Coronavirus affecting creatives? Here’s why it shouldn’t

BY SELINA McCALLUM

On Monday, March 16^th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during an afternoon press conference that all Canadians should stay home if they are able to. That is when the quarantine really started to kick in as stores had already reduced their hours or closed down indefinitely.

For people who work in the creative industry, especially those who are self-employed, like videographers, photographers and artists, self-isolation can be difficult. For some photographers who use studios, most of them have now shut down. In addition, with the government encouraging people to practice social distancing, creative folks who film events, take photos of groups, or teach classes full of eager students, can no longer do that.

This begs the question, how will creatives make money in the next few weeks? If you’re a creative and the coronavirus has affected you, here’s some insight from other creatives in Toronto on how they’re coping in their quarantine.

Ryan Malcolm-Campbell, also known as Mr.Koa on Instagram, had to discover another skillset when he was injured in his third year of playing basketball in university.

“The first thing I did was start a clothing line which was called the King of Arts, that’s what koa stands for,” said Malcolm-Campbell.

After graduating, he was able to focus more on his clothing line and took it upon himself to buy a camera and teach himself photography.

Though his clothing company started in 2013, he has been self-employed as a full-time photographer for the last three years taking photos of weddings, celebrities and athletes. He says he has received most of his clients from word of mouth.

Malcolm-Campbell is using this time to work on skills he’s never had a chance to before.

“I’m using this to my advantage. I’m actually really enjoying it. I’m used to being home and working on me, on stuff. I actually don’t really even have time to learn new things. I rarely have the time to stop and teach myself new skills,” said Malcolm-Campbell. “During this time, I’m taking courses on programs that have been challenging to me.”

 When it comes to being financially stable, Malcolm-Campbell says that it’s important to budget wisely and suggest these tips.

“For everyone it will be a case by case basis. Be aware of what your necessities are and what you’re spending things on. When you get a big gig or a contract, make sure you’re putting some of that money somewhere whether it’s an investment or just a savings account,” said Malcolm-Campbell.

“People might be taking this time to rest or spend with their family. I read somewhere that some people are feeling pressured to create during this time, but that isn’t for everybody,” said Malcolm-Campbell. “If you are the type of person that likes to work on things, then this is definitely the perfect time to do something.”

Instagram has really had a huge role in helping creatives put their work out there and still stay in touch with fans. Haviah Mighty, a female rapper from Brampton, posted a photo with the caption, “My career thrives on rooms with 200+ people, so, not quite sure what to do with myself in these times (other than create).”

Over the past few days, Mighty has been doing live streams on Instagram from her room, showing her dedicated fans her music process of how she puts beats together and works with samples.

Tristian Barrocks is a Digital Storyteller from Toronto. He is also another creative using Instagram Live to his advantage.

“I educate people on how to use stories and identifying their story to further progress their career or their creative journey,” said Barrocks. “Our story is our perspective, and our story is what brings value.”

To tell a good story, Barrock believes you need to have three things: authenticity, passion and craftsmanship.

During his quarantine, he’s balancing between spending time with loved ones and creating.

“I’m creating things for myself. I am creating time for my family. I’m making time for more of the relationships I have because in all honesty, I’ve neglected them because I was so focused on my career,” said Barrocks.

The digital storyteller says he’s also making content for other creatives that centre around understanding the entrepreneurship part of being a creative working for yourself.

“Our problem isn’t how to hold the camera, our problem is how to do our taxes,” said Barrocks.

For creatives, it’s also important to have multiple streams of income. Barrocks suggests marketing yourself and your brand will help you bring in more income.

“This is a time to take inventory of yourself and ask yourself what you bring to the table. It’s being a storefront owner, without actually having a storefront. What makes you valuable?” Said Barrocks.

“I think that creatives have to understand that the new currency, is the currency of ideas and thoughts. Your perspective is going to drive the value of your personal brand and stock price. It’s no longer about who can shoot the best photo, but who can give me an amazing perspective on a creative concept of marketing this product,” said Barrocks.

Joshua Tubbs, founder of Customatic, says not much has changed for him during this quarantine as he is also a Senior Video Editor for an advertising company and is working from home.

The advice he gives to individuals or small media teams is to work with production houses.

“First build that trust to show them that you’re there solely to work with them,” said Tubbs. “A production house that has a lot of business, they’re obviously going to hire freelance photographers and freelance editors. If you don’t want to focus so much on the sales and admin side, and just want to create, then working alongside companies helps.”

The goal is to work smarter, not harder.

“When that project is done and continues to make money, you’ll have residual coming in,” said Tubbs.

The founder of Customatic also suggests making templates, presets, and animated titles that people can continue to buy for their own projects.

“I understand how all creatives feel in this moment of uncertainty. I think it’s important to re-evaluate and look at yourself and say, “Hey what do I want to do? What have I always wanted to do?” It doesn’t mean you have to create or learn something, maybe it means to try something different,” said Tubbs.