Overview 

This Standard is about working in the creative industries and promoting yourself and your services to potential employers or contractors.

Most people working in the creative industries will need to prepare for a portfolio career.

This requires a good understanding of how to promote your achievements, further your connections and networks, and keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date.

Performance Criteria 

You must be able to:

  1. identify and follow strategies to enhance your professional reputation and promote yourself to potential clients
  2. ensure that you have systems in place that help identify work opportunities at an early stage
  3.  keep information about your experience, past work, achievements and availability
  4. research potential agents or other representatives available in your area if required
  5. ensure that records and accounts are kept up-to-date as required
  6. set up and use systems for managing budgets, tax, VAT and other records as required 
  7. establish and maintain effective services to support yourself as a freelancer or short term contractor
  8. plan ahead to organise and maintain a viable work and cash flow
  9.  adapt to the demands of others whilst maintaining personal working style, brand and reputation
  10. negotiate terms and conditions that meet legal requirements, production industry regulations and industry standards 
  11. estimate and agree realistic fee rates, schedule and other expenses
  12. establish clear performance outcomes
  13. ensure the contract contains details regarding payment terms and time limit to payment
  14. confirm the details of the contract match agreements and securely store a the final signed contract

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. who the major commissioning organisations in your field of expertise are and how to make contact
  2. how to maintain your professional ethics and practices, and keep abreast of new developments within the creative and multi-media industries
  3. how to show clients that you are worth approaching about the possibility of work
  4. whether an agent, or on-line talent database, would be able to help you to find work
  5. how to access work opportunities within your industry
  6. how to provide realistic rates for fees and resources such as accommodation and expenses
  7. how to negotiate terms and conditions in line with legal, production and industry requirements
  8. when you need to obtain insurance and how to do so
  9. when and how to agree staged payments
  10. how to maintain contacts and conduct negotiations with potential clients
  11. how to negotiate and agree legal contracts that include income, timelines and  outcomes
  12. sources of advice on employment, insurance, tax regulations and other small business legislation
  13. how to keep simple business accounts (income, expenditure and cash flow) and how to invoice and chase late payments
  14. how to set and manage personal and business budgets
  15. how to recognise the difference between creative and business decisions
  16. how to carry out contingency planning, scheduling and future planning to maintain a viable work and cash flow
  17. how to build support networks to address the difficulties of working alone