The term ‘gig’ was first coined in 1915 by jazz musicians to refer to their individual performances. It’s a term that’s now used by all genres of musicians, and even non-musicians. When applied to this modern model of work, the term ‘gig’ is almost synonymous with ‘project’ or ‘flex.’ Essentially, it emphasizes the contained, one-off nature of the task at hand for which the worker—whether they’re a jazz musician, graphic designer, or something else entirely—is hired to complete.

More and more people are turning currently to the gig economy as a way to make extra cash, or even earn a living. It’s also possible to join the gig economy while having a contracted job as an employee. For instance, you might work as a secretary or school teacher and take on a gig-based job like bartending or babysitting in your spare time to help supplement your income. Gig workers often wind up doing a much wider variety of tasks than employees that work full-time for one single company.

The gig economy is a labor market made up of freelance or part-time jobs as opposed to full-time, fixed contracts. Gig workers can encompass a wide range of fields—from driving a taxi or delivery vehicle, to editing documents, to technical support, to performing artists. While the gig economy offers flexibility, it also presents challenges and concerns. Some gig workers may face income instability, lack of job security, and limited access to social protections. There have been debates and discussions about labor rights, fair wages, and the classification of gig workers as independent contractors or employees.

Freelancing is great if you have the health, energy, the luxury of taking risks, as in, a decent amount of saving or family, who can financially support you in lean times—because there will be lean times, and do not doubt.