SOSO
We got the pleasure to do an interview with Soso, who is a participant in our Dig Deep Program. We explored why they wanted to take part in the Dig Deep Program, what is their new business and how they have found building their business.
Can you introduce yourself - your name and what you do?
Hi hi hi howdy howdy hi hi! My name is Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh, but everyone calls me Soso. I was born on the island of Jersey, grew up in Derry, and currently, I split my time between Derry and Belfast. I’m a freelance writer, theatremaker, organiser, and multi-disciplinary artist.
I work on a wide range of projects under the name Oh. by Soso; a name inspired by the idea of the multi-hyphenate or “someone who does several different jobs, especially in the entertainment industry”.
Why did you want to take part in the Dig Deep Programme?
My good friend and collaborator Hannah Sharpe had raved about how great the Womenfolk crew were and sent me the application with a “YOU HAVE TO DO THIS” note. I always listen to Hannah, she is always ON it. She spoke about her experience of the encouragement and accountability that she felt when working with Womenfolk, and this is exactly what I felt I needed. DIG DEEP is the first arts-business-focused programme of its kind that I’ve ever seen. It’s a completely unique experience to have business tutoring for artists taught by artists. Womenfolk speak my language and that’s why I had to apply.
What is the new business that you have been developing?
My business plan has done a whole 180 since I applied. I had initially applied with the idea of creating a freelancer advocacy network; marrying together my passions of community organising and arts advocacy. Dream big, as the mamaís say. But as I was working through the DIG DEEP programme, I realised I had a whole lotta goals to achieve before I can get to that point. The main one? Establishing myself as a freelancer! Experience as a freelancer is a pretty important part of establishing a freelancer advocacy network.
So for the last six months, I’ve been working on establishing myself as a self-employed writer, artist, and organiser. Going freelance sounds a lot easier than it looks.
What has been your biggest hurdle since you started your business?
Learning that I have to walk before I can run. I always have big ideas and want to get them on their feet right away, but the first thing I learnt in DIG DEEP is that Rome wasn’t built in a day. When I made the switch to focusing on my own work as a freelancer, I grappled with learning how to concisely present the range of services I can offer to organisations.
A lot of people in the creative industries are trained for a wide range of roles. Adaptability is key. Keeping the range of services I offer clear and concise, and designing a C.V. with this range of services in mind, is an ongoing learning process.
How do you see your business developing in the future?
PROJECTS! A good few of my artistic projects that are currently in development are close to getting off the ground! I have applied for funding to create a pamphlet of poetry and explore the practice of performance art. I am currently devising a theatre piece with Catherine McClean, a director from N.I. that I met while training with the Lyric Theatre Drama Studio.
My business avoids being boxed into certain jobs and labels which means that I am very very free to apply to a wide range of projects and offer my services to a huge range of works. In the short term, I am going to continue diversifying and trying new things until I hit gold.
Most importantly, my passion for the community sector is unwavering. Alongside my own original work, I am starting out on my career as an arts facilitator. My long term aim is to provide arts outreach workshops to the community with a primary focus on facilitating art for and by oppressed communities in Northern Ireland.
What misconceptions did you have about starting your own business?
“You’ll be making money ASAP!” Even as a freelancer there’s overhead and costs that even when offset against invoices… oh it hurts. You think once you’re self-employed, you won’t be on Universal Credit. You think just because it’s just you, you don’t cost anything but you do!
You need a phone for people to contact you, you need a website, you need a laptop, you need to eat, you need to smile. When you are your business, it’s not as simple as “I get paid this amount per month and this is my budget for food, fun, rent and bills”. What do you need to spend in order to keep you in good health and shape so you can offer the widest range of services? Until you’re really established, you always have to have contingency plans and safety nets. Most artists I know, especially in Northern Irish theatre, go on-and-off Universal Credit or have a side hustle. It’s the nature of the industry.
What have you learnt about yourself since starting the programme?
I’ve learnt that being financially successful isn’t my marker of success. I want to work, make things, and do good things for the community. I’ve learnt that the not-for-profit sector and charity sector aligns more closely with my goals and that the arts are a huge part of these sectors.
What/who influences/motivates you?
Rebecca Tamás, a poet working with raw emotions and feminist representations of the body, the environment, and the occult. Their use of language is just *mwah* chefs kiss.
Oona Doherty, a dancer, facilitator, and director based in Northern Ireland who works across theatre, dance, visual art and performance art. Their site-specific work inspires me. In lockdown, Oona’s work, in particular, has shown me that with a bit of innovation, projects can happen at whatever time and whatever space you have.
In DIG DEEP, Christine and Esther honestly inspire me every week. The arts communities are still male-dominated at the top and seeing successful women running arts enterprises is so inspiring. I sound so saccharine but everyone in the course gives me the energy every week. It’s sometimes hard to feel hopeful about your business in lockdown. The energy this group brings every week is unbelievably inspiring and regularly gets me back on my feet after a bad day.
What has been your biggest accomplishment so far since starting your business?
Learning that I’m actually good at things. Like I have worked as an interviewer and event host. I had never considered that to be something I could do or even a possible job. But an opportunity came up with Reimagine Remake Replay to host a Q&A with notable green activists and I thought it would be fun to try. AND OH MY GOD! It is so much fun. It’s like the perfect intersection between writing and performance and you can actually react and respond to the audience and provide them with a worthwhile and real experience.
Then in a crazy turn of events, I found myself sitting on the other side of the table, as part of a panel on diversity in the creative sector with DIG DEEP, hosted by Esther. I found being the person answering the questions was a whole new and rocky experience. I’m excited to keep doing these kinds of events. I used to find public speaking quite difficult and nerve-wracking. Being yourself in front of people is way scarier than a persona or a character. But oh damn, it is so refreshing.
What have you learnt about your business in the last 3 months?
Don’t limit yourself and APPLY APPLY APPLY. Any fund that you might be eligible for, APPLY! There’s this whole mindset as an early career creative that “oh I don’t know enough to apply for that” or “I’m too under-experienced for that”, but a huge part of being an early-career creative is getting your name out there. People won’t know you’re an option unless you apply! That goes for everything from contracts, to publications, to funding, and training schemes. Make a timetable of applications and just whack them out.
What things are you going to implement in your business in 2021?
I’m going to start using Buffer and other social media organisers/schedulers so I can actually start using Instagram and Twitter in a way that isn’t anxiety-inducing.
Getting pictures of my work in physical workshops when the world reopens. When you offer a service as an individual, it is so easy to forget to take pictures! DIG DEEP has taught me the importance of getting testimonials and photographic evidence of our work. People have to see what you do!
I’m going to stop making separate C.V.s for every single job or type of job I do and instead make one collated two-page C.V. that showcases my multifaceted work and career. It’s who I am! No point in pretending I’m just one thing at one time. My C.V. should represent me.
What advice would you give your younger self?
When I was younger I went to an actors Q+A in England and someone on the panel said “experience everything there is to experience, travel, smoke, have sex, experiment with every single drug you can” and at the age of 24 I can safely say this is the worst possible advice you can give to a young person who is going to start a career as a freelance creative. It was also a hugely elitist take considering N.I. continues to have socio-economic difficulties that means you don’t really have the privilege to do those things.
So I’ll say it once. I’ll say it 100 times. You are your business. Above all else, take care of yourself. Mind, body and soul. If you burn out, your business burns out. If you get sick, your business gets sick. You have to schedule days off. You have to time things out. Get organised. Stay fit. Be prepared. Play more motivational music and say more positive affirmations in the mirror. If you hate yourself, you hate your business. No one can love you as well as you can love you. Stop giving your ex-boyfriends free labour and work for your goddamn self.
Where can people find you online?
Twitter + Instagram: @ohbysoso
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SorchaMBKelly
Website: ohbysoso.wordpress.com
Linkedin: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/sorchakelly
I’m always looking for new collaborators so call me, beep me when you wanna reach me.