jayshaffer.com

I’m really excited that I will be teaching four different  classes this semester at Front Range Community College. In the past I’ve only taught two classes at any particular time, so this is going to be a challenge. Fortunately I’m passionate about all the subjects. Tuesday evenings  I’ll be teaching sound design, Thursday morning I’ll be teaching Video editing I useing Final Cut Pro, Friday afternoon it’s Music Technology and Recording, and I wrap-up the week with Photoshop I on Saturday afternoons. While this adds up to about 14 and a half hours in the classroom, throw in a 30 minute commute each way and class preparation, the actual time I spend on the classes ends up almost being a full-time job. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite pay like a full-time job. But in today’s economy any job is a good one in my book.
There is always the argument that those that can’t do, teach. I, of course, have to disagree, I’m still running my video and web business in addition to teaching and when you run your own business there is really no time-off. so I’m essentially doing two full time jobs. And still try to find some time to do some fun stuff like making music and DJing in Second Life.
Speaking of Second Life the college does own a  space there, and a group of us are exploriing ways to utilize virtual worlds for education. This is a rich area and I’m really excited to be a part of it…in my spare time.

Over the years, between full-time employment, I’ve done freelance media production. And while I do good work I never had enough business to truly make a living. For example I think I made $20K in 2004 and a quarter of that was from the advance for writing the “Making Music with GarageBand” book. The trouble has always been finding enough clients to keep busy. This year is looking slightly better.
Since being downsized in March. I’ve been slowly growing a viable video business while hunting for full-time work. I have two regular video podcast for businesses, “Stickergiant TV” and “Fascination St. Fine Arts Presents” , And I did some Web page development and I’m editing on a half-hour kids cooking show called “The Kitcheneers.” In addition to Final Cut Pro Studio, I’ve invested in a new Canon HV30 camera as well as a CalDigit Firewire VR RAID array and lights and microphones. Even with all these hardware and software expenses I’m still slightly ahead on the ledger.
What makes this time different? I credit it to two things; 1. the rise in the role of video on the web and 2. the importance of social networking sites like LinkedIn and Twitter. I’m hoping to garner a few more clients who want to optimize their SEO and Web presence through the use of video, as well as I pursuing my goal of having a major credit working on an indie feature film as editor or post-production supervisor. I am am still actively pursuing a full-time or part-time position. But until that happens I’m going to really try to grow my business, and you never know freelance 2.0 might just work out.

The hard cold fact that I made more money in the game Second Life, than in real life this week is kinda sobering. It’s not like I haven’t been working, I just haven’t been working for real money.
Last week, I wrote and edited a four page proposal for a producer job with a cable sports network and did a  Keynote presentation for the same proposal ( the first time I worked with Keynote.)
I did both stereo mix and (my first real) surround mix for “The Fence.” “The Fence” is a three minute trailer for an indie film project. I offered to work on the project pro-bono with the understanding that I will get paid to do the real film. I was originally “hired ” on as sound editor. But I became more deeply involved in the post production process and now I’m credited as Post-Production Supervisor. This is because I  designed the DVD art work and put together the DVD project, also last week. Oh, and I shuffled the project back and forth to the colorist (the guy that color-corrects the video.) You can see “The Fence” trailer at: http://riseandflyproductions.com/

I also recorded and published a new podcast about the Zoom H4 recorder on the MacAudioGuy.com site,  and updated the CSS on this site. Worked on my Linkedin Profile and Twittered a couple hours away. And, perhaps most importantly, I’m putting together a design portfolio page for an important job interview on Wednesday.
In Second Life, I did a custom Photoshop “skin” for my formula race car model for a client and was paid 10,000 Lindens (about $30), I did a three hour stint as announcer for the audio and video recoding of the Formula SL race on Saturday and then DJed for two and a half hours on Sunday for 1800 Lindens (about $7).
So, you can see why I’m a great workaholic but a lousy entrepreneur. Let’s just hope I have a great interview on Wednesday.