How to build a toolkit to be prepared wherever you work
As a freelancer, one of the most important things to remember is to come prepared whether it is the event venue or the production studio. Building a toolkit will save you time and energy while allowing you more creative freedom on-site. This means finding the right tools for you and the job. While some studios will provide snips, knives, and other tools of the trade; I personally always bring my tools and take them home with me after every shift. This guarantees that I will be prepared no matter what changes occur within the event production. We all try the best we can when it comes to preparing for on-site installations and production. If you’ve been in this industry for any amount of time then you know things fall through the cracks and using ribbon scissors to try and cut a rose stem when you’ve got hundreds of stems to cut…can throw even the most experienced designer into chaos. How well you prepare with your tools can ensure you have the brain space to get the job done.
The most important tool to have in your kit is your snips - of which there are hundreds of different types. Find what works best for you and your hands. I usually keep a backup pair in my bag - just in case I need to loan it to another freelancer. Snips are vital for us all to get the job done, so it is the most important tool. To be a serious designer means you have to be serious about your tools. The second most important tool is a wire cutter. You never know what you’ll need them for - save your floral snips for the flower stems! When you use your floral snips for anything non-stem, such as wire or plastic - you ruin them little by little! A clean cut on a floral stem means it’s easier for them to drink from their water source. When we hack at stems with improper and blunt tools we make it harder for them to drink and survive.
All other tools beyond these are the designer’s preference. I try to keep these supplies with me whenever I arrive at a studio or an on-site set-up. In my experience, just having these extra supplies with me, creates within me a confidence that I can accomplish the job no matter what. When you’re looking at a 12 hour day and high expectations from clients - having this confidence can make all the difference!
Don’t let people borrow your tools without you accepting you may never see that tool again.
List of Freelancer Toolkit
-snips
-knife
-corsage tape
-ribbon scissors
-glue dots
-zip ties
-gloves
-wire cutters
-long lighter
-paper towels or quick dry towel
-liquid IV packets
-sunscreen, hat, and other sun protection
-trash bag
-band-aids, Neosporin, other first-aid
-water
-snacks - high protein, nuts, jerky, tuna in a pouch, dried fruit