“I am an established actress but I have to go out and find gigs daily and that’s what keeps me going.”
A corporate life makes life monotonous – doing the same thing every day and clocking in at the same time… it’s too boring. I was not comfortable with monotony in my life. Today, as a freelancer, I have the freedom to choose my own work and time. Unlike a corporate job, there are no fixed projects and timings. I choose the work I like and work round the clock, and then take a month or two off to travel. This is so fulfilling wherein I have the freedom to choose where, when and how I want to do a project. As an actress, I get to work any time of the day, any part of the world and with anybody, that’s what is exciting, it keeps you going.
Every individual has their own timings of the day where they find themselves most productive- some are during the day and some are during the evening. So as a freelancer, you have the liberty to choose the most productive hours of your day as your working hours to deliver your best. You can also choose your time off. When you want an off day in the middle of the week and not on the weekend, you are not bounded to a weekend off. Take a break when you want. So, freedom of choice is the best perk of freelancing. It has empowered me to become my own boss.
Challenge yourself to become a freelancer. If you are a person who wishes to remain in your comfort zone, it will be tough. You have to go out and find work again once you are done gigging. This feature of freelancing scares some people and they don’t like the concept of freelancing and look for stable corporate jobs where they are getting a fixed income. But if you have the go out there and get it attitude, freelancing is rewarding. You must enjoy the challenge you have taken up and doors shall open unto you.
Imagine going for interviews every day and multiple interviews during a single day. My car had become my changing room as I was going for back-to-back auditions daily. This is a challenge that I have to go for an interview for every project, even today. There are many people who would not enjoy this struggle but at the end of the day what you enjoy is what matters. I enjoy the rush, the adulation, the fame and challenging myself. All this take me away from the monotonous life and that’s what keeps me going. You cannot have all the good things on one side, every coin has two sides. If you are a freelancer, you must stay motivated. This motivation comes from the work-life you have chosen for yourself.
If you love what you do, you would enjoy freelancing, and every day will be different than the previous. Mondays are not sad days and weekends are not party days; every day can be what you want that day to be. Life is not just about making money for me but it’s about enjoying while I work. Freelancing and acting gigs give me the perfect balance of work and life so that I can live the one and the only life that we have.
I have a message for the youngsters – unleash your talent, let it flow and follow your passion. Do not sit at one corner and keep thinking about security in your life, it will bind you and your desires to go big. Just go out and explore! Most importantly, do not be a freelancer because it is cool, but because you love the work you are passionate about. You need to put the best foot forward to be a freelancer. You need to question yourself if you are giving your best; and each time when you ask, you need to get a Yes. If you are not getting a Yes, you need to push harder. If you do with all your heart, you will Rock. And then comes the best perk of being a gig worker, which is the freedom of choice. So, prioritise your passion for Good Work, and the Good Life will follow.