Creatives, why did you move to big cities? And if you haven't, post-pandemic, would you?
I'm writing an article on this subject and would love to hear your thoughts (your replies will be quoted, contact me if you'd like to be anonymous). Mid-pandemic, many companies, freelancers and creatives are WFH and things like fashion show schedules and events are changing for good. Will anything change for graduates? How do you feel about WFH or working from anywhere else in the world? Is moving to London/NYC essential to your success? Are you looking for opportunities elsewhere?
Mainly aimed at young/junior creatives, graduates and assistants but also very happy to hear from more experienced voices.
Many thanks, xx V
Replies12
- @Maarya Kazmi Hi again! Hope all's well, would love to know a bit more about you for the article quote. Where do you currently live? How long have you lived there? In particular, what was the frustration about your experience during the quarantine? Any lessons? Would really help put your quote into context :)
- Hi Vona,In my opinion from a strictly professional perspective living for a while on a big city gives you a wider view and better opportunities. It might be a struggle however you will be in contact with different working processes, communication systems and cultural backgrounds.However not all creatives need this environment to flourish and actually function much better in small towns or even with some degree of isolation. The current situation is proving that non-presencial roles are possible and in some disciplines even more efficient, so I definitely see a shift in that sense.To a recent graduate I would suggest give a big city a go for at least a couple of years and have a very honest conversation with yourself about to what extent it works for you, both on a professional and personal level. But it is important not addressing this based on results but satisfaction, as it might take time to thrive on a big city.Hope this helps!
- Hi Vona, experienced big-city dweller here!I've only ever lived in dense cities (London, Beijing, Hong Kong) which was great as a lot of my work is marketing/audience development - you seem to accidentally find opportunites with access to so many people. However in the last few weeks I've found people are lot more intentional with their outreach (and same for me) and responses are more genuine. Now that everyone is getting more comfortable not needing to have face to face time, I think graduates who are not living in big cities can benefit from this new method of interaction. I really believe that this will set a precedent for remote work in the UK, and we will start to hear voices and ideas that aren't so London-centric.
- Yes, I did. Wider opportunities, greater selection of projects, and more clients.
- @Vona Roberta absolutely! Feel free to quote me on this :) Besides, would love to read the published article myself so please let me know whenever it's out
- @Ina Moana thank you, would love to quote this in the article! Just checking with you before :)
- A lot of this resonates with me. Personally, I think it's worth it if you make moving to a big city for creative opportunites work for you by planning ahead, completing projects, networking, intern, building a good portfolio etc for the time that you know you can afford to be there. If any great opportunities pop up for you in that city after that initial phase, amazing! But if not, you still learnt the basics, built a top portfolio, were able to experiment and more to then be able to stand out and play on another level in other cities. And I see the same benefits that Tim mentioned like living in a less competitive and maybe more stable environment.
- Hey Vona! I actually wrote an article which got publisher by Little Black Book and BITE about barriers that young creatives face when living in geographic isolation and/or coming from a lower-income family, whilst trying to break into advertising.To find out my research, my own personal experience and solutions check it out herehttps://www.lbbonline.com/news/young-broke-hungry-how-can-advertising-improve-the-way-it-recruits-juniors-after-covid-19Personally, I think the move to more virtual practice is highly beneficial for juniors. Especially when it concerns portfolio reviews, networking and mentorship schemes. The irony of being locked down, but not locked out and if anything having more virtual doors open, shouldn’t go amiss. This momentum should be maintained for juniors who face physical (ie. having disabilities in reaching most agencies and travelling around creative hubs which are usually based around cities), geographical and socio-economic barriers when trying to break into advertising. Any other questions drop me a message :)
- @Vona Roberta Hey Vona , how you doing? Yes quote me and Yeah that would be cool to. Have a productive day
- I live in Malta, EU. The photography industry here is pretty much none-existant and the only successful photographers are the ones whom have been established and preferred well before other photographers came into the picture. I graduated last June, since then I have yet been unsuccessful in finding any work whatsoever. So I always thought that I would be moving countries and into a city to at least manage to work, get exposure and finally earn a living.
- @Tim Sanmi Thank you for sharing your experience! Could I quote you for the piece (it's for a new zine made during the lockdown)? Looking forward to connect.
- I’m from London but recently move to Ireland to work and explore my horizons . Travelling helps expand the mind and my creativity especially when you live in a space that provides peace of mind . You focus more on the work and it’s level of quality.I believe if you’re in a space where it’s too crowded and competitive it’s smarter to have various places you can make it. Most stars in the entertainment game had to blow up in their own country first or elsewhere before making their official debut. T
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