The Pros and Cons of Employment and Self-Employment for Creative Artists
By Dana P. Rowe, PCC, CPCC, CPQC
The creative life is not for the faint of heart. It takes guts to put your work out there, to share it with the world, and to make a living from doing what you love. But as any self-employed artist will tell you, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. There are definite pros and cons to being your own boss. Today, we’re going to explore both sides of the coin, so you can decide if self-employment or working as an employee is right for you.
It’s true; every creative artist needs to find a way to supplement their income at some time or another.
For many, the lure of self-employment is strong: the freedom to work from home, to set your own hours, to be your own boss. But there are also many factors to consider before taking the plunge.
An equally good choice is to find what some call a survival job that will give you the flexibility to pursue your art on the side. This is not just a survival job but a parallel passion in the best of all possible scenarios. Something that supports your art financially but also feeds your soul.
You must be clear about what you need to thrive creatively. Do you like working independently, or do you prefer the structure of a 9-to-5 job? Do you work best under pressure, or do you need more time to gestate your ideas? Are you the type of person who can motivate yourself, or do you need someone to help keep you on track?
You’ll find a link to an easy assessment below to help you get more clarity about what’s best for you.
The Pros of Self-Employment
1. You’re in control.
When you’re self-employed, you call the shots. You decide what projects to take on, what prices to charge, and how to spend your time. This can be a great feeling, especially if you’ve ever felt stifled or unfulfilled in a traditional work setting.
2. You can make your own schedule.
One of the best parts of being self-employed is deciding when and how you work. If you’re a night owl, you can work late into the night. If you have young children at home, you can take a break in the afternoon to pick them up from school. Of course, there will always be deadlines and client expectations to consider, but you get to decide when and how you work for the most part.
3. You can work from anywhere.
Another great perk of being self-employed is that you can work from anywhere in the world. As long as you have a laptop and an internet connection, you can work from a coffee shop, the library, or even a beach in Thailand.
The Pros of Working as an Employee
1. Life is more predictable.
Knowing when you’ll receive your next paycheck and having health insurance are definite perks of working as an employee. If you want certainty and a clear job description, then traditional work might be a better fit for you.
2. You don’t have to worry about marketing or sales.
As an employee, you can focus on your job duties and leave the marketing and sales to your boss. This can be a relief if you’re not interested in or good at those tasks. You can focus on your area of expertise and leave the business side of things to your boss. This can be a relief if you’re not interested in or good at those tasks.
3. There’s typically more job security.
When you’re an employee, your job is usually more secure than if you’re self-employed. Unless you’re in a high-risk industry or position, it’s unlikely that you would be fired without cause.
The Bottom Line
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to deciding whether to become self-employed or find a job with an established company. It’s essential to consider both the pros and cons before deciding.
If you’re still not sure what’s right for you, take this simple assessment to get more clarity about which option is best for you.
Click Here to Take the Free Assessment
If you’re looking for more posts like this one, be sure to check out the rest of my blog posts for Creative Artists and Entrepreneurs here.