Freelance Fest: Speed Networking

Freelance Fest takes over, hosted by the collaboration of Leeds Arts University, The Prince’s Trust and Leeds Conservatoire! The event consists of a week-long enterprise program in order to help individuals set-up their business, whilst also being able to develop the practice and springboard into the creative industry. Furthermore, this event covers topics such as budgeting and accounting, marketing, sales, presenting, pitching, and of course - networking!

The free-entry event also provides individuals who took part in the class an opportunity to meet other graduating creatives, growing their support network and being given the potential to find clients and business partners/collaborators.

Aire Street Studio member Beya, was invited to attend the last day of the event to be a part of the professionals that the students are required to network with. The networking event consisted of the professionals sitting in different seating booths, whilst the students circled around and took turns to converse/network within the space of 3-minutes.

Beya was situated in a seating boothe, alongside the Leeds-based studio business cards for the studio to hand out during each 3-minute session. The speed networking event commenced, with different individuals ranging from photographers, to illustrators, to music producers, and many more aspects and jobs surrounding the creative industry to converse with Beya, sharing business cards and finding other ways to connect through the use of social media. The conversations were engaging, providing services to one another on how their assistance would benefit the other, and vice versa, as well as the opportunity to naturally connect with different people and get to know individuals that are working through this ever-growing community.

The business program ran smoothly, with individuals meeting likeminded people, sharing similar interests and providing their service to be useful and beneficial for both parties. The event really pushed these students to communicate and meet new members in a challenging setting, with all students acing the speed networking event. Beya allowed herself to converse and promote Aire Street Studios, with the service that her and photographer/studio-owner Mark Wheelwright is able to provide for them, as well as making lasting connections with people who obtain to go forwards with their journey in the creative field.

Overall, networking is crucial within the creative industry as it fosters collaboration, inspiration, and growth. It opens doors to new opportunities, whether it’s finding a new client, collaborator, or mentor. Creatives can share ideas, gain valuable feedback, and even form partnerships that could lead to innovative projects. Moreover, networking aids in staying abreast of industry trends and developments, thus ensuring that one remains competitive and relevant. In essence, networking within the creative industry is not just about building connections, but also about nurturing these relationships to fuel creativity and drive success.

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