If you ask me, networking and experience are the best tools to get you the next gig. However, these two can take time. There are only so many events you can attend and so much time you can dedicate to each project.
If you are a personal stylist, it can be easier. You definitely need to network to find clients, but the work itself can be more straightforward and most of the time it depends only on yourself (versus a team like in another area of styling).
When you want to work as a fashion, wardrobe, celebrity, red carpet, or any other type of stylist, you need to collaborate with different professionals within the industry to start getting experience, improve your craft and build relationships that will bring work (Collaborations are an exchange of work where the parties involved offer their time and expertise at no cost to get experience, exposure and/or pictures to build their resumes).
The truth is working for no pay can be overwhelming and exhausting, especially if you are investing a lot of time, money, and energy into them and you are not getting any paid work in the long run. It can also be frustrating if your living and business expenses are not covered at all.
When I started styling years ago, I quickly noticed that working with established businesses was key to my success as a fashion stylist. Now, this doesn’t mean you will not collaborate with other professionals to keep building relationships and improving your craft. Nevertheless, as time goes by, it does mean that you become more selective about which projects you pick and the number of paid and non-paid work you do.
Another lesson I learned that took WAY more time for me to get was that I needed to cover my expenses, so I could really focus on the work I was doing. Not having your bases covered can force you to make decisions you might regret later (or hurt your career). Choosing projects based on pay or getting involved in as many gigs as you can is not the way to build a business that is meaningful to you (unless money is your core goal of course!).
For me, money is certainly part of the equation and as I said above, I have to make sure my expenses are covered in order to pick the best projects for my business, however, the payment itself cannot be the determining factor.
That’s when I started to really pay attention to my numbers, as well as the work I chose. I went from taking as many projects as I could (paid and unpaid) to doing the ones that mattered. I also realized that even if I wanted to take specific projects, I had to look at what I already had on my plate and learn to say no to properly dedicate the time and attention a project needed and become a better professional.
I also started to really pay attention to my environment and notice which companies could support my business goals, the kind of clients I wanted in my life, the work I wanted to do, and how to make it all work.
I also realized I wanted a styling business that not only supported my business goals, but my life. Making the decision and changing my focus was the only way to start taking my business to the place I wanted it to go and to accomplish the things “I” wanted to achieve.
That’s when I came up with my perfect styling business formula. Perfect not because it’s infallible, but because it supports my goals.
In the process I also learned that life has seasons and goals can change, so I have to revise and adapt them as I go on.
Using my perfect styling business formula has helped me shape my life and business into what makes me a happy human and professional.
Many stylists feel frustrated because they are tired, underpaid and they don’t see a way out without changing career paths or adding other jobs on the side.
I’m here to tell you that you can and that’s why I want to share this formula, which has helped me to change that path.
It has worked for me and it can work for you too.
You can download My Perfect Styling Business Formula PDF here.
I cannot wait to see where you will take your styling business!
If you feel like your styling business is not supporting your business and life goals, please let me know in the comment section below! I’m here to help 🙂
