All posts by MiaLobel

Freelance Cafe West, Gigs

Multimedia Producer / Storyteller NEEDED!

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One of our own is hiring for his new show. Check it out. -Mia

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Snap Judgment is hiring, please spread the word . . .

Snap Judgment is a brand new, smoking hot, nationally-aired radio / television show funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Join us for the launch of a bold new style of storytelling.

Hosted by Glynn Washington, winner of the Public Radio Talent Quest, the show is a multi-platform experience that interacts with audiences through radio, TV, internet, and the upcoming Snap Judgment Stageshow. Snap Judgment’s edgy, intimate, hip storytelling redefines expectations for public media.

The show sits on the razor’s edge of culture, race, gender, and sexuality. Snap Judgment has an urban sensibility, routinely crossing cultures in the blink of an eye. Applicants must be comfortable in dealing with people from a variety of backgrounds that may not have traditionally had voice on public media. Announcement

Job Description

1) Quite simply, we are looking for an amazing someone. The skills required for the undertaking are vast, and this is only a short list. (This is a full time position based in Oakland, California.)

2) Most importantly, be able to work with host Glynn Washington and the Snap Judgment crew to create compelling storytelling across a variety of media – radio, video, theater. . .

3) Story first. Story first. Story first. We will test applicants on their ability to tell a story. Quickly.

4) Of equal importance is technical proficiency across a spectrum of media including audio, video, and possibly theater. Creative and musical use of sound is extremely important, as every single episode of the radio program is constructed with the care of a music album.

5) Project management skills an absolute must. Must be able to effortlessly juggle many conflicting duties with rigorous deadlines.

6) Interview both regular people and irregular artists and construct their stories into compelling narratives.

7) Manage web strategy, including copy editing, Facebook / Twitter updating, podcast creation, newsletter creation, etc.

8) Proactively get / create / rob / write / interview compelling stories.

9) Grunt work. Absolutely anything and everything that needs to get done.

Qualifications

  • Rigorous Storytelling Background. This could mean an MFA program, independent filmmaker, radio producer, several years writing for a children’s show, audio artist, speechwriter, novelist, animator, theater producer, newspaper reporter, fiction editor, etc . . .
  • Used to working in a Mac environment. Familiarity with Logic, Final Cut Pro, ProTools, Soundtrack Pro, etc. You need to be able to build broadcast-quality stories.
  • No Drama. Proven ability to work well in a collaborative team environment as well as independently. Absolutely NO DRAMA.
  • Resourceful. Used to making the magic happen routinely on an absolute shoestring. We are looking for the “MacGyver” of radio / filmmaking.

    To Apply

    Before applying, please go to SnapJudgment.org and listen to the full hour long episode, “Magic Doors”.

    Also, please see the short short Snap Judgment film, “Nobody’s Punk” at:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAlQRgF8wI

    Please send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and links to 2 – 3 projects for which you had primary responsibility to Jobs@SnapJudgmentRadio.org. E-mail ONLY please!

    The deadline for applications is 11 / 13 / 2009. Women and minorities strongly encouraged to apply.

    Peace and soul! We can’t WAIT to hear from you . . .

    • Musings

    self-employment disability insurance

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    There are only two things I miss about working in a regular office job (besides regular interaction with the rest of the working world, of course).

    1) IT – Tech Support. I can’t even count the number of hours I’ve spent tearing my hair out over some computer problem that an IT department could fix in minutes. Or how many hours I’ve spent on the phone with obnoxious “help” desks that are horribly misnamed. My own personal IT department is number one on my freelance wish list.

    2) HR. Granted, HR departments can be a big pain in the ass, but generally, they help you get paid, on time, and work out all those little details like taxes, benefits, vacation time, and personal/medical leave. I had a baby last May, and I just assumed that because I work for myself, I wasn’t entitled to any kind of maternity or other medical benefits, even though I pay hefty self-employment taxes. Turns out freelancers do qualify for maternity benefits under the Paid Family Leave program (part of State Disability). Only hitch is that you have to pay for related but separate California’s Disability Insurance Elective Coverage. (Essentially, you pay in a certain percentage based on what you make, and if you go on leave, you get back a certain percentage of what you would be making if you were working. The rates are pretty reasonable and the benefit certainly seems worth it.)

    I have no idea how I was supposed to know this. It’s not like I could sit down and have a meeting with myself about the benefits available to me as a freelancer. I suppose when I became self-employed I should have done more research about what was available to me and what wasn’t. But mostly I was just trying to get PAID (and keep my equipment running.)

    Now I know. And hopefully someone else can benefit from my lack of foresight.

    http://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/Self-Employed.htm

    Musings

    how may I help you?

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    I’m trying to figure out how this site can best serve freelancers. My original idea was to create a go-to place for people looking for freelancers in various fields. They could come to the site, scroll through the links on the right, find the freelancer that best meets their needs, and contact the freelancer directly.

    The other option is to make this site an overall resource for freelancers – using the lists on the right to link to resources for each field – how to sites, pitching and pricing guidelines, funding and awards opportunities, legal advice, inspiration, etc.

    mediabistro.com and others are already doing this, though you definitely have to do a bit of searching to find the information you’re looking for. I would like this site to be more straightforward.

    Ultimately, I would love to include both links to freelancers and links for freelancers, but I fear that would be too much information for one page.

    Thoughts?

    Events, Freelance Cafe West

    CPA workshop

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    We had our first official workshop Tuesday night – a tax presentation and Q & A with freelance CPA Jason Stallcup. It wasn’t a huge crowd – about 15 people – but I have to say I’m thrilled with how it went. Jason did a fantastic job of presenting tax information in an interesting, informative, and accessible way. The workshop attendees were totally engaged, asking lots of questions. And the location – Sandbox Suites (owned and run by another freelancer on the list) was perfect. But most importantly it was an example of the Freelance Cafe group working. It was a presentation for freelancers, by a freelancer, hosted at a co-working space owned by a freelancer. Love it. I hope this will be the first of many events like this one.

    And if you need help with your taxes – call Jason!

    Jason Stallcup, CPA
    415-215-0639.
    jason@jasoncpa.com

    Also, if you’re looking for a workspace, check these guys out.

    Sandbox Suites
    123 10th Street, SF
    info@sandboxsuites.com
    p: 415-659-8197

    Musings

    new website

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    For those of you who saw the old freelancecafe.org website, you’ll understand why I made this change. I know there are better options than a blogger blog for a website, but this is what I know and I’m sticking with it for now. If anyone feels like kicking down about $10k for a real website, let me know.

    In the meantime, I’m hoping to make this site as useful for freelance folks as I can, so feel free to send me links to useful resource sites or your own websites/blogs and I’ll add it this site.

    Musings

    new year, new life for Freelance Cafe

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    It’s been a long time since I’ve posted to this blog and a lot has changed. Most importantly, Freelance Cafe is thriving on Facebook and the email list has grown to more than 150 members. We recently merged with a journalism MeetUp group in San Francisco, and the gatherings are getting bigger by the month. (We had at least 30 people at our holiday party, mostly thanks to the amazing friends-seeing-other-friends-attending-an-event phenomenon of Facebook.)

    We have our first official workshop coming up on Feb. 10 – a tax seminar. And we have other workshops/events in the works. This is exciting! Clearly there are others out there who are as eager as I am to connect with other freelancers. And I will continue to do my best to make that happen.

    For now, the blog is back. Stay tuned.

    Events, Freelance Cafe West

    Freelance Cafe Happy Hour

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    I was inspired by my friend Robin who created a monthly happy hour for folks who work in the environmental field. I’ve been to his Green Drinks gathering a couple times and it’s impressive – 100 people or more. They now have monthly sponsors. Such a great idea.

    So I’ve been asking around about doing a similar thing for freelancers, and it seems that there is some interest. I thought Pacific Coast Brewing Company would be a good spot, and I’ve set the first one for 5/31. The Freelance Cafe Final Thursday gathering for lonely independents like myself. A step in the right direction. Pass it on.

    Musings

    Chicago Manual Online – group rates

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    Another resource to offer members – group discounts for the Chicago Manual of Style online. I’m sure there are similar sites/discounts for AP and other style guides.

    Small user-group prices:

    2–5 users $25.00 per user if the group subscribes by September 30, 2007
    6–10 users 10% discount – $22.50 per user if the group subscribes by September 30, 2007
    11–15 users 15% discount – $21.25 per user if the group subscribes by September 30, 2007
    16–20 users 20% discount – $20.00 per user if the group subscribes by September 30, 2007
    Musings

    it has a name…

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    So apparently my idea is called “co-working” and it’s not a unique idea by far.

    Dave Gilson sent me this BusinessWeek.com article about “co-working facilities” popping up all over the place. I’ve logged some of them in previous posts, but there are a number of new ones that opened in 2006.

    There’s even a coworking wiki to help coordinate people and coworking facilities across the country and abroad. But there’s still not one in Oakland.

    Also check out this slide show of alternative work spaces connected with the article.

    Musings

    NYC Writer’s Room

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    Rob Gunnison put me in touch with Doug Merlino – a fellow j-school grad who is now working as a writer in NYC. He works out of a place called the Writer’s Room. It’s been around since 1978 and was founded to create an affordable workspace for writers of all kinds.

    Here’s what Doug says about it.

    “I love the place I work… Basically, you apply for membership and, assuming you are accepted (you send them a resume and some references), it costs $100 a month to work there. It’s basically a big room with cubicles and a separate kitchen and phone area. You keep your stuff in a locker and, when you come in, grab a place that’s free to work.”

    He also told me about another similar place called The Paragraph. This place was founded by two women who wanted to create a work environment similar to what they had in grad school. YES! Their space is gorgeous – I need to find out how they funded it. They also do special events, round tables, etc.

    And here’s yet ANOTHER one in Tribeca – The Village Quill. Apparently the waiting lists for these places get so long they have to keep opening new ones.

    Finally – Doug pointed me to this NYT article that basically proves the value of these kinds of work spaces. So very encouraging.