Discovering your artistic worth

"Just do it for the exposure".

Words every artist and creative have heard. A trap most artists have also fallen into all too often.

Uncomfortable speaking about this? Sometimes.

Intimidating to think about? 100%

Difficult to turn down? Definitely.

All too often as artists we devalue ourselves and by doing this we directly devalue our art/creative projects. Which in turn devalues the relevant industry we are in (surprise, surprise). We grovel and accept scraps or even promises of "exposure" as jobs to:

1. Stay relevant or busy and

2. To be labelled as "a pleasure to work with".

Hmmmm... no... just....no.

No. Thank. You.

Is what I say.

There is great importance in upholding your worth and valuing yourself because by doing so you start to build a reputable, reliable and most important AUTHENTIC reputation not only as an artist but as a human being, living a unique human experience, on this revolving planet we call Earth.

So how you might ask? How does one set your standards, quantify your artistic values and empower yourself by building your worth?

It's a toughie to answer because it's very dependable on many things.

Well first thing is first.

If you are struggling to discover your worth as a person, within your own personal capacity, you are most definitely going to struggle at valuing yourself as an artist in your profession.

I know many artists don't like labels or being put in a box but I hate to break it to you, you are human, first, before you are an 'artiste'.

Life as we know it is interconnected. Our professional lives overflow into our personal lives (specifically in the creative space as we tend to live, eat and breathe our artistic projects), our mental overflows into our physical bodies and the decisions we make or the beliefs we stand for are universal to every area of our lives even when we might not realise it.

We speak a lot about this in a broader sense on our podcast episode - click here to give it a listen if you feel like hearing us vent and ramble on about this topic.

It is both entertaining and informative if I do say so myself (#humble).

So let's get down to it.

How do we even begin to establish this so called "worth"?

Here are a few pointers to beat the overwhelm surrounding this as a freelancer:

1. Get rid of self-doubt right this second. Imposter Syndrome? We don't know her and she can't sit with us either.

Stop doubting whether what you have to offer is good enough or worth the price you are charging, and more so, stop constantly living in fear of judgement or comparison.

Every artist is unique in what they offer and there is nobody that can do what you do in the capacity that you do it.

You have your own individual life experiences and skillsets to bring to the table so constantly comparing yourself to others in your field won't get you very far (healthy competition can be a motivational force until it isn't).

So think about what puts you apart from the rest because this will become your niche. Nobody knows the value of your art or you as an artist as well as you do so there is no reason to downplay the value of it.

Respect is a give and take but if you don't give it to yourself and honor your talents then how can possible employers/clients do the same?

2. Be confident. This goes hand in hand with the self-doubt thing.

Back yourself! Often in life you have to "fake it til you make it".

This is not about being dishonest (remember authenticity is the goal here) and we don't advocate lying about your abilities or talents.

Pushing the boundaries of your capabilities and getting out of your comfort zone not only makes you a more diverse artist but it builds a reputation of being able handle anything that gets thrown at you because often we don't even know how much potential we actually have if we don't take the chance.

So start to change the narrative and believe that THEY NEED YOU and not the other way around.

3. Set boundaries, stand up & speak up for what you believe in. I said this before and I will say it again - THIS IS IMPORTANT and it is something most artists and most people (me included) really struggle with.

Be clear on what you will do, what you won't do and what you will not compromise on.

If something does not sit well with you regarding a job or contract - voice your opinion. You don't want to be considered a walk-over because you blindly agree to everything in fear of either losing the job or being labeled as "difficult to work with".

So set your professional standard by not allowing others to belittle you or question your worth (a VERY prevalent thing in the dance and artistic world). Don't allow others to "cut you down to size".

You are a professional at the end of the day and have every right to be treated as such. It is all a matter of mutual respect.

Lastly, don't shy away from uncomfortable topics, be transparent and invite an open conversation about the things that might be bothering you. You don't want to leave room for doubt - ever.

4. Focus your energy rather than dispersing it. You can't give your all to all of it all of the time so be intentional with what you do.

Be specific and goal orientated. As freelancers it is really easy to be a yes man and accept every job that comes our way (because money is a real thing... believe me yes... I get it). This should become my daily mantra I think because this one is easier said than done and something I personally have had to give a lot of attention to.

There is courage in saying no and you should never have to grovel for scraps in order to prove your worth - especially when you are starting out and made to believe you need to "earn your worth".

So next time when you are promised "exposure" or "experience" just consider if it is really worth your time and effort because that energy can be put to better use towards better paying jobs.

There is also danger in spreading yourself too thin - it very quickly leads to mental, physical and emotional fatigue and then that is a slippery slope towards burn out (this is also not a trophy to prove your success... just saying).

If it is not serving you in anyway, if you are not gaining any fulfillment out of it (taking away the financial equation) and if it drains you rather than energizes you then those are red flags already. With that being said if you feel you can gain something from an unpaid job then go for it just be mindful of what is required.

5. Get specific on your quotes and values as not to give space to loop holes or ambiguity. Ask for written contracts or agreements to gain clarity on the job and don't be scared to negotiate on these.

The last thing you want is to be taken advantage of and stipulating the obligations of all involved is important as it once again sets your professional standard (i.e. you mean serious business).

So consider your target audience and client for the specific job and detail out all the effort and skills that is required from you to put a value to your quote. Making lists will become your closest friends (love a good list and a journal).

Important to note that this value is changeable per project depending on what is required so allow this value to be fluid and constantly reevaluate it.

6. AUTHENTICITY (excuse me while I shout it from the rooftops). Whatever you do in this life do it with authenticity and intention.

If there is no meaning behind your work or your choices then it lacks a lot of relatability.

Let go of the mind numbing idea that you constantly have to work yourself to the bone in order to stay relevant or even be successful (*gasp* that's very early 2000s and a lie that society has made us to believe).

The 'grind culture' is a man-made concept that we have all fallen prey to and as with many societal concepts or systems -

it

must

fall.

Efficiency rules productivity so work smarter and not necessarily harder. Give enough effort...just enough...not more and not less and be okay when things aren't perfect because nothing ever is.

There is so much beauty in imperfection and constantly aiming for perfection robs you of joy more often than not... but perfectionism in the artistic world is a WHOLE other topic for a whole other post.

Disclaimer: I am not saying sit back and relax but try and strike that balance of what you put in and what you get out. Finding this sweet spot of effort releases a lot of self-pressure and unrealistic expectations.

Lastly, contrary to popular belief you don't always have to find ways to justify or over-explain yourself, your work, or what you accept (or don't). Don't apologize for who you are as an artist because this takes away from your true, authentic, artistic expression.

Be proud of who you are and the journey that has gotten you here because everyone has their own story to tell. Appreciate where you find yourself now, here, today and bathe in this presence. Allow things to organically evolve and trust the process of what will come and is meant to be.

So if you have read through all of this and you are still with me (yay!).

Do not be fooled... I (or anybody) do not have this figured out but opening up these conversations around intimidating topics are important.

You are not alone.

I am intimidated by it on the daily and truly nobody is really ever going to have it figured out. As with everything what works for me does not work for everyone - there is no right or wrong in anything - there just is.

With that being said.

Peace out!

And staaaaaaay creative

Bianca.