I Hate My 9 to 5

Tips for independent artist-managers and manager-artists
by sim1ontharun

Photo via Les

I've decided that the unofficial tagline for IHM9TO5 is: "I hate my job. I love my life." If that doesn't say it all, let's add to that, "Every day I think about quitting my job and starting my life." One of my favorite poets, Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, once challenged her fans, "What would you do if you could take back your 40 hours a week?"

I made a list for myself, and ever since I've been an independent consultant, I keep looking back at it, asking myself, "Am I living up to my own desires for those 40 hours?" I definitely recommend doing this if you're planning on becoming your own boss.

If you're reading this article, I'm guessing you've got an entrepreneurial spirit that will no longer ignored. Don't ignore it. But, if you're ready to live the 'fun-employed life,' use these 10 tips to proceed with enthusiasm.

1. Know your capacity and clearly define roles and responsibilities with clients. When you are your own PR/Marketing Department, you've got to have the right words to describe what you do, state how much it costs, and weigh desirable work scenarios against how many clients you can reasonably serve. Don't overdo it! This will hurt your ability to take on new clients and burn you out faster than any other employer ever could.

2. Learn to say 'no,' but also state when a 'yes' is in the future. I learned this awesome and important tip from performing artist and manager extraordinaire, Holly Bass. For instance, you might tell a prospective client, "Thank you for thinking of me for this project/service. I apologize, but due to my current workload I am unable to take on your project at this time. Please keep me in mind for any projects after X date." Then, keep them on your radar (via your mailing list, social media outreach, etc.), and make sure to stay on theirs.

This is also applicable to philanthropic causes. Poets get asked to host and perform at events for little to no pay, visual artists get asked to do pro bono work for things like logos and design, and DJs get asked to play for free, just to name a few artist-manager dilemmas. Tell potential charities what your limits are (e.g., "I usually work with five charities annually, and my quota is filled for this year," or "I have limited resources and my annual philanthropy is reserved to X charity.") and train them to contact you earlier in the year. Also, be sure to explain in a polite way that you are a professional artist/manager and that this is what you do for a living.

3. Have an agenda and a purpose for all meetings. Don't just meet to meet. People value their time and will value yours more this way, too. You'll quickly learn that when you are your own boss, you will work harder than you ever worked for anyone else. To maximize your limited time and energy, try to meet less in person, but always with an explicit purpose. Having an agenda, no matter how simple and straightforward, is a huge help to keeping everyone on the same page and for following up later.

4. Follow-up. Always. Nuff said. You'd be surprised how many people don't follow-up and follow-through. If you're guilty of this, it's as though your meeting never happened. If you need help, ask for it. I have worked with two interns this year alone, and am eternally grateful for the fresh perspective and energy they bring to my emerging consulting business. Otherwise, take good notes and hold yourself accountable to following up after meetings and important agreements you want to clarify or emphasize.

5. Don't undervalue yourself and your services. Figure out what the market rate for what you do is, then begin your negotiations at a rate slightly higher than what you'd like to be paid. A wise man once told me, "If you aren't in a position to say no and walk away, then you aren't in a position to negotiate." We've all got to master the art of saying 'no,' especially we women, but be humble and say 'yes,' too. Especially in the beginning, when you're just starting to build your client roster. Know where you are in the negotiation--dominant or passive--and what you want out of it. Is it money, experience, or fun you're after?

This is part 1 of 10 Ways to Survive Fun-Employment -- Check out the site on Work Lessons Wednesdays for part 2. Written by:

sim1 writes poems. She is the founding co-director of Sulu DC, home to Asian and Pacific Islander American performing artists in Washington, DC. Her writing has appeared in Beltway Poetry Quarterly, and on multiple DMV blogs, including her current gig as a writer for The Couch Sessions. Her professional life includes performing and small projects management in the arts, spanning from nurturing independent artists to advising major arts institutions. She is a proud Burmese-American gypsy. Follow her @sim1ontharun