Good Morning pals,
Welcome to The Soapbox Newsletter! It’s Summer, even if the weather doesn’t feel like it, and we’re taking a little event break for July. We’ll be back in August with some great coffee, new connections and conversations with like minded pals!
We’d love to see you there!
Thoughts:
I think August is one of my favourite months in Edinburgh. Which, if you speak with other locals, can be a controversial statement. Festival season changes Edinburgh; from the outside it can feel very busy, wild, wired, and just plain intense. But when you think about it being one of the biggest arts festivals in the world, filled with people having spent months - even years - on shows ranging from comedy to music to physical performance and so, so, much more it’s pretty beautiful. There are a lot of talented creative folk out there, and I’m a fan of people creating something that connects us humans.
I’m currently working on the next Story Sessions which will be taking place at the end of August, so mark your calendars if that’s your sort of thing. And I’m curious, are you hosting an event or do you have one to shout out about? Please email soapboxforcreatives@gmail.com and I can share it with the rest of our community!
A few things from our community:
Sierra Metro presents Flannery O’kafka, For Willy Love and Booker T: Blue Babies Do Whatever They Want sees the artist continue their practice in personal portrait photography with an exhibition working intuitively through film, photographs, and site specific installation. Influenced by their experience as a neurodivergent, disabled adoptee, Flannery O’kafka’s childhood bedroom and home studio bleed into Sierra Metro. Taking place between August 11th and September 15th with the preview happening on August 10th.
Sculpture Saturdays are back at the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop! Every Saturday throughout August between 11am and 3pm there is the chance to make, adapt, repair and combine different toys to display in the collaborative evolving sculpture; Toy Alter.
UPENDED is the debut exhibition from Matthew Hyndman’s photography, which will be on show at Bard during the 20th edition of the Edinburgh Art Festival from August 9th.
Mark your calendars for the next Story Sessions taking place on August 30th at Tribe Porty!
DETOUR Movement by Bike is having a social bike ride and outdoor movement practice on August 11th: “Meet us at The Towpath Cafe (upstairs at Biketrax, Fountainbridge) where you are welcome to buy a coffee/snack and meet the group. We will set off at 10:30 for the bike ride (around 8 miles). We will loop around The Meadows, then ride along the Union Canal and The Water Of Leith.” Book your free space via this eventbrite link.
The Chicken Coop Writing Group is back next Tuesday, July 30th at Lost in Leith Bar between 6pm and 8pm. Writers of all levels and genres are welcome at this monthly group. To keep these events accessible, they're offering pay-what-you-can tickets with a minimum suggested donation of £3. Book your space via this eventbrite link.
Sponsor Section:
The Edinburgh Minute
The Edinburgh Minute is a great (free) place to get the word out about your own news or events.
August can be overwhelming in Edinburgh, there’s so much happening. It gets noisier online too. That’s why the free Edinburgh Minute newsletter exists.
The Minute will once again keep it simple this summer, reflecting the fact that daily life goes on for locals even while the world’s biggest arts festival rolls in.
So whether you want to promote your own thing or just stay in the loop, the Minute will be there for you every day as normal at 7am. It’s free unless you want to pay to support it!
FreeAgent
FreeAgent is award-winning online accounting software designed specifically for UK small businesses - and based here in Edinburgh. The folks at FreeAgent are all about making business owners and freelancers happier and more successful by putting them in control of their finances.
FreeAgent, your friendly accounting software, says hello! This month, they’re pointing to a few more helpful resources for small businesses, like:
7 tips on how to deliver customer service that will make a great impression… but won’t break the bank
A quick guide to work-life balance for small business owners - very useful if you’re planning a quick holiday
A calculator that helps you figure out whether accounting software could save you time and money
Everyone in our Soapbox community can give FreeAgent a go with a 30-day free trial and 50% off their first six months. Try FreeAgent today and see for yourself how much easier it can make your daily admin and tax responsibilities.
With Jack
In this blog post With Jack talk about What to consider if you’re thinking about small claims court. Rarely a week passes where we don’t hear from a freelancer having difficulty with getting paid. There are options to assist with non-payment, including insurance, but sometimes all avenues have been exhausted and small claims court is your last hope. We detail what to expect, including the process and fees payable by you.
Something to end our July Newsletter:
If you would like to stay up to date with more events, jobs and opportunities, do consider following us on Instagram!
If you have something you would like to share with the community please feel free to message us!
We hope to see you at our next event if you’re local, and in the meantime please feel free to share The Soapbox Newsletter if you enjoyed it.
Until next time,
Ellie & Janine