Events

LINKEDIN IS NOT FOR CREATIVES… Actually, that's where you're wrong. LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for creatives but it does take a little bit of manipulation to make it work for you - and help you connect to potential clients and customers! In this interactive online workshop, creative practitioners can learn as a group about how to make the most of LinkedIn for their career. We'll work together to:+ Finish your summary and experiences;+ Add media and info to your categories;+ Learn what makes a great photo and banner;+ Use a format for previous work that's ideal for creative workers and freelancers;+ Discuss the strategy: posting, blogging and more. Come and join us for some light learning, a virtual glass of wine and the opportunity to work together get to know each other. You'll also get to work together in a practical way on your own LinkedIn profile with the help of a professional! What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Hands-on help with their LinkedIn profile;+ Additional resources, including a free webinar to remind them of key pointsYou also get free advice! All NSW participants are entitled to 4 x 1-hour CHAT sessions, with a […]

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL 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 […]

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.You also get free advice! All NSW participants are entitled to 4 x 1-hour CHAT sessions, with a creative industries business advisor, 100% subsidised by Business Connect and therefore at no cost to you (no, there’s no catch!). Who should enrol?This workshop is ideal for recent graduates, freelancers and anyone struggling […]

DOES THE PROSPECT OF NETWORKING MAKE YOU SHUDDER? I Hate Networking is a surprisingly fun event designed to encourage creative people to get to know each other while acknowledging the horror of networking and sharing a few tips at the same time. While it’s a vital skill in the creative industries, many practitioners consider networking to be the stuff of nightmares. I Hate Networking combines education with the opportunity to practice in a safe and friendly environment while embracing the discomfort of the whole process and having a laugh. Tips that will be shared include:+ Success is before you start – preparing before the event;+ Mastering the art of the introduction;+ Overcoming shyness, awkwardness and the urge to run away;+ Dealing with wankers and other difficult people;+ Getting the all-important follow-up right. You'll learn how to network in the first half of the session, and practice your skills in the second half. What do I get? All participants in this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated I Hate Networking 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 […]

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.You also get free advice! All NSW participants are entitled to 4 x 1-hour CHAT sessions, with a creative industries business advisor, 100% subsidised by Business Connect and therefore at no cost to you (no, there’s no catch!). Who should enrol?This workshop is ideal for recent graduates, freelancers and anyone struggling […]

CREATIVE COSTING, PRICING AND SHARING YOUR WORTH Working out what to charge for creative products and services can be a colossal challenge. Where to even start? What’s It Worth is a practical workshop that covers the basics of figuring out the price point for creative work, including calculating costs and understanding what the market can bear. What’s It Worth is vital for anyone struggling to understand the value of their own work, and how to share that value with others.   Participants will also discuss the larger issues of:+ Understanding budgets, including the value of time;+ The psychology of pricing;+ Where cost and price overlap and intersect;+ Understanding the marketplace (and market research); + Creating loss leaders and more. What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated What’s it Worth? Dropbox folder full of additional resources and workbooks to help continue the learning after the workshop;+ 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 business specialist advisors.All questions are welcome in this relaxed, safe and inclusive workshop. Participants are also encouraged to share their own experiences and […]

FREELANCING IS TRICKY – AND INEVITABLE Freelancing in the creative industries is a fact of life. Even curious hobbyists and serial employees will need to understand the basics – not to mention those who have chosen to freelance professionally in their craft. Five Tips for Freelance Creatives is a fast, funny and practical presentation specifically designed for creative practitioners with absolutely no business skills, to help them get the five most important elements of creative freelancing just right. Participants will learn more about:+ Setting goals and planning the self-employment journey;+ Understanding and handling money matters;+ The key to managing time better;+ The basic beginnings of marketing, and+ Fostering a cheer squad and juggling the realities of combining art and business.We’ll also share more resources and tax, superannuation, and business registration. 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. What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Freelance Five Dropbox folder full of additional resources and workbooks to help continue the learning after the workshop;+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered […]

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL 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! What do I get?All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Beginners 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 ideal for recent graduates, freelancers and anyone struggling with the marketing of their creative practice. Who is presenting?Business advisor and creative industries expert Monica Davidson from the Creative Plus Business […]

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.You also get free advice! All NSW participants are entitled to 4 x 1-hour CHAT sessions, with a creative industries business advisor, 100% subsidised by Business Connect and therefore at no cost to you (no, there’s no catch!). Who should enrol?This workshop is ideal for recent graduates, freelancers and anyone struggling […]

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL In collaboration with the Arts Law Centre of Australia, this workshop introduces the main legal concepts that creatives need to be aware of – copyright, contracts, moral rights and confidentiality. We’ll also share more details about where to go for help, and what resources are available to empower creatives to manage the basics of their own legal affairs. Techniques that will be shared and discussed include:+ The basics of intellectual property and why it’s important;+ Who owns copyright, and using the work of others;+ Creating contracts to protect all relationships;+ The three essential elements of moral rights;+ Understanding the importance of confidentiality law.Resources from the Arts Law Centre of Australia will be shared, including links for legal assistance. What do I get?  All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated The Art of Law 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 business specialist advisors. All questions are welcome in this relaxed, safe and […]

HOW TO MAKE THE TIME FOR EVERYTHING? This workshop answers the age-old question – how are we supposed to find the time to run a creative career, pursue our arts-based practice, and have a life as well? This fun and informal workshop discusses practical strategies to help you keep all the juggling balls in the air. Participants will also discuss the larger issues of:+ Setting and keeping goals;+ Staying motivated and understanding procrastination;+ Recognising self-sabotage, and;+ Finding the balance between being creative and making money. What do I get?  All participants of this workshop also receive:+Lifetime access to a dedicated Time Management dropbox folder full of additional resources and help;+ Access to a website full of additional free resources.The workshop is relaxed and informal, you can ask all the questions you’ve never been able to ask before, and participants will also be given ample opportunity to network and get to know each other. 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 […]