reviewed by their professors so I knew it was all good to go. That's something to look into. Some bigger universities and colleges have small business centers or other resources like that, too. Highly recommend looking into them because it's usually free or low-cost and is also a great opportunity to meet folks.
TOTALLY into more videos like this - setting up your shop, getting traffic pointed there, etc.! I wanna know it all! Thank you so much for this video, it was really helpful!
I picked up sewing clothes at the thick of the 2020 pandemic. It was such a creative rush for me. And of course I’d share my work and WIP on my socials. Naturally too, people began telling how I could start selling my work. Several would ask me how much I would charge if I make this or that for them. Since then I’ve been going back and forth whether I would or could push through selling my work or sewing for profit. I’ve only been sewing for a little more than 2 years and I’m just not confident enough to sell for profit. There’s just so many expectations - also all the paperwork, making sure I make profit, making sure I’m not undercharging or overcharging, etc. This video really helped me somehow pick the cluttered directions of my thoughts about my dilemma. Now, I have a kind of outline and checklist to go through as I consider monetizing my creative outlet. This channel rocks!
What usually also helps, when you already have a skill (let‘s say its photography) give your client add-on options. I‘d say in 80% of the time in my case this has helped me to get more money from a job. For example: You‘re asked to do a photoshoot - tell your client you could also film a short video or help him with graphic design. You get the idea - something simple but yet useful for your client.
Regarding the add on price… I‘d say it can reach from 15-30% extra of what the initial price was.
I am a creative (mostly fine art/sketch). I find what is tough for me is I'm interested in art as a career but don't know what to focus on. Art is a passion of mine but that is pretty vague. I love hearing that you made profit on murals when you never did it. That is really inspiring 🥰 I am excited to have some art in am upcoming exhibition. Small steps 😁
A friend of mine started painting murals and is now a fairly well-known puzzle artist. Think about all the ways art is used and enjoyed!
@@JoanOfArgghh wow that's awesome. Art is so versatile. I just need to focus on enjoying it 🥰
I would try to find a niche or a couple of niches that are really in demand and get REALLY good at those. If you want to make money you have to provide what people want. Be good and be fast.
Duuude, same did you have any luck narrowing it down?
@@legacy7381 not yet. I've just been experimenting. I was able to sell a piece at the exhibition and I have 3 commission pieces to work on! Still nothing specific. But as long as I'm enjoying the process I can't complain 🥰
For me (I'm a motion designer) the formula of life expenses + what I would like to put aside / days I'm planning to work = a daily rate. And it's easly scalable so if my daily expenses gotten bigger I charge more, if I felt like I should by some gear or have a bit more comfort I charge more. And it organicly grew over the years, you just have to be resonable with your expectations. For past few years I'm working full-time and calculating my annual salary came down to the same formula.
How did you get started in motion design? Im a illustrator but I’m not sure on how to begin the process of who I should even contact for work. I’ve gotten so many rejections because of my art style
@@artistate9596 Painfull truth is that if you want to work with specific clients / industries you should show in your portfolio that you can do the job they need. And it's also about the style. If you want to go the other way around, find a studios / companies / agencys that might work with style similar to yours and write to them directly. With time you can develop your own brand, become a motion designer with a certain distinctive "own" style and then you'll find a niche were clients would like to have it done just as you do it. But at the beginning - find out what approchable clients need from a motion designer and show off in the portfolio that you can do it.
@@szymonbrygidyn9513 thanks for taking the time to respond back to me! I am definitely working on updating my portfilio to something that's more consistent. Thank you for the advice
That "Hi Jessica, thanks for your email" made my choke on my salad 🥗
Love these tips. I took a break from freelance art making for money because the winter was kicking my mental butt. It's time to begin again!
I got your book but I haven't read much of it yet 👀
Just finished your book and can say: as good as advertised and a whole lot more. Your way of condensing the information, making them actionable and relatable is astounding. Thank you!
Wow, this video is like a full on guide to monetization! So cool that you've actually experienced what you talked about and it's not just theoretical. I'm sure this video will help A LOT of people. Thank you! :)
I love your videos Struthless!! They've helped me SO much, and I find myself being so much more productive than I was last year. I'm halfway done reading your book too! Hiiighly recommend
This is one of your best videos, and the competition is tough. The information you are giving here is so important and so rare to find. I'm a writer and I only just started making money from my skill recently, although I already published three novels with established publishers. It's due to a lot of reasons: having babies, the pandemic... but really, It's mostly just me doubting myself and undercharging. That undercharging bit was such a bitter laugh. You inspire me to believe my good-paying gigs now are not just a fluke, and that I will be making an even better income later in life.
As always a million times more accessible understandable and relevant than your nearest competitors! Yes please to the shop advice please xx
Great video! When I had a small art gallery, there were many good artists who had no idea how to price their work. It really does make sense to track the hours and materials and decide that maybe you're better than $5/hour, and maybe a client isn't going to respect your work if you don't put it in a reasonably professional frame or pedastal. I had no problem selling my work because I always had a good story or pitch that becomes part of the buying experience. A little wine and cheese doesn't hurt, either.
Every little thing about this video makes perfect sense to me -also, the specificity in all of it-. I am close to 50 now and I have been dealing with self doubt for the last three years even though I have made everything I sought to do when I was younger and I know I can still make a living. Thank you SO much, God bless ye, mate.
This actually does give me a new angle. I have a bachelor's in media specialising in sound design and I was reading up ways to market yourself and it always was about having a portfolio site, doing a video reel etc. and the task felt daunting, not to mention that I was burned so much in the industry I decided to quit it and just do music as a hobby, till I lately have been thinking of monetising my hobby into a side gig say for sound work for games or making game music etc.
This is giving me new ideas and a new thinking angle, thanks a lot Struth!
This video is like a road mad to my life lol. I'm an Architectural designer and artist, I've been wanting to go out on my onw and freelance for other firms, while building my artist website, and although that sounds daunting this video make it all feel so possible. Thank you for always dropping so much knowledge and giving actionable steps for us to follow. have an amazing day.
This is a very helpful video, thank you! Another tip, look for commercial art industry conventions- not little art fairs. The Jacob Javits Center in NYC has a massive commercial art convention where artists can sell off portfolios of original work or get approached by art directors for licensing. It could be a big windfall after months of building up original art with no plan for it. Rejected client work or practice/concept work could get sold off here. You never know what someone is looking for and your random sketchbook doodles could be it.
I love that there are examples in this video. So many people when making videos like this will tell you what to do, but never HOW to actually do it.
Liked, subscribed and now writing a comment because a lot of the points mentioned were indeed something that I did try and worked to my favour. Now, if I can add a little disclaimer - DO NOT QUIT YOUR FUCKING DAY JOB especially if you think (now) you don't have any creative skills to sell. How to find your creative skills? Remove the pressure to monetise. This is THE MAJOR creative block for anyone really. If the next thing you're going to say is something like "But I don't have any talents" etc. then hold on to this - "Creativity in the face of adversity". Adversity is hardship, anything that's stopping you to do from something is hardship. Fear is hardship. If it is hard to remove the pressure to monetise, don't you think it is time to get creative? Every time you overcome hardship, it is one step closer to your talent. Just keep repeating the process ie. keep creating not for selling but to find your talent.
I was thinking it might be weird to say that I love you, but Google says "love" can be defined as "have a soft spot for" and "take great pleasure in" and "like and enjoy very much." So, yeah. I love you. You add so much value to my life. Gratitude abounds. ❤️
The tax evasion part is a real thing. "Tax evasion" is such a scary pairing of words, yet most people who start up a small business or freelancing endeavor do it. There's little to no education on taxes in the public schooling system (where most people go as teenagers with undeveloped minds and a tendency to maintain a state of distraction), so naturally when creative people are left to their own devices in the world of never ending possibility (business), mistakes are made. I'm pretty lucky my debt for not managing taxes properly in the first couple of years wasn't entirely significant because it was only one of the arrangements with one of the clients that wasn't executed properly. You live and you learn. I'd say good on you for posting such awesome content, but that would imply that it was something that was out of character. - a committed subscriber
the advice to go to advertisement agencies was LIFE CHANGING thanks dude
dude you're always so fucken helpful!! everything you talk about every video, every tip, EXTREMELY VALUABLE, IMPACTFUL AND DIGESTABLE. You helped me through so much and even though I've been following you for over a year this is the first time I leave a comment like this cuz I wait for every video of yours and you're the only one I have notifications turned on for. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
I had to pause the video to cry when you said "so why not you" hurt like a gut punch, but in a good masochistic way
You do so much for us; and what you're doing is really important work that no one else has taken on in a way that's terribly helpful. Creatives aren't, by nature, usually business heads. So, thank you. This is like, a masterclass on monetising creative work. I'm even taking notes.
Would absolutely LOVE advice on how to build an online shop, but it feels like too much to ask.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for real advice. I recently unsubscribed from an artist because they made a video that said it's wrong to pay people for art because you should do it because you love it. 🙄 Granted I think this is somewhat true for passion projects, but no other craftsmen (chef, musician, actor, model, etc) has this "my craft should be free because of love" thought virus in their head.
I can say that I have gotten work from upwork. I've also gotten a lot of leads by drawing on my tablet at restaurants and wineries since that is where art collectors hang out. Drunk rich people love buying art. And if they can't by your art, they'll frequently take your business card and buy you a drink. 😉
This is the first true practical video on the subject of how to make money online! Many others brought only more question marks and even left me feeling defeated. This video inspires me and offers a clear, realistic and detailed path. I’m stoked!
Seriously been looking into being a freelancer, making my own RUclips Channel or how to monetize my creativity and came across this video which made me subscribed to you- you may not even see this comment since this is a video you posted 8 months ago but I’m sure it isn’t just me who can say that this video helps a lot. Thank you for the time you placed in this, the tips you’ve provided and your amazing personality.
This video is exactly what I needed today! I do some freelance writing on Upwork, and I write on Medium which pays per view. I’m super interested in branching out, and expanding my horizons in this path. This video has helped me figure out what my next step is on the path, and even given me some new ideas!
hi ! just suscribed to Upwork and I was wondering, how do you declare your taxes when doing so ? same for Medium ? is any of what you're doing 'official' ? i'm only a full-time student trying to figure things out haha
@@cacciatore_5320 oh and deductions are money that you spent on your business whether it is a subscription like Grammarly to help you write or printer ink
, keep all of those receipts even if it’s virtually like by scanning them in an app!
@@DiannaCarney oh i'm sorry i believe there's a message of yours that's missing ? but thank you very much for only thinking of replying this comment section is always so wholesomeee
I would love to see a whole video where you geek out in detail about the online sales process! Please, please, please!!!
Omg I’m blown away by your generosity both on the personal dev and business side of things. Pure gold thx!
This video is so helpful as a beginner in the world of making money as an artist, your channel never disappoints!
also yes PLEASE to a video on starting an online shop. I'm an oil painter and have had more clients reaching out about prints lately and want to jump in and start a shop but have literally no idea how to actually get the ball rolling.
Thanks!!
Keep stacking skills. Life is a process of learning and sharing. I've been running my creative business for about a decade now, full time since 2015. Depending on what projects I'm working on, I can realistically expect $20-$40 per hour. Last year I took time off to start learning about natural sciences. Got to learn about and work with new materials which serve my main set as well. Integrate all the things! Also, WORKSHOPS are another great way to make money from your creative skills. Sometimes people aren't even learning, they just want to pay you to art and chill. Good stuff. That's the life for meeeee~
want to add my voice to all the thanks and praise for your straight-up advice and fun videos. the part that hit me the most was the thing about 'only one in a million people make money' at this. because THAT was DRILLED firmly and repeatedly into my head when i was a 'creative' child; that nobody makes money from art. thankfully, my parents quickly changed their minds when i decided the right 'real job' for me was a zookeeper. still, i haven't really 'made it' as an artist. so i'm STILL stuck in that mindset, rather poor, and trying to get out of it.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this video man. I appreciate all of your videos but as a creative who is trying to become independent I feel like it’s too late for me if that makes sense, I just turned 29 and feel like this even though others say I’m still young. But as you said, that’s the way the world works. It takes time to learn new skills and start new projects.
I’ve been working a typical 9-5 job for the past 5 years now. My first job was social media and marketing where I assisted with graphics and stuff, now I do more logo work and renders for a golf ball company. While this work has been stable, it’s burned me out and the pandemic woke me up to the idea that I cannot stand working around other people and for corporations. I’ve been trying to find new work, but the market is so oversaturated right now. My job isn’t terrible by any means especially compared to the seriously toxic and abusive places I worked prior. So, I feel bad for complaining, but I want freedom.
I want my time back and I want to sell art for me. I know doing your own thing can be way more demanding, but at least the effort I put in will give me more for what I’m doing.
I’ve been working more at honing my illustration and graphic design skills, I’ve been trying to get better at video editing too. I opened an Etsy shop of May of last year and I know I need more items, but it’s a process and I also want to have my own independent store. So I would love a video about setting up shop, I have a Wordpress portfolio and I’m probably gunna roll that into squarespace because they seem to give you the ability to have a blog and have a portfolio with a shop. Wordpress was great back in the day, but it’s too clunky now with the plugins. I used QuickBooks because it auto imports everything and registered with my state and government to sell too. I didn’t make a ton (around 200 dollars) from my side stuff, but I still filed it along with my expenses because I didn’t want to be stuck like everyone else and hit with a bill. I made sure to learn tax and logistics stuff as much as I could before starting. I don’t think many think of that, so thank you for bringing that up. The US just passed a law too that people who make 600 or more in sales need to file along with their regular taxes.
I’m not big on freelancing it was too much when I did it in the past, maybe one day, but right now I’d love to sell my work on merch like prints, shirts, keychains, etc. I’m working on card designs too for Mother’s Day and weddings, but again I always feel behind the curve. I’m also planning to open some POD shops to generate passive income and license some handmade fonts and icons in design marketplaces.
I really like how you broke everything down and made lists, I think that will help me organize my plan and projects that need to be done first. I have too many things I want to do because everything sounds fun and I do actually enjoy running a small online shop, the people who have bought from me make me feel good. I’ve had to put a lot of that on hold too because some personal and family related issues have come up, so I haven’t been able to get to what I’ve needed to for a couple months now. I’m still drawing and working on things, but nothing to make money right this second. Sucks how life gets in the way of creativity and we have to prioritize other things. That would be an awesome video to make balancing your creative life when shit happens.
I also really appreciate your transparency of what you charge. Too many artists I see say “charge more” or “charge your worth” that’s not at all helpful because I think when you’re first starting out you shouldn’t charge as much as those who’ve been in the game longer. Start reasonable and build up like you did.
Cam, I only found your channel two weeks ago. I bought your book and so far I am LOVING it.
Thank you for putting out such awesome content. I cannot tell you how appreciated it is by me! I have ADHD and the thought of getting started on a new career path that is self-driven is terrifying. For some reason the way your content flows and your humor is spot on for my brain, and things just start to click. Thank you, all the way from the western USA. 🤘🏼
I watch a ton of YT and this channel feels like possibly the most authentic content I’ve seen. So grateful for these videos. I just found the channel.
Hey! I don’t actually know a good way to message you but I just got the feeling I should share the feels, I’ve been consistently thinking about how the shitstorms of life inherently come with a new ability to resonate with people and understand others pain, which is forever valuable, so shitstorms can’t really come without value even at their worst - and how the good may not outweigh the bad but it can accompany it and I can grateful for the accompaniment - and a lot of this thought pathway is thanks to you holding and sharing that value yourself so I wanted to thank you and remind you that you’re doing meaningful work and it ripples it ways you might not ever see, but doesnt make it any less real and amazing ♥️ have a good day home skillet
I loved this video, its so refreshing to see someone share the money side of freelancing without being vague. And I'm so glad you're doing so well & getting paid 👏
im a 22 yr old artist, just came out of uni, was feeling pretty lost and finding your channel and your videos and advice have helped me so much.. Also to make me feel like i can do this and I will be fine and motivate me. Great video
Keep it up!
Oh I love it when you go into detail on anything! And I'm definitely interested in hearing more about getting traffic to your online shop. Also I got two copies of your book and my 7 year old says you did an amazing job on the cover. So, full marks all around!
This is immensely helpful. Not only is this inspiring and really opens the gates, but it gets down to specifics. Nobody ever gives specifics when they talk about this shit. Killing it.
The fact that you made this is one of the other reason I honestly love you. Please do more m8
YES i was waiting for this one and was rooting for this the most out of the poll on community. thank you so much for making this. I'm an architect and illustrator and I've just had bumpy starts with everything, if even that. For illustrations, i've now decided to do a year of daily illustrations. the current goal is 100 days, and i'm now at 35 days which is nice but i keep having all these doubts about competency even though i know i'm good at this. and as for architecture, I just haven't had any luck with good clients. I'd get people asking me for pricing and timeline and then just completely ghost me. Like, i've been at this for months now and have't really made good profits. I just hope i can find the willpower to keep going
This might be long winded buuut I’ve been watching you for nearly a full year now and have been going thru that whole “bettering myself journey” if that’s what ya would like to call it and your videos have been so helpful to me, now I’ve quit my full time job to work so,etching mundane for part time and pursue my art full time which is really great!(I have a toddler so yes she is also her own full time job on the side for me lol) these tips have been so helpful and I’m even gonna be brave and try making my website on Shopify even though I’m definitely not savvy in that department. This year is all about learning new things yay! Thanks so much for all your advice 💗💗💗 it means the world to me 😊
Thank you so much for this video. I've been trying to get into this sort of work myself (creative writing primarily,) and finding solid information has been an uphill battle in order to start it. Not only will this help at least get me started, but it might even help my resume since I'm usually bad at listing my skills. You're the best.
Hey Cam! This vid was delightful to watch! As someone in her mid 20s, who is still fidgeting around life, your vids give me a sense of direction lol, thanks for your generosity, honestly I would pay for this content :) 💜💙🧡
Another tip to sell without social media is to make your fancy ass influencer frens wear your merch! 💯
Also, can you make a video on setting up shop online? Ik the process is straight forward but there is plenty of knick-knack advice a business owner can give in hindsight, aka you!
Lou, me. 🐸♥️
I love this channel. This video was really eye-opening because I'd heard so much of the whole "monetise your art through social media" advice that I'd genuinely forgotten that there were other ways to do things. Thanks 👍
Thanks a lot for all the videos you do! I've been trying to start as a videographer/editor and EVERYTHING has been an excuse to slack.. the way you expose your journey and overall positivity are so helpful i might get to actually start doing it 🙏🏻
Bro, I literally laugh and feel inspired when I watch your vids. I'm on the path to working for myself and you've definitely helped me get into the headspace to do so. You give real practical advice, nothing to trick people to keep watching.
This was so so valuable, love your approach to business and how you explain things. You cut the crap and get straight to the good stuff. Thanks so much
I love how you said how what people say to charge... "How much do you think your worth? 🤣👌 Because it's sooo spot on. So I guess I should say well 1mil per design then eh ? 😂😂😂
Exactly I can't charge that unless some company's are gonna pay that much for my creative skills.
Also funny is how half these people have never done anything creative in their lives but yet tell you what they think you should be doing right now as if it is sooo easy to just whip up 10 Absolutely Fabulous Brand New Giant Paintings or make numerous physical products that these people would expect you to give them out to them, when they have no clue how long all these things take to make, how much money is involved in making physical products etc.
This is why artists need to keep supporting other artists and helping one another by collabs or as you are doing with inspiring informative videos like this!
Thx again for keepin it real mate! Cheers! 🙏
Thank you so much, this was a great way to start my day - your content and production is drooool-worthy! I just bought your book and YES please! I'd love to hear about setting up a shop, especially how you're thinking about best "productizing" your merch. Love your work - You are 🌈 for the soul!
Love the genuine transparency, super helpful video!
Thanks struthless. I’ve been feeling really disconnected to my music, but your ideas and journaling have been really helpful lately.
At 8:55 it would be helpful to talk about how your evolving day rate tracked against your ability to pay the bills. i read a book about consulting that said you should generally be charging roughly 2x the rate of a salaried worker to compensate for downtime, volatility, time spent on admin/networking, lack of benefits...
To distil that into a question, if you were charging your day rate of $2.5k and devoting *all* your work time to delivering on projects, seeking projects, and doing admin, how much do you think you could expect to make in a year?
Great video!
Appreciate the transparency and examples. The accounting bit at the end is so true. Not sexy work, but much needed.
Oh boy, I needed this video so much. As someone who just started out getting into freelancing- it really helped, and hopefully in like a year from now or so I can come back to your comment section and tell you that I am a full-time freelancer. Thanks a lot
Definitely make that video about setting up a shop.
Actually, make more tactical biz vids like this. This slaps. I love it!
This is the video I've been looking for the past 20...something years! Thank you for making it!
I really appreciated this video. I was feeling burnt out from my day job today and frusterated with having to say no to an event related to my long term goals.
Thank you for your video.
A lot of time people focus on fluffy editing, but it takes away from the content.
The info and advises you deliver are helpful, straight to the point, and your vibe comes out great!
I'm a coach and sell coaching program, but I still take a lot of great stuffs from your video.
Thank you again!
One of the few channels where I like the video before its even started.
haven’t seen this ammount of GOLD in a video in a good while. you never fail man, thank you for this
I would love a video on building your store and getting traffic. I love your down-to-earth videos. Very refreshing.
Waking up to a notification for a new Struthless video filled me with so much joy, no better way to start the day😎 love your videos man keep up the great work✨
Another idea is teaching your skills at an arts centre or being an artist in residence. In my area there is an arts centre with a little gallery shoo. You can have an exhibition and while it’s on you can run a workshop and sell stuff in the gallery shop. One spinoff of a workshop is that you can keep any excess materials. There are lots of people who will sign up for workshops because they want to learn a skill with a real live person and with a group all working together. We even have a summer school here which is very popular with families.
This video was super great! I’m lost in my career right now, having a degree in commercial photography but mental health and Covid derailed everything. Now I work at a music store running their social media for fun and creating a little content, but it’s not sustainable longterm. I want to create something of my own, my own brand and platform, but I get lost in what. I could do guitars and try and work with brands since in surrounded by hundreds of different guitars and have a bit of a portfolio, but the minute I leave I’ll lose my content here. I want to create a website and social media for hemp products, but that shit gets you banned easily sometimes. I don’t have hobbies like I used to 😭 I don’t illustrate, film, or act. I just take pretty good portraits.
I'm at such a low point in my life, and just as i'm about to move house with no money, i found your channel. I Get so much energy from your video's because they are so darn real! Thank you
Another option for selling is what I would call "distributed retail space". We have new stores popping up here in Canada, where you rent a "nook" inside the store on a monthly basis. They staff it, they don't get a commission, you keep all profits, you just pay the subscription. We're usually behind the trends here so if we have them I'm sure these must exist in other countries as well. Great video. Would love to see one on setting up a web store!
Mel Robbins has a brilliant piece of advice regarding how to value your services. When a prospective client/employer asks how much you charge, ask: 'What's your budget?' And when they tell you, say: 'I usually take double.' She says it works like magic.
100% geek out about setting up a shop please! Great video, honestly so much information in such a short amount of time.
hi struthless,
i just found your channel about an hour ago and have been binging your self help videos. they’re *actually* helpful, uplifting, comforting, and motivating. i’ll be re-watching all i’ve seen so far, but this time with a notebook in hand, to do the journaling exercises you talk about.
i’m a firm believer in being open about past traumas and struggles, and you embody that belief i have perfectly. you’ve mentioned in other videos (not this one, i’m just commenting here ‘cause it’s your most recent video at the time of me writing this) that you’ve been sexually abused as a child. and y’know what? me too. you’ve also mentioned drug and alcohol issues, which i don’t actually have, but my mother struggles with alcoholism, and i still live with her. i’m able to empathise with substance addiction since i see it in such a close member of my family. perhaps the closest.
you’re open about your insecurities and negative beliefs about yourself (e.g. “i don’t deserve to be loved”), which i think so many people have trouble with admitting to themselves. i used to think i was pretty intra-personally intelligent, but after seeing a handful of your videos, i think i’ve been refusing to acknowledge some key aspects of myself.
tl;dr: your vibe is amazing, i love your videos on self-help, you seem really down-to-earth and a loveable, fun guy, and you’ve gained a new subscriber. your life guidance videos are exactly what i need for my mental health. thank you, and keep doing what you’re doing.
i wish you all the best,
haven
This video title is exactly what I needed to see. I'm a poet & short fiction writer and can't seem to figure out how to make any money from it. Maybe I'll summon up some courage to find and message people who might be in need of stories. Thanks struthless!
Could you please make a video for people who lost all their creativity once they went to school for their discipline? Ever since I’ve been in uni for fashion, I feel like all my work sucks and I have no motivation and desire to make absolutely anything creative (even not related to fashion). I used to have so many ideas and creative energy, but now all I think about is hitting the deadlines and pleasing my tutors and it has completely destroyed my genuine creativity. And literally all of my friends who are also creatives in school feel the same way and we all just suffer together 😭😭😭 your videos are one of the few things that actually makes me feel I will be okay again lol
Also if anyone else has any advice, please help lmao
I'd love to hear the details on pricing your own art and the evolution of it! I'm currently starting a mental health project to help fund people in therapy and one of the ways I want to raise money is by selling my shitty art (I can hardly paint a smiley face without f'ing it up!). The point is that someone will get something positive & cute as art on canvas as a "thank you" for helping to contribute to the project, but it would be fun to see the evolution of your own pricing & skills over time, of course if that's something you'd be willing to share!
The timing of your videos always amazes me - so frequently you put something out there just at the perfect moment for me. This video is especially true to that. I have just been working myself back to the decision that I need to pursue my art as my means of earning my living (I was on track with that goal and summer of 2020 was going to do it for me, but March 2020/Pandemic got here first and stomped me into the ground.) Anyways, literally YESTERDAY I told someone that I am going back to my former goals and going to get serious again about pursuing my art business. They said, "well, they don't call them starving artists for nothing..." Then I woke up this morning and here's another video from you, chock full of the most helpful information and so on topic for me! I know I've got a lot of work and a lot of adjustments to make but I am rolling up my sleeves and getting to it! Thanks for this video, and also I am definitely interested in a video on setting up a successful online shop - I've already got three unsuccessful shops online and I believe THE big problem is probably getting interested parties to the websites. Plus I don't do a lot of "trendy" art just for the sake of making a sale... I make art that I like, and I think there must be others out there somewhere who will like it too and want to buy some. Of course this may be one of those places where I need to make some slight adjustments... but my decision to go forward is made and your videos are always extremely helpful. Thank you!
People love to knock others down huh. I'm sorry you were told that, happy that you found this and are striving forward
You are best! You are the only artist out here talking about reality life situations such as taxes and stragetic business plans. Thank you for creating your channel.
I’m genuinely impressed at the density of value crammed into this video
Would love a video on how to start a shop. Talking with manufacturers and suppliers and how that whole process is undertaken; it seems super daunting
this is just for me bc i plan on rewatching this video alot, lmk if someone has already done this or smth
.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.
[ TIMESTAMPS ]
0:00
1:05 - {pt. 1} Identify your skills
2:55 - {pt. 2} Freelancing
10:00 - {pt. 3} Selling Your Art
15:00 - {pt. 4} Paperwork
˚ ༘♡ ·˚ ₊˚ˑ༄ؘ
Love your channel so much, Campbell! I'm an animator and am always so impressed by your video quality and use of text. You definitely have one of my favorite channels these days. Keep killin' it!
Even before the part 1, I already liked the video just because of your "vibe" I'd say. Always makes me smile when you post a video, great work every time :)
I always creative my whole life, but being a student with strict parents, not much i can do. Now i kinda free, i want to trying to find living with my art, still very early stage, but thinking some of the way i can do that. This certainly gonna help me find my way, thank you so much!
It's been years since I want to monetize some of my creative skills too and I've watched many videos on the topic. This is by far one of the best! :D as always, some more practical, out of the box and thought provoking approaches and advice.
Keep being so smart and funny, your videos always made my day! "That's a lot of fours." LOL
Your videos are so clear, actionable, and specific - it's really a breath of fresh air compared to most other videos I see on how to be successful. Keep up the great work!
This was super helpful and encouraging, thanks! Also yes please on the shop how-to! I'm low-key planning to monetize my fantasy map illustration hobby this year, hoping to do some commissions but also sell prints/greeting cards and the like.
That sounds amazing! Have fun!
All of the practical tips are SO helpful. (In this video and all your others!) Would love to see a video on building a site too.
PS have your book (in Seattle, WA) and it’s helped simplify and define so many thing during a time where my mind seems all over the place! Thanks!!
Pleeeease make the shop video! Your videos are so accessible, encouraging and informative, love everything you do!