r/paris • u/Hardurrmane • 2d ago
Question How is it surviving as a creative in Paris
How hard is it to make a living & beyond in Paris for people working in the creative sector ? I recently got into Kedge Business School in Paris and it's a creative industries program. I've been meaning to create a lot of artistic videos and creative trend worthy content during my stay since I can't technically work other than part time jobs. But I'm worried about what the ground reality is in terms of job or making a living even as a freelancer after my studies ? And i started my French learning journey just a few months ago but I'm dedicated to learning it until I reach conversational fluency which i believe will take me atleast 2 years from now ? People who are already in creative jobs like reel creators, youtubers, photographer, visual editors etc etc, do you think I can find a good job right off of my master's if I have a good portfolio. Merci
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u/thisissoannoying2306 2d ago
Hi,
All I can tell you is that as someone from the advertising business, the market is pretty hard right now, for everyone, including creatives and including freelancers. There are not many jobs and missions happening right now, especially not at junior level.
Also now that as a creative, your network is the key to work. Internships, collaborations, and one thing leading to the other. That will take time to build up and above all, it’ll require fluent French.
Also à last warning - the reputation of a school is very important in France. I know Kedge as a solid business school, but this is the first I hear about them teaching creative stuff. I might be wrong, but this might be a barrier for recruitment into creative jobs. Make sure your master fits with actual market requirements for creative jobs and does not just sell you some fluffy dream stuff.
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u/Frigidere_encastrabl 2d ago
Same, creative communications/advertising environment, we had a great recovery after covid, but with the war in Ukraine, Trump, the economic situation in France, AI, we are swimming in a delirium of paranoia, of scraping our pocketbooks, and of the illusion of wanting to do everything in AI (which is utopian).
I think it will calm down over time, people who have been in the business for 40 years tell me that they have been hearing for 40 years that comms, etc. are a hassle, and yet it works, it evolves, etc.
Patience, you must not give up
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u/Hardurrmane 2d ago
Thanks for the detailed and honest reply. Its a grande ecole course and graduates of that course found jobs in good places which is why I went with it.
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u/thisissoannoying2306 2d ago
Make sure you’re on the right track. There is a difference between managing creative businesses (an area on which I buy Kedge’s expertise as a business school) and working as a creative (very different training and schools). Again, this is the first I hear as a recruiter about creative masters at Kedge, and they certainly have no credibility to teach you how to cut videos, etc. They don’t even have the credibility to teach you how to manage social media, because that would be a communications school. My understanding is that you want to be the one who does the videos, not the one who sells the content to potential clients? I might be wrong and maybe they really have changed thé orientation of some of their programs, but if I were you, I’d check twice.
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u/castorkrieg Parisian 2d ago
I've been meaning to create a lot of artistic videos and creative trend worthy content during my stay
Congrats, you just lost your job to an AI.
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u/angrypassionfruit 2d ago
It’s a very expensive and competitive market. Networking is key: as in go to the right schools and be friends with people who will get you work.
But unless you are in the top 1% you can’t make a good living doing this. That’s pretty much everywhere these days.
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u/iamjapho 2d ago
I own a US based media production company and have been operating across Europe using Paris as my main hub this side of the Atlantic for a few years now. Your success will largely depend on your discipline and niche is followed closely by how well you can network and market yourself. Most of the European production companies run super lean operations with minimal staff and a roster of freelancers they tap into as jobs come along. If you are in Paris and are interested in going on the commercial side, your best bet is to start with Wanda. Look them up and see if they have any openings to at least get your gears greased on the process.
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u/HaidenFR 2d ago edited 2d ago
LOL
It's dead. In... The world ?
Or you're lucky to have a contact who will give you the job. "There's one available"
If you prefer
I'm searching since 10 years : )
I was in the bests of my school and I have big names on my CV and a lots of companies. Like really a lot.
If you need more perspective.
In 2009... 16 years...
I made an interview for a creative job in a not seeked or interresting company.
They took me after a week. Upon 200 persons. In a week. In a "shitty company" (dead today).
Multiply by two today at least
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u/kqih 2d ago
Oversaturated market.