Starting the Creative Gang I Couldn’t Find
6 min read
I’ve started a gang.
Not the prison kind. Not the turf-war, leather-jacket kind. Just a lovely, slightly chaotic gang of freelance creatives who meet up for coffee and a good old chat about work, life, and the wild ride that is being self-employed.
For ages I’d been looking for a local creative network here in Newbury. Somewhere informal, welcoming, with other freelancers doing creative things. Designers, photographers, writers, videographers, that sort of crew. But I couldn’t find anything that quite fit.
There were networks, sure. But they were mostly formal business groups, annual fees, name badges and sales pitches. Or they were geared towards one niche or identity. Or they just didn’t feel very... creative.
And that’s when it clicked. I wasn’t really looking for a “network.” I was trying to recreate something I’d been part of years ago.
Back after uni, a bunch of design mates and I used to meet up every week in a pub near Borough Market – fun fact: it was the pub from Bridget Jones’s Diary. We’d talk about our latest jobs, moan about clients, get distracted by tangents about music, film, life. It was casual, interesting, and properly inspiring. It kept me feeling connected and motivated, especially in those early years of figuring stuff out.
So when I couldn’t find that vibe locally, I decided to start it myself.
Building the Gang
It started with a few messages. I reached out to a couple of local creatives I already knew of: a photographer whose work I admired, a videographer I’d recently followed on Insta, an video editor mate I’d met on the school run. Everyone was keen. So I messaged a few more. They were keen too. We agreed on a time and met in one of the nicer coffee shops in town.
And that was it. No official name. No agenda. Just a bunch of us turning up, grabbing coffee and chatting.
Fast-forward a few months, and we’ve now got a WhatsApp group with about 40 members, and regular meet-ups that get 10 to 15 people coming along. Every time it’s different. Sometimes it’s mostly photographers. Sometimes it’s heavy on the design chat. Once we accidentally spent half an hour talking about oat milk. The important bit is we’re connecting. Swapping ideas. Sharing contacts. Encouraging each other.
What’s Been Brilliant About It
First of all, it’s helped me massively. I now have a proper local network of people I can call on. Need a photographer for a client shoot? Sorted. Want someone to help edit a promo video? Done. Need a gut-check on some brand messaging before a pitch? Pop it in the chat.
It’s made my offer more robust, more collaborative, and frankly more ambitious. And I’m not the only one. I’ve seen projects emerge from conversations at the meetups. I’ve seen referrals fly around the group. I’ve seen people finally feel like they aren’t doing this thing completely alone.
And that’s the big one. Freelance life can be lonely. You can spend whole days with your own thoughts, your own ideas, your own fears rattling around in your head. Having a local crew makes a big difference. You’re still your own boss, still independent, but with backup.
If You’re Tempted to Start One…
Do it. Seriously. Start the thing. You don’t need a name, or a website, or a branding package. You just need a group message and a time and place to meet.
Pick a coffee shop (or a pub, or a co-working space, or even your back garden if the weather’s decent). Keep it casual. Don’t worry about who turns up. Some weeks it might be five people. Others it might be fifteen. The important thing is consistency and openness.
It helps if you’re clear what the group isn’t. Ours isn’t a pitch-fest. There are no elevator speeches or awkward intros. Just humans with shared interests.
And if you’re more of a joiner than a starter, that’s fine too. Ask around. Put feelers out on Instagram or LinkedIn. Check in with your local coffee shops – sometimes they know what’s going on before anyone else.
Why This Matters for Small Businesses
If you’re a creative entrepreneur or small business owner, it’s easy to focus on marketing tactics, audience growth, and brand strategy (all good things). But building your network is just as valuable.
A strong local network gives you:
Access to collaborators who get what you’re trying to build
A sounding board for ideas and challenges
People to recommend you, refer you, tag you in opportunities
A community that keeps you inspired and accountable
It also helps you show up better in your business. When you’re part of a creative gang, you feel more confident in your own skills. You’re reminded that what you do has value. That your weird way of working might be exactly what someone else needs.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, you’re probably not alone. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is build the thing you wish existed.
Thinking of starting your own? Drop me a message. I’m always happy to share what’s worked (and what hasn’t).
And if you’re a creative anywhere near Newbury, come join us. The gang’s open. We meet monthly. There might even be biscuits.
