Finding a Mentor, Job Opps, and a Freelancer’s “Pick Two”

I’m currently working on developing a pool of folks experienced with Streamyard to fill in for me as needed, for a podcaster’s live show on Wednesday afternoons. You’d be a great fit if:

1) you have a STRONG internet connection at your home or office- not wifi, but ethernet

2) you have experience with Streamyard at some level

3) you can follow a rundown to cue graphics and roll-ins, change camera sources, and put in overlays

4) you’re comfortable working remotely and directing talent on making adjustments to make sure they look and sound their best

5) you might be available periodically from 2:15-3:45 pm on Wednesdays (with notice) to run the live show on Wednesdays. Rate is $95 for your time.

Please reply to this newsletter with the subject line: Streamyard if you fit this criteria and would like to be added to the pool.

I also have a colleague who is looking for someone to shoot a Bar Mitzvah next Saturday. He tells me he can provide all the gear, if you’ve got experience shooting personal events, and are familiar with the events of a bar mitzvah ceremony and party. He’s paying $500, and the job is in the metro DC area. Please reply to this newsletter with the subject line: Bar Mitzvah if you are interested and available, and would like to be connected. Include any background experience that may be relevant.

Do you have a mentor? As a freelancer, I was never in a formal mentorship program, but I definitely had people in my circle that I looked up to, and felt comfortable asking questions of as I was trying to grow my career and my business. To this day, I still turn to those people for advice, and respect their experience and the lessons they learned along the way. After all, you don’t HAVE to learn everything the hard way, do you?

If you’re considering bringing a mentor in to your life, you might want to read this article as you get started with choosing a mentor and formulating a relationship with them.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that our DC chapter of Women in Film and Video can help facilitate a mentorship for you! Their mentorship program is a year-long program, and participants are given the opportunity to meet their mentor/mentee and determine whether they would like ot proceed as paired. If you’re currently a WIFV member interested in taking this step in 2025, you can learn more here. And if you’re interested in being a mentor, fill out this form by January 15th.

I was recently working with an actress and she was asking me about getting more work, and after I told her about Women in Film and Video, she mentioned another piece of advice she picked up along the way.

She said, I was once told, “There are three traits that a successful freelancer might possess, but a good freelancer has to have at least two:

1) on time and dependable

2) skilled and good in their craft

3) easy to get along with and pleasant to have on set.

In fact, you might not be that terrific at your craft, but you can be trained on that and get better. But #1 and #3 are completely under your control, and can get you more jobs that your skills wouldn’t necessarily qualify you for!”

I told her I hadn’t heard these three before, but from my experience, I think that advice was on track. And just to clarify the “freelancer’s pick two” is different than a “customer’s pick two”….that one is “Good, Fast, or Cheap. Pick Two”.

Thanks to the late Bart Woodward who shared that one with me. He was also a mentor to me while I worked at Maguire-Reeder.