"A true gig job or gig worker job is … something short term they're freelancing or they're doing something on the side," explains Paul Nichols, executive director of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Dallas. With that said, here's a look at what being a freelancer means and how you can craft a stable career as an independent artist. Self-employed artists may continue to experience economic highs and lows as the economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Industries such as advertising, journalism, and design - for which independent and contract artists inarguably serve as backbones - have kept hiring freelancers. This unexpected stronghold has seen some growth as more individuals take their careers into their own hands.Įven during these challenging times, many freelance artists are thriving. Fortunately, the gig economy has remained relatively stable compared to more traditional industries, such as retail and marketing. Industries like advertising and journalism have kept hiring freelancers during the pandemic.īut being a freelance artist isn't all bad. As businesses and clients reevaluated their finances, many contract and freelance opportunities came to a standstill, which led to many workers being laid off, getting their hours reduced, or having their positions eliminated entirely. As more companies turn to freelance artists, be sure you know your rights as a contractor.įreelancing in 2020 was a roller coaster, to say the least.Aspiring freelancers should have a website and market themselves on social media.A freelance artist is someone who works short-term gigs, usually on a contractual basis.Despite the economic downturn, some art sectors, like fashion and marketing, are thriving.