Events

PRESENTING YOUR IDEAS, CONVINCING YOUR AUDIENCE Pitching is a necessary part of professional creative practice, whether it’s discussing an idea for a work, talking to funding bodies about a project, or participating in a competitive pitch process or competition. It’s fraught with legal and marketing challenges, and needs to be approached in a thoughtful and strategic way. PITCHFACE is a relaxed workshop that provides practical advice on how to tell your best story, how to protect your ideas, and simple tips and tricks to avoid the ‘elevator pitch’ and build lasting relationships with the people who can help bring your ideas to life.  The workshop takes a practical and professional look at:+ Preparing for the Pitch – script, presentation, and you;+ Putting together a ‘live pitch’;+ Presenting online and in writing;+ Protecting yourself legally;+ The all-important Follow-Up.  What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated PITCHFACE Dropbox folder full of additional resources and workbooks to help continue the learning after the workshop is over;+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop;+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries […]

The light is gleaming at the end of the tunnel, and in NSW doors are reopening and businesses are coming back to life. What does this mean for creative industries? Join us for a panel discussion with creative industries Business Connect advisors to discuss how to navigate this next period of professional readjustment. We'll discuss managing the reopening process, overcoming the challenges presented by the 'new normal', and how to take the delicate steps towards whatever is next for creative business. What’s included? A 60 minute webinar with our creative industries experts (which you can access later if you want), plus lifetime access to additional resources on our website containing more resources to support your learning. Who should sign up? Creative and arts practitioners, freelancers, start-ups,  students and arts entrepreneurs from beginners to established (International sign-ups welcome!). We also welcome curious hobbyists and people from outside the arts.  Who's the host?  Monica Davidson, director of Creative Plus Business, writer-slash-filmmaker-slash-creative business consultant.  What's Creative Plus Business? We're an educational organisation dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about entrepreneurial skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more […]

UNDERSTAND THOSE DOLLAR DOLLAR BILLS, Y'ALL Understanding how to manage the flow of money in and out of a creative business is always a challenge - and in a pandemic, even more so. The roller coaster of income and expenses, the 'famine and the feast', can be managed - but only with some expert advice and real-world examples to help. Cashflow for Creatives is an interactive online workshop that guides participants as they learn more about the irregularity of income that accompanies creative business, and how to manage their cash flow through practical tools and steps (NOT formulas). With a focus on the arts and creative industries, this workshop will cover:+ The reality of managing the Famine and the Feast+ Understanding and creating your budgets+ Tips from a pro to help ‘regularise’ your cashflow+ Getting organised - and staying that way At the completion of the workshop you will have:+ Lifetime access to a Cashflow for Creatives Dropbox folder jam-packed with resources+ A workbook to help with the practical elements of the workshop+ The option of more one-to-one advice from a creative business specialist All questions are welcome in this relaxed, safe and inclusive workshop. Participants are also encouraged to […]

DOES SOCIAL MEDIA HURT YOUR BRAIN? Social media is a complex and challenging marketing tool for a lot of creatives, who find it hard to strike the balance between constantly talking about themselves and ignoring the platforms entirely! This friendly and up-to-date workshop covers the basics of how to kickstart marketing using social media, with a focus on the main tools at your disposal and the strategy behind the socials. We’ll also cover:+ Understanding your Brand online+ Understanding your Tribe+ Choosing the right platform for your clients+ Tips and tricks on staying up to date … and much more! What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Printed materials to help in class;+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Social Media for Creatives dropbox folder full of additional resources and help;+ Access to a website full of links and resources to help you get ahead in their creative business. Who should enrol?This workshop is ideal for recent graduates, freelancers and anyone struggling with the business aspects of their creativity. Who is presenting?Lillie Brown is a freelance marketing strategist and Marketing Manager of Creative Plus Business. Lillie works with small to medium creative businesses to devise and implement marketing […]

HATE SELLING? TRY STRATEGY INSTEAD. Marketing is one of the most despised and least understood aspects of running a creative business and being an arts entrepreneur. Most creatives hate to sell, and would rather be making than hustling. There is a simple secret to making marketing more palatable - understanding the strategy behind the sales will make a huge impact on your creative career. This down-to-earth and enjoyable workshop explores the mystery behind the marketing magic, specifically for creative professionals. We’ll also examine:+ The key elements of a successful marketing campaign;+ How to understand clients, customer and competitors;+ The deeper meaning of word-of-mouth marketing;+ The importance of social media;+ How to make a website with impact … and much more! Our Creative's Guide to Marketing workshop is tailored specifically to creative people who are (or want to be) self-employed, from students and start-ups to experienced freelancers and arts organisations. What do I get?All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Creative's Guide to Marketing dropbox folder full of additional resources and help;+ Access to a dedicated webpage full of links and resources to help them get ahead in their creative business. Who should enrol?This workshop is […]

THE BASICS OF STARTING AN ONLINE STORE Selling online and using e-commerce can be overwhelming at first, especially for creatives - where to begin? This beginner's course is ideal for any creatives who have products or services ready to sell, but no idea how to get their online sales set up. With a focus on the arts and creative industries, this workshop will cover:+ The pros and cons of selling online+ Preparing for the basics - bank accounts, cloud accounting and stock management+ Choosing an eCommerce model+ Understanding the Customer Experience+ The legal checklist+ Marketing your Online Store... and more! At the completion of the workshop you will have:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with resources+ A One-Page Creative Business and Marketing Plan+ The option of more one-to-one advice from a creative business specialist. All questions are welcome in this relaxed, safe and inclusive webinar. Participants are also encouraged to share their own experiences and network with their fellow practitioners. Who is presenting? A Double Act!Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist and filmmaker. In 2014 Monica completed her Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business […]

HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU THINK OF TO MAKE MONEY? Creative businesses often need help to brainstorm all the possible ways to diversify their income streams (especially now!) and become more financially sustainable. Diversify Your Creative Income is an interactive online workshop that allows participants to discuss the various general ways that creatives can make money (including services, goods and passive income), and includes practical exercises to help brainstorm those ideas. This workshop examines:+ Identifying your Core and Complementary Skills;+ The Minimum Viable Offering;+ Using a Skills Audit to inspire ideas;+ How to identify a ‘good’ idea;+ Helpful resources and more! What do I get?All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Diversify Your Creative Income Dropbox folder full of additional resources and help;+ Access to a dedicated webpage full of links and resources to help them get ahead in their creative business. Who should enrol?This workshop is ideal for recent graduates, freelancers and anyone struggling with time, work and creativity. It’s also relevant no matter what your profession – filmmakers, writers, designers, visual artists, musicians, composers, dancers, performers – everyone can benefit from a quick introduction or refresher to the basics of time management and […]

The starving artist is a pervasive idea, and in reality many creative people struggle in self-employment because money is a constant battle. This isn’t always just due to lack of funds. Creative practitioners sometimes need the basics of business money and financial literacy explained in a way that is easy to understand. This online workshop helps to bridge that gap in financial literacy with an entertaining and real-world discussion of money that makes sense to the artistic brain. The most common financial questions that creatives have are answered, including:+ How do I weather the ups and downs of creative income?+ Do I have to keep working for free?+ What should I charge? How do I work that out?+ What’s the deal with cash flow and budgets?+ How do I invoice? How do I enforce an invoice?+ What’s the deal with tax, and what is cloud accounting?+ Where can I go for more help? This online workshop will be relaxed and informal. You can ask all the questions you have never been able to ask before and will have ample opportunity to network and get to know each other. Ideal for: This workshop is tailored specifically to creative people who are (or […]

Cherie Clonan is the Founder and Creative Director of digital marketing agency The Digital Picnic. TDP has trained thousands of small business owners to uplevel their marketing skills so it's safe to say Cherie knows a thing or two about cultivating a loyal and engaged audience in the digital landscape!In this interview panel with our marketing manager Lillie Brown, we'll explore strategies and ideas to help you develop a meaningful and engaged following online for your creative business or arts practice. What’s Included? A 90 minute webinar with our creative industries experts (which you can access later if you want), plus lifetime access to additional resources on our website containing more resources to support your learning. Who should sign up? Creative and arts practitioners, freelancers, start-ups,  students and arts entrepreneurs from beginners to established (International sign-ups welcome!). We also welcome curious hobbyists and people from outside the arts.  Who are our hosts with the most? Lillie Brown is a freelance marketing strategist and Marketing Manager of Creative Plus Business. Lillie works with small to medium creative businesses to devise and implement marketing and social media strategies that are easy for creative brains to digest. She walks clients through a comprehensive planning process to create simple […]

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! Curious about turning your creative practice into a fully-fledged small business?  This fun and friendly workshop will cover all the essentials you’ll need to get the basics right and avoid some of the most common pitfalls for creatives as they enter the world of self-employment and freelancing.  You will learn all the following, with a focus on the arts and creative industries :+ Making a plan for your start-up journey+ Understanding ABNs, structures, business names and licences+ Getting ready for the money+ Preparing for the market+ Where to go for more (free) help. What do I get?  All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with resources+ A Creative Business Start-Up Checklist+ A One Page Creative Business and Marketing Plan+ The option of more one-to-one advice from a creative business specialist.All questions are welcome in this relaxed, safe and inclusive workshop. Participants are also encouraged to share their own experiences and network with their fellow practitioners. Who is presenting?Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist and filmmaker. In 2014 Monica completed her Masters degree in Screen Arts […]