We are in day one million, three hundred thousand, four hundred and twenty-five of social distancing. Not really, it’s probably only been about two months, but it’s still starting to take a toll on many of us. Understandable. Insecure is only 30 minutes long, and you’ve completed the shot-for-shot challenge over 20 times already. As a creative, we often need inspiration to produce our art. And, in these times, it may seem impossible to find. So instead of pounding our heads into the wall and praying for monumental creative thoughts to flow; maybe let’s switch gears. Now’s the time to nurture what’s already there until new ideas sprout. Whether it’s a project you’ve already dropped but didn’t have the time to really promote because life was happening, or it’s some dope work you’ve kept locked away in the vaults; now is the time to water those flowers and watch them bloom!

​We’ve dropped a few gems below to help increase productivity and further your brand, while you have the free time. Literally, the whole world is on pause; take advantage!

1. Free online courses- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many colleges, universities and professionals are offering free courses online.  Whether you’re a musician, visual artist, or into fashion; there’s plenty of courses to choose from.
2. Increase traffic to your social media platforms with new content- Unless you’ve been under a rock, I’m quite sure you’ve noticed an influx of content to choose from on Instagram. While it can sometimes be overwhelming to consume all that IG has to offer, it may be worth looking in to. Usually we must be strategic in scheduling content during peak hours to ensure our followers are seeing our posts. However, right now most people are abiding by the “Stay at Home” orders mandated or suggested by their local state governments. Therefore, they have nothing else to do, but eat up all your dope content. So, if there’s any projects you left simmering in the pot, or some cool TikTok challenges you’ve been dying to participate in, go ahead and serve it up! People are starving for entertainment.
3. Get to know your audience-  Ok, so what if you’re just getting started, and you’ve given your audience all you have to offer right now? And because you’re stuck inside the same four walls, doing a different variation of the same thing, you might not be feeling that motivated to create new content, or don’t have the resources to do so. No worries! More than entertainment, many of our followers are dying for human interaction. Take advantage of this opportunity to show your supporters exactly who you are. Instagram and Facebook live are both great places to interact with your followers.  Whether it’s a Q&A get to know session, a fun story-time or a collaboration with another artist, followers have been more than excited to not only indulge, but chime in.
4. Extend your network- Going live with other artists, is a great first step, but why not take it a step further. Check out new artists’ work, and possibly discuss collaborative efforts during the quarantine. This is a great way to not only spark some new creative flow, but also to tap into a new fan base. Your followers already love you, and theirs are smitten with them, so why not marry the two?

Whether you decide to spend your quarantine planning or executing your brand development, you have the time to do so. Go ahead and get in your glow! The people are watching and waiting for you! For more tips and tricks follow us on Instagram @6dnetworktainmt.

Last week, our founders hosted a "Creating while Quarantined" virtual workshop via Instagram Live, where they gave tips and tricks on how to stay creative during this difficult time. As promised, our team has come up with a list of local and national resources we discovered for artists and creatives. This include grants, free books, discounted services, and more. See our full list below:

Arts for Illinois Relief Fund

FREE Resources for Creatives, Influencers, and Entrepreneurs

FREE Virtual Workshops via Center for Creative Entrepreneurship in Chicago

Hiring Freezes

Musician Emergency Response Program

Emergency Funding for creatives
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Complimentary book - "Artist Management & Marketing: A Beginners Guide"

​BeatStars Online Summit (FREE)

#PashFam Free Community Resource Bank