I primarily work with two groups of people:
Founders and Entrepreneurs
My work with founders and entrepreneurs focuses on brand storytelling, presentation and communication skills coaching. My experience and skills in theatre, journalism and copywriting in conjunction with my training as a mindfulness teacher give me a particular set of skills to help founders and entrepreneurs to:
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- clarify their stories
- sharpen their presentations and pitches
- feel confident in expressing themselves in client conversations
- stand on the stage and speak like a pro.
Artists, Creatives and Freelancers
My work with artists, creatives and freelancers combines small business, entrepreneurship, creativity and mindfulness coaching plus a healthy dose of humour to create a potent mix to help you unlock the challenges you’re facing in launching or evolving your work in the creative industries.
Sometimes, you’re able to figure it all out for yourself. Other times, you really do need an outsider to take an objective look at your situation and help you come up with solutions.
A business coaching or mentorship session might just be the answer to making sense of your creative muddle.
What’s it like to coach with me?
Theatre Artist Michelle Nicole Matlock
I started working with Steven Sparling last year and his guidance as a coach has exceeded my expectations and transformed how I approach my business as a creative entrepreneur.
Steven has a wealth of knowledge and his expertise in creative entrepreneurship has been invaluable during a very big transition in my creative career. He took me from my unattainable idea of generating passive income to the more realistic system of using my skills to create a portfolio of my own products.
His vast knowledge of creating an effective online presence and his tactics for using social media has been key to developing my online voice and growing my email list.
What I loved the most about working with Steven is that he gave me real actions to take and exercises to work through, that clarified a SYSTEM that I can use to move forward in building a thriving business as an artist.
His coaching approach was not only specific to my business; he also included well-rounded guidance and tools for my overall health, creativity and financial goals.
While working with Steven I was able to successfully launch a monthly podcast, create a solo show presented in NYC and financially survive a six -month non-paid break from my current gig.
I highly recommend his coaching program to any artist who is ready to thrive and take it to the next level.
Steven Sparling is like a secret weapon for the creative entrepreneur, I look forward to working with him again in the future.
Business Coaching Options
Some topics we might explore include:
- How to plan your creative career so it aligns with what is most important to you
- Brainstorming ideas of how to make more money from your art
- How to implement money generating ideas – how to go from idea to money in the bank in the quickest time possible
- How to use Social Media to generate more attention for you and your work
- Time management
- Financial management and planning for creatives
- How to market yourself and your work (in ways that don’t feel icky!)
- Figuring out who your target market is and how to connect with them
- Generating a path forwards for your creative practice/artistic career
- How to juggle a day job(s) and still make time for art. How not to lose your artist when you have to do other things
- How to manage multiple income threads without feeling schizophrenic
- Clarifying your ‘story’ as an artist
- Storytelling marketing – working out how to tell compelling and engaging stories about you and your work (over and over again)
- Presentation coaching – how to be in front of others talking about your work while managing the discomfort (how to hide the butterflies in your stomach so you can shine)
- How to go from struggling artist to thriving artist
- Dealing with rejection
- How to keep going when all the odds seem against you
- When to decide you’ve had enough and how to generate an exit plan
- How to identify transferable skills from your art that can make you a side income
- plus many more
Katherine Marriott, Opera Singer
Well. It wasn’t all fairy dust and roses. Indeed, far from it. Steven calmly asked questions, analysed my responses (FAR too much insight at this level – I honestly thought I’d managed to hide more of my worst aspects from him), fired back questions which really went to the root of things and suggested further reading, and useful exercises, and didn’t even shout at me when I procrastinated and made excuses and was generally a total coward.
Steven gently and yet inexorably coaxed answers out of me… The work we did together was painful and awkward and made me squirm and wriggle; precisely what I needed.
I came out of the other end still myself (damn!!), but with a far better grasp of what I have to offer as an artist and as an aspect of the business world and with some very astute observations and suggestions colouring my viewpoint.
Disturbing and upsetting? Certainly. Did it do the job? More than I could have hoped.
Could I recommend Steven as a coach? Without reservation. I hope you are as enriched by Steven’s coaching as I was.”
Why coach with me?
I have a PhD in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship and 30+ years experience working in the creative sector. I’m trained as a Business and Entrepreneurship Coach (Transformation Academy) and a Creativity Coach (Eric Maisel).
I’m a professional actor with experience working in London’s West End and touring in theatres across the UK and Canada as well as appearances in television, film, recordings, videos, voice over, role play, cabaret, opera, dance and concerts. I’ve also worked as an agent, securing work and negotiating contracts for other actors.
As a writer and journalist I have been published in magazines and newspapers in the UK, Canada and Australia and my copywriting clients include tech firms, CEOs and thought leaders.
I have taught voice and movement at the University of British Columbia, Rada Enterprises, The Actors Centre, Sheridan, Randolph Academy of Performing Arts and The London College of Music (University of West London).
I’ve coached clients on two TED-talks as well as worked with a range of businesses from blue-chip corporate clients to entrepreneurs, tech workers and founders in the UK, Poland and Germany
My hugely popular business coaching, marketing and creative entrepreneurship workshops have been presented in the UK, Canada and South Africa at The University of East Anglia, Be Smart About Art, Red Door Studios, the London College of Music, Pony Express, Alberta College Conservatory, MacEwan University, and Ruth Prowse School of Art.
I think it’s safe to say I have real insight into most problems faced by founders, entrepreneurs, artists, creatives and freelancers.
How it works
- I coach via video with some limited availability for face-to-face or email/phone coaching if you prefer.
- Sessions can be a one-off or an agreed amount of coaching on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.
- Depending on the situation and your need for support a half-day or full-day option is available.
- Coaching packages are bespoke, though fees start from £200/hour. Let’s have a conversation as to your need and budget and work out a coaching package to fit you. Not-for-profit and low-income rates are available – please reach out to me to discuss further.
Interested?
Please use the contact box below to get in touch. I will get back to you as quickly as possible to arrange a consultation conversation to better understand your needs and how I may help you achieve your goals.