Tips on Becoming a Freelance Florist
Why I Love Freelancing:
The value - you learn so many new skills. Every team is different, every venue is new, which means a whole new skill set you can be exposed to with every booked job.
Making yourself available globally opens up so many opportunities. I’ve been able to travel and work abroad doing what I love. It’s a pretty amazing gig. And they need more talented designers out there.
3 Thing You Need:
Flexibility - You’ll be working with so many new teams in new environments, be flexible! You have to be willing to start at the bottom if needed and work your way up. Things change quickly in freelance, by the end of the day, you could have a new role. The plan and team are always evolving.
A Business Setup- Every state and country is different, but in California, as a freelancer, you are a business owner. That means setting aside your taxes accordingly and having business insurance and paying for your health insurance.
Creativity - There will be times when you need to make something out of nothing or work in the rain on 10-foot ladder. Creativity will help you make the most of any situation.
Steps To Start:
Have some experience with flowers under your belt. You can start out freelancing without experience but it's going to be a slower process. I started in a shop and that gave me the foundation to build upon. I was able to enter freelancing at a higher rate (which makes the drawbacks of freelancing more doable)
Reach out to EVERYONE! Get that resume looking sharp, portfolio ready, and email it to as many designers as possible. Don’t be intimidated by someone’s work. They are just people like you and me. Anything is achievable.
Do a deep dive into social media. Find out who your dream team is. Check to see who they have tagged on their social media posts. You can find other freelancers this way and vendor that they work with. It’s a great way to get connected to the network.
Do not support someone who doesn’t support you. As a freelancer, you are providing a valuable asset to a brand. Don’t sell yourself short. If you start working with a team that puts you down, has a toxic work environment, or doesn’t align with your value, leave. I have seen too many of my designer friends get sucked into a toxic work environment, and get stuck there. Get out early. Don’t let your skills lead to their success.
Be willing to work hard. Cleaning buckets and flowers is the name of the game. Long hours and early mornings. And you have to hustle, time is not our friend in events. But the payoff is getting to create something that you love and that brings others so much joy.
Make connections. Connect with the vendors, and teams at every company you work with. This will keep your calendar full and make work worthwhile!
Taxes. Making the switch to being self-employed is a big one. Seek out professional advice and set aside your taxes.
If you want to travel:
Start by looking at luxury designers around the world. Luxury brands can afford to hire you pretty much right away because they need huge teams to execute their events. You can branch out after getting those initial gigs and connections.
Look into your visa options. If you’re going to be working in a foreign country, you will need a working permit, unless the company that hires you is in the same country you are based. Visas can be affordable and a pretty straight forward process. Don’t be intimidated. But plan on spending at least several months in the country if you’re going to invest the time and money into a visa.
Stay in touch with all of the companies and teams you work with. You never know when one day they will need a helping hand.
If you have any questions or need some more advice, comment below or email me directly at Kayla.m@gatheredthebrand.com ! I wish you all success in your journey!
