What Is Collabing? 

Collabing may sound complicated and edgy to some, but it really just means collaborating with another person or a group of people.

When it comes to creative collaborations, the possibilities can seemingly become endless. Are you considering collaborating with someone else? Consider my tips below!

Finding Artists To Collab With

The hardest part of successful collabing can be the process of finding a person or group of people that you want to work with and are willing to work with you.

While you may want to collaborate with certain creatives, it's hard to gain access to some talent!

Finding people that have the same vision and drive as you can be a challenge, depending on what your creative focus is. You want to consider a few different ways to connect with other artists to make sure that you can find as many good fits as possible. 

Social Media

Thanks to social media and the general internet, you can find people to collab with that are on the other side of the world without the limitations of the location being in the way.

Social sites, including Twitter, Instagram, and Soundcloud, are good places to find like-minded creators. 

Local Creative Hubs

Depending on where you live, you may be able to find many people to collab with that won't require any far traveling. Sites like Meetup.com can help connect you with local creatives that would love to work with you on upcoming projects. 

Contests And Competitions 

Many popular crafts, including music, dance, and comedy, have local and international contests and competitions that you may want to consider getting involved with. This can be a great way to meet talented creatives like yourself and network.

Conferences And Festivals

When many creatives get together for a big event, you can always count on that to be a great opportunity to network with people you may be interested in future collabs with.

Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone and meet new people that may change your life! 

Schools And Churches

Some of the best creative collabs involve people who met as young creatives in school and church environments. These communities are great places to find talented people who are interested in the same things you are and often don't cost a penny. 

Working As A Team

The basic rules of teamwork still apply when it comes to creative collaborations. You want to be respectful, friendly, open to new ideas, and consistent with your efforts to make the collaboration work well.

Make sure you and the collaborators are on the same page!

Teamwork can be a challenge when it comes to creative work because many people like to do it solo.

Our art can be something we get very possessive over, so be hyper-aware of your emotions and the emotions of others when you're going through the collaboration process. 

Understanding Terms

This can be where things get really tricky. Depending on your level of skill, your passions, your age, and many other factors, you can have a varying amount of opinions when it comes to terms and agreements in collaborative work. 

This is where emotional intelligence can really play a good part in the collaborative process.

Too often, I see people going into creative projects together but ending on bad terms because one person was too worried about money, or another was not being professional enough.

You want to be on the same page in terms of business when it comes to your creative collaborations. Ask the tough but necessary questions, or get a feel for what the person desires based on the information and actions they've shown you. 

For example, if you're just playing around with school friends on a creative project, don't ruin the fun with talks of copyright law and creative ownership when it probably isn't necessary.

On the other hand, if you're trying to work professionally on a commercial project, don't just assume people want the same creative terms and conditions that you do. Talk it out and get things in writing. 

A good place to start when trying to get gauge your collaborator's interests is to ask what their endgame is with the creative work. Are they just in it for the love of the arts, or are they doing this for their career? 

Using Each Other's Skills

The most important part of successful collabs involves using each other's strengths to make the overall project as great as it can be. Many successful collaborations allow individuals to shine in different ways and create an even more powerful whole. 

What are your strengths, and what are your weaknesses? What are the same when it comes to the person or people you are collaborating with? There are many skills needed in the creative world that can come together beautifully.

For example, maybe you're good at creating music with a friend, and he's also good at marketing, while you also have design skills.

When you come together and collaborate, the project can sound amazing, have dope design work, and get marketed well, thanks to the combined skills! 

Learn From Each Other's Skills

Getting the benefits of another's skills is always a great idea, but why not take it a step further and get some worthwhile knowledge while you are in the collaboration process? And why not do the same thing for the person or people you are collaborating with?

It often happens organically, but you may need to nudge people in the right direction and ask them about their skills.

You don't need to know the ins and outs of the unique skills they bring to the table; sometimes, even learning a bit here and there can bring you tons of success in the long run. 

Sometimes the learning process can simply be the art of constructive criticism of each other's creations. As long as you are being tactful and helpful with your feedback, you can bet that you will be able to get the same in return, which can be extremely rewarding. 

Don't Get Rid Of Connections 

Too many times, creatives will do a one-and-done collaboration, even if the process went well. Don't limit yourself to one project when you find a good creative or a group of creatives to collaborate with!

You may find that you'll have more success as you keep working on projects together.

You also want to consider collaborating with people that are in the network of people you've successfully worked with before.

Think of it as an exclusive referral program where you only get to work with people based on word of mouth. Keep your name going around in the right circles to make the right connections! 

Related Post: Music Networking - 5 Social Music Network Ideas For Online Marketing

Conclusion

Collaboration is a fantastic way to improve your creative skills, meet new people, and work on projects you couldn't manage alone. However, the success of any collaboration relies heavily on finding the right people to work with and understanding the terms of the collaboration.

Thanks to social media, local creative hubs, contests and competitions, conferences and festivals, schools, and churches, there are plenty of opportunities to meet other creatives with similar interests.

Once you find your collaborators, it's essential to ensure everyone is on the same page, respecting each other, open to new ideas, and working consistently to achieve the project's end goal. While it's vital to use each other's strengths, it's also essential to learn from each other's skills.

Whether that's through constructive criticism or simply observing each other's work, the process of working together can offer invaluable opportunities for growth.

Finally, it's important to remember that while the collaborative process can be challenging, it's essential to have fun, stay positive, and leave your comfort zone. So, go out there, find your creative tribe, and start collaberating!