When to Say ‘no’ to Work

As artists and creatives, we seem to have a real tendency to want to people please. Saying “no” makes us feel uncomfortable, like we’re letting someone down. I’ve been there, I’ve taken on work I didn’t want and for too little pay because I was scared to turn it down. Saying that.. there is a season in your early career where it can be beneficial to say “yes” to every creative opportunity that comes your way. However, keep in check with yourself for when you need to become more selective.

Let’s get into it..

If you’re starting out and you have a lot of availability in your calendar, I would recommend saying ‘yes’ to a lot of opportunities.

I did this for about 3 years until I went full‑time self employed. Each project or placement being different from the last. This meant I could quickly rule out career options which weren’t a good fit for me and get to know what really sparked joy. 

I started being more selective and saying “no” when I was getting work that I did not have the capacity for..

.. I soon realised how finite my time was and had to be intentional about where I spent it. It was a difficult transition for me as I didn’t want to let anyone down. However I know that ultimately they will find someone else who is a better fit and can focus most of their attention on helping them.

It’s a “no” from me.

You might be thinking.. what project/work should I be saying ‘no’ to.

Well here’s a little checklist which I use every time I am in the stage of potentially taking on new work:

☑️ Timeline

Does their deadline fit in with my schedule? Am I able to deliver the work on time?

☑️ Budget

Can they afford to work with me? Does the budget cover all of my expenses?

☑️ People

Are they the type of person/business that I want to be associated with? Are we in alignment when it comes to ethics and morals?

☑️ Project

Is the project even something I want to work on? Do I have the skill set to fulfill this work? Does the project align with the kind of work I want to be known for?

A project that fits all these checklists, is a winner! 

If it doesn’t fit them all, that’s okay too. You’re in control of how flexible YOU want to be. I’ve taken on projects before where the budget was low, but everything else fit. I knew the work would look great in my portfolio and would be used as valuable marketing material too.

How to say “no”…

Still feeling a little sheepish about saying ‘no’?

Well here’s a great way to phrase it:

“Thanks so much for considering me to work on this project, unfortunately at this time I don’t feel like it would be a right fit for me. However, I can refer another artist which I think could be great for this project?”

Yes. Always try to refer work that might not be right for you. Just because it’s not a good fit for you right now, won’t mean that someone else won’t benefit from it. I refer work for a number of reasons:

1. Helping out my fellow artists of course!

2. You’re saying ‘no’ but you’re also providing a helpful alternative.

3. The client will appreciate that and possibly come back to you with more work in the future, that’s in alignment with what you’re looking for.

Let’s create more thriving creatives!

Guiding emerging artists to have a financially sustainable practice.