Networking: Freelancer Focus

 2/10/2023

Being invited to a group of webinars focusing on freelancing advice for the industry, I have managed to book a placement with six of the ten opportunities. Missing one by mistake and only just missing it, the other three is only because I am scheduled in on lesson time whilst they are hosted.

With the first one being about pitching, I am currently now waiting for the 'career progression opportunities' webinar to begin which will start in just an hour.

Career Progression

As it states, with this webinar advice is given focusing on the idea of progressing in our careers. Getting to meet many people in this session, the first we got to hear from was Nichola Garde, the talent-led initiate and disability lead in the BBC.

Running a programme called 'Elevate', with this those who you would usually find to have disadvantages are given the opportunity to work through that and get to places that at one time wouldn't have been possible.

Inviting Jake Brinksman onto the chat, he tells us of his experiences with the programme sharing with us his original place in the BBC's children's education and comparing that to where he is now thanks to Elevate. That being a spokesman on 'Morning Live'.

Being quite a short talk, the next visitor we got to hear from was Beejal Patel who works in the documentary commissioning department of the BBC.

Running a course that focuses on skills and development gaps, he talked metaphorically about the career ladders in the industry providing practical exercises to help people overcome themselves.

Claire Scally, background in TRC:

In partnership with ScreenSkills, Claire talked about having high-end courses, traineeships, networking opportunities and events all across the nation and region (besides London for some reason) for new freelances can come in and get their hands dirty.

These can be found at...

• A series producer programme
• Factual Fast Track
• TRC shorts
• Supersizer

Focussing mostly on supersizer, a professional development programme, Majella McNeary had joined the meeting to talk about their experiences of the said course.

She went on to state how supersizer helped her figure out what she wanted from her work just by giving her the chance to stop and think about what she was doing.

"Stop, reflect, take my place." with her head held high thanks to this whereas before the programme, Majella would constantly worry about the gaps between her employment overthinking about not getting her next contract and how long that would take to get.

That being all, I would like to keep it in mind to check out the programmes and websites as mentioned just to learn of the options I have out there.

3/10/2023

How to be strategic about your freelance career

Messing up slightly here, accidentally. Joining the webinar the sound on my laptop decided it didn't want to work leaving us only to note what was said on the slideshow missing any additional advice stated orally.

Hosted by Sara Putt, many useful pointers were made in building yourself for employers.

Think about your online fingerprint, what does it say about you as a person? 

Build a bio, google yourself.

What is your unique selling point? Why should you be hired?

Build your community, meet people.

One way of pushing yourself forward is to help others.

• Pay it forward.
• Collaborate.
• Take it slowly.
• Don't expect anything back.

Create opportunities, attend screenings, film festivals, festivals in general, mentors and coaching events.

Stay in contact with people.

• Professional email.
• Signature.
• Be clear.
• Ask for advice.
• Build a data base.
• Follow people you admire online.

A summary of all this, take initiative, make opportunities, be organised and have a link to your professional CV available online.

To move forward and upward:

• Set goals.
• Explore and change departments/sectors.
• Speak to agencies.
• Freelance.
• Think, what skills do you need and how will you develop them skills?

When it comes to job opportunities, it is important to keep in mind:

• What informs your decision to take/refuse a job?
• The jobs you don't take define you the same as taking a job does.
• What will you be giving and gaining?
• Know when to walk away.

As for managing:

• Accept it's not easy.
• Perfection isn't possible.
• Listen twice as much as you do speak.
• Lead more than manage.
• Check in regularly.
• Look for conflict, ask questions and don't jump to conclusions.

A video that was suggested in helping improve skills in these situations, 'How to turn a group of strangers into a team' - Amy Edmondson.

Then finally, with handling difficult situations:

• Know again, when to walk away. Sleep on it.
• Have a safe space.

As I mentioned, some of this webinar was unfortunately missed due to the issue. Working perfectly fine before this the device only needed resetting to fix the audio problem. Will need to keep it in mind to double check the sound for every webinar session so more important information isn't missed. Just thankfully there was a slideshow to read off of.

4/10/2023

Managing your finances as a freelancer

Hosted this time by a trainer in this sector, David Thomas. The man who wants to bring business into freelance.

The five points we went over were:

• Controlling your finances.
• How tax and national insurance works.
• Getting paid on time.
• Keeping records.
• How not to run out of money.

Taking a different route to the previous webinars, this time around David help a poll and quiz game to retrieve a personal response from those watching. Using Menti.com, I did get myself involved with the first one of two that questioned how good we are with money basically.

For controlling money, there a two financial issues found. Earning the money, and spending that money.

With freelance being unpredictable for work, that also makes the money earned unpredictable.

So to start, rather than thinking about how much money we need, it is suggested to instead think, "How much money do I need to spend?"

Another quote, don't say you need to work more, add a figure. "How much more?" "Don't work too much, but work enough."

As a separate discussion, savings. There should be three different types;

• Short term savings - For everyday costs.
• Medium term savings - Repairs and holidays.
• Long term savings - The subject of pensions.

Explaining about the two different types of self-employed and how freelancers are separated into different payment schemes, I didn't get that much more on financing but the last note I did make was a suggestion made to those who are self-employed. That being how accountants are the most helpful in the situations regarding pay.

Supposed to have had two webinars today, I will admit I did end up falling asleep and missing it giving me now only two more to learn from on Friday.

6/10/2023

Opportunities for growth with Channel 4

Unfortunately I only had limited time to listen in on this one having personal matters to get on with, I did manage to catch the first ten or so minutes meeting the four speakers and hearing from only one.

With every of the webinars, when introducing who these people are and what they do I do keep missing it with how fast the hostess is speaking and usually wait for them to talk to hopefully rbing back up what it is they do. Only being sure of one, we met:

Rebecca Thompson, the head of the Indie department.

Kevin Blacoe, a representative for the Indie department I believe? 

Caroline Percy and the manager or a department, can't recall which, Charlotte Michael.

Hearing only from Kevin, he talked of 'C4Skills'. A scheme helping people get into the industry and those who are already in to improve on their skills.

Aiming mostly at junior people and freelancers, the key skills they aim to uphold involve:

• Attracting people
• Representation
• Skills development
• Surpassing barriers

Working alongside the NFTS they will be touring to Newcastle wanting as many people as possible to get on board. 

Also offering free training, thee final note I managed to catch was the writing courses they hold for people wanting to develop in that particular area.

UPDATE

Reading that the next workshop had to do with gaming I believe? I had just left it at that. These webinars have been very useful,  I do wish I was able to have attended the few missed due to lectures but I am sure I will still pick things up on the way.