Starving Creatives: $ Issues

Love should be the reason you become a creative. But the creative pay check will break your heart for the first year or three. (That jerk) 

Here's another Friday Reality Check -  be prepared to work banker or lawyer hours for receptionist pay.

The ad industry pretty much hazes you. You have to invest a lot upfront to prove you want to be here and show you have what it takes to stay here.

Get ready for the paddle, kids!

Portfolio school costs upwards of $30,000 a year. That's on top of whatever you may have paid for undergrad. (Most offer financial aid and there are some scholarships available so don't sweat yet.)

Your first job starts you off from about $35,000 - 55,000. Taxes, benefits and 401k eat a chunk of that and then you're left with the costs of housing, food, car and general living. Oh and repaying those ridiculous student loans. (Sweat now.)

I wish they had a class about how to budget and manage money post-graduation. So many of us ran wildly into the open air with our portfolios, lofty ideas and our love for Advertising. And crashed when we saw the salary situation for most juniors.

You shouldn't have to sink in debt following you dream. This post is my attempt to tell you what I wish I knew then. And I really wish I knew enough about the money/finances to really set you right. (Me and words are like this *twists fingers together* But numbers... we had a big spat back in 97 and things haven't been the same since. Rassingfrassing logarithms.) 

I asked a financially savvy friend of mine for money tips for entry level folks so I'll post those soon. (Unless it's a yawnfest, in which case I'll post a picture of a kitten fighting a dog instead.)

In the meantime, here are some Creative Wannabe Financial-ish Tips from my experience:

* Call your student loan providers and try to work something out. If you're not working or you don't make enough you may be able to apply for economic hardship or work out some plan. Don't ever miss payments. It'll bite you in the ass later.

* Look at the cost of living in the state/ city you want to work. For instance, it's cheaper to live in ATL than NYC. Consider starting somewhere close to home, saving and getting more experience and then moving. Try this COL calculator. Or this one.

* If the job offer is too little to meet your needs, try to negotiate to get more $ (I should probably post on this too. Sigh. Y'all are so needy.) or figure out how to make it work if it's a totally awesome opportunity. Some agencies low ball you because they know 20 other people are thirsty for the same position. Look at the experience and growth you'll gain and see if it will balance out all the oatmeal you'll have to eat. Once you're in, you're in, and your next job will treat your budget with more respect.

* If you're freelancing, save all your work related receipts (food, transport, etc) for your tax returns.

* If you're freelancing, take on more work, no matter how small or uncreative, to build a padding. You never know when your next big job may come.

* Rent realistically. The best advice I can ever give you is to live within your means. You can move on to the East Side (to a deluxe apartment in the sky) later. (If you didn't automatically start singing the theme song to The Jeffersons you should quit life.)

* Couch surf. When I first moved to NY I had 2 suitcases, a short-term freelance project and big dreams. Fortunately I also had amazing friends. I slept on 3 different couches over the next few months until I got steady freelance and  saved up enough to get my own place. So use your friends, family and classmates to help you get off your feet. (Yet another reason not to be an asshole.)

* Be creatively frugal (aka cheap). Take advantage of everything that's free or on sale from movies to Groupons to food leftover from meetings. 

* Allow yourself an allowance. Look at where you can sacrifice so you can splurge. Do you spend most of your $ on food? Drinking? Clothes? Travel? Set aside a part of your budget specifically for that and only use that money for that thing. When it's out it's out. I stop shopping and partying so I can save for a big trip - I'd rather have an experience than an item (or a hangover) so I spend most of my play money on Kayak and Travelzoo.

* Save. Always put aside something from every paycheck. Open a high-yielding savings account and have it automatically take $ out of your account on the 2nd and he 16th. Even if it's only $25. You'll thank me later.

* Be patient. The money will come. Right now focus on getting work for your book, learning the ropes and making contacts.


That's all I got.

Go make some amazing things for your book and win an award or two and be completely, undeniably awesome, Then you won't have to worry when it comes time to getting offers.They will be plentiful and generous.

Get to work!

Where To Work?

How do you decide where you want to work?

I've talked a lot about going to school (or not), what to put in your portfolio, how to contact recruiters, and what to do when you're at work but very little about that in between part - going from school to work.

There are so many options, and thus, so many questions, and consequently, so much confusion and fear.

What coast? state? What city?

Big agency or small agency?

Public or private owned?

Traditional or digital?

General market or multicultural?

Commercial goods or pharma?

Here's a website that can help you learn a bit of what's out there.

The Creative Ham. (Interesting name. I'm pretty anti-pork but I'm going to let it slide this time)

There are opportunities all across America for you to get your foot in the door or start a smashing career.

Check out their Forever Incomplete List of agencies to see who is close to you or where you want to be.

Outside of geography, the advice I've always gotten and lived by is - Go where there is most opportunity for growth.


Follow the Creative Ham on Twitter: @TheCreativeHam

Get What You Want

Came across this quote the other day on Twitter and thought it was the best thing since wi-fi.

"Go in knowing what you want to get out. If you go in empty minded, you'll come out empty handed."

If you're in school, about to be in school, interning or looking for a full time job, ask yourself - what do you want to get out of it?

What do you want to learn?
What do you want to get better at?
What do you want to conquer?
What skills or experiences do you want to leave with?
What points do you want to add to your resume? Or campaigns to your book?

Really take a minute (or few days) to think about what you want to get out of the next 3 to 6 to 12 months. (Personally I can only make concrete plans for 3-6 months ahead. Who knows when the pigeons are finally going to rise up and rule the earth?)

Make a list of where/who you want to be in the next 6 months then make a list of the steps you need to get there.

* Who do you need to talk to?
* What do you need to do?
* How can you strategically place yourself in the right situations and around the right people to make sure you're on the right path?


 Be honest and clear about your intentions:

If you want to work with a certain copywriter because they're good at long copy and you need a long copy campaign in your book, say that.

If you want to take a certain class because that professor usually sets his students up with internships, talk to the (I can't remember what they call the person who helps you pick classes. But talk to him/her.)

If you want to go to a recording or shoot to learn about what it's like, tell your creative director.

If you want to work on this project so you can get exposure to digital campaigns, speak up.

Yes, you should also be thinking about what all you're going to give, but also think about what you'd like to receive out of an experience. Who do you want to be at the end of it? How do you want to grow from it? How will having done this make you better?




No one else will really decide this for you. After high school you're pretty much on your own to determine your own path. In this business, whether you're in school or on the job, how far you get largely depends on how far you're willing to go. If you don't perform, you'll fail. If you fail, it's your fault.

Your success depends on you.

The Art of Emailing

Advertising is kind of like dating. (Except I'm good at advertising.) The agency you want to work at is that hot guy or girl that everybody wants to get with.

How do you get his/her attention? How do you approach him/her? How do you make them see that you two will make the most beautiful kids together? And how do you get them to talk to you instead of the other jerkwads in the room?

The awkwardness, anxiety, insecurity and excessive sweating will  probably still be the same, but at least advertising you can approach that person via email, at home, in your pjs, with a tall glass of Pepto to calm your nerves.

Let's discuss the Art of Emailing.

1. Who to email:
a. Find out if you know someone who knows someone. If you can have someone that works at that agency introduce you to the creative recruiter or creative director, then all you have to do is jump in and start tap dancing.

If you can't get an introduction, then you have a bit more groundwork to do before you can start the show.

b. Ask around to find out who the best contact is. The creative recruiter is usually a good bet because they will have the scoop on all the open positions, so if they like you, they'll introduce you to the creative directors.

2. What to say:
a. Subject Lines. Be as clear as possible here. If someone recommended you contact the recruiter, drop their name. If you met them before, say when. If you are a one-legged copywriter with interactive experience from Buenos Aires, feel free to lead with that. Just don't bore their eyes to dryness with "Hello" or "Copywriter" or "Hire me."

b. Message. Greet the person by name then introduce yourself and state your case.

In 3 - 5 sentences, say who you are, why you're writing and what's so special about you.  (Here is where you do your fancy footwork.) Say why you like Agency X and why Agency X would like you. Include your link, one or two relevant skills, awards or fun facts.

Don't be generic. Don't just copy and paste. You wouldn't use some lame pick-up line on the hot chick/guy, so don't use the same old same old here either.


Keep it short, interesting and to the point. They get 982 emails a day (give or take 4) so make sure yours will stand out in their inbox and make them want to reply. (See yesterday's emailing tips

End by saying you'd love to talk more and give your contact information.

c. Spell check and proof read. 

d. Spell check again.

e. Send. 


3. What next: 
Wait. They may not answer for a few days, or at all. Follow up in a week and see if anything happens. (They're probably just busy and remember how I said work email and I aren't friends? I imagine it's less friendly to these folks.)



4. What if they reply: 

a. They like you. Write them back in a timely manner. Thank them for their time, show a bit more personality, and try to set up an in person meeting. See if you can do that in 4-5 sentences.

b. They don't like you. Write them back in a timely manner. Thank them for their time, show a bit more personality, and ask for specific feedback and offer to follow up in a few months when you or Agency X are in better places to get down.

5. What if they don't reply: 
If you still get crickets after 2-3 weeks, they're probably just really busy but are definitely thinking about you...Yeah...

Grap a Kleenex, keep working on your book and keep looking.

photo by David DeLaRosa

What is Portfolio School Like?

1. You'll finger paint. Creativity comes from everywhere. Portfolio school teaches you how to think- differently, quickly, strategically.

2. You'll do it 100 times. Then another 10 times after that. The further you push yourself and your work, the farther you will get. Never stop at your first thought.

3. You'll daydream. Working with no budgets and no real clients means you can think as big and creatively as possible. Go for it.

4. You'll get your feelings hurt. Criticism and feedback make you stronger. Once you start learning what sucks, you'll start developing your own filter.

5. You'll learn how to imagine other people naked. Presenting is a valuable skill in this business. Most classes are set up with you sharing your ideas with your classmates weekly.

6. You'll practice for pitches. Every assignment is like a pitch. New client, new challenges, new chances to shine. And the intensity of final presentations/panel/end of the quarter is pretty close to Pitch Mode at an agency. Just with more pressure.

7. You'll play nice. Knowing how to work with a partner is essential. You don't have to like them, but you have to be able to work with them.

8. You'll make mistakes. Mess up now so you don't mess up later.

9. You'll make things. "Hands on" really means hands on. You'll be laying out, mocking up, building, cutting, framing, photographing, directing, casting, recording, editing, sewing, binding, beading, papermacheing (do people still do that?), pasting, starring in and shellacking most of your own work.

10. You won't be the funniest/weirdest/most creative one anymore. (Which means you have to work hard, longer, smarter)