For freelancers in the entertainment and creative space, conversations around “year-end fatigue” do not apply. The festive season is where freelancers in the entertainment and creative space make the most nyuku.
This is our time to shine. This is the perfect time to cash in. We now have the biggest responsibility of invoking the holiday and festive spirit from this point onwards, starting with your year-end functions.
The 8-5 gang has every right to be talking about “year-end” fatigue, not us. So whatever fatigue you have as a freelancer in the entertainment and creative space, shake it off, and get ready to knock it out of the park!
For all time’s sake…let’s revisit the ABCs of being a professional in the entertainment and creative space. Starting with marketing.
No one will know the service you offer if you do not market yourself. Create a poster that clearly states what you do. A poster that has an email address on it. A poster that is not ambiguous, or too busy. Post it everywhere on your socials. Share it every day on your WhatsApp status. Get your besties and chomas to share the poster in their circles until you get that email enquiring about the services you offer.
When you get that enquiry, do not take 100 years to reply. Have your email app on your phone. Again, don’t fall for the “I don’t check my emails after working hours” stories. That’s for the 8-5 squad.
You need to check your emails 24/7! You are a freelancer! Reply to your enquiry on time, and professionally.
Once confirmed that you got the gig, insist on a meeting. It is this meeting that will help you understand the objectives of the event. You will get a chance to understand the programme of the day, and perhaps offer advice where needed. This will demonstrate your level of professionalism and genuine interest.
Once you get that meeting out of the way, get on your research donkey, and hunt for information.
Depending on the type of event and what type of service you offer… it’s always good to have extra information about the occasion or the company/organisation itself. It will help you formulate tasteful jokes or banter that will have your audience on their feet.
Once you’ve done your research, work out a social media plan for the event, especially if it’s a public event that requires convincing people to pitch up. You are not Bonang Matheba or Wizkid. You are in Namibia. It’s a tiny market.
Share the poster, and do your bit to help the event organisers convince people to rock up for that event. Be creative while you are at it. Sharing the poster is boring AF. It does nothing.
Hence… social media plan.
On the day of the event…make sure your hair, nails outfit, etc are on point. There is no other way around it. Clean up, you can’t be the host and be an eyesore for instance. You are literally the centre of the event and people must not struggle to look at you. Sies, arrive on time.
Arrive at least an hour or 30 minutes at best before your performance slot, or whatever it is you are booked for. Arriving a bit earlier allows you to study the atmosphere. It allows you to read the room.
It gives you the opportunity to troubleshoot anything that may need attention. Do not ever burden the event organiser with anything. If anything, be the solution.
Once you notice the event is done or done with your performance slot, LEAVE! Greet the organiser one more time, assert the fact that you will invoice them the next morning, and LEAVE. Do not stay behind for the afterparty what… it’s not a good look.
Go on socials one more time, thank the organiser again, and keep it moving. Oh, and don’t forget to invoice. Clear ABCs. We all need a reminder every once in a while. I too am guilty of not following the ABCs all the time. However, let it be demure from this point onwards. It is festive.
Creatives and entertainers… let’s get that money! Let’s work!
Until the next Loop, we say #GMTM
Need an MC? I’m YOUR guy. Hit me up… naobebsekind@gmail.com