…GAWD Elizabeth, when will you just go make some comics???

I am, actually, and STILL getting the last bolt off that toilet I’m repairing, but anyway–

The FREELANCERS UNION (which I joined!  Because it’s Free.  You still have access to all member benefits and there are NO DUES, unlike guilds in town that are wonderful *only if there’s Actual Work*), ok, what was I talking about…The FREELANCERS UNION has a workshop on Social Media as well.  ‘Bout half what I paid for, I doubt it’s seven hours, you definitely don’t get lunch or the ability to network with peers, look at a human face and humourous slides.  But it’s still Relevant:

http://www.freelancersunion.org/events/2010/winter/making-social-media-work-for-you.html

Read the particulars, because it’s an online seminar and requires installing some software and having access to a phone (a land line?).

Since I haven’t taken a seminar yet with the Freelancers Union I can’t say what their quality is like, but I’ve found that pretty much anything related professionally to your…profession (ha ha, I’m so articulate), is really of Benefit.  If you look on their events page you can find some more informative wkshops–I’m curious about the one called ‘Pricing Strategies for Graphic Designers’.  Looks innnnteresting… *rubs hands*

With regards to the Freelancers Union itself, it’s hardly a ‘union’ because of the no-dues thing, but it is politically involved to protect and benefit Independant Pros and its main goal is to provide Insurance.  This Union originated in New York, so the actual coverage plans offered are of benefit to qualified professionals there (you do have to prove *for those plans* that you have made a certain amt of $ as a Pro, but after that one qualifier you are In).  Outside of that, in CA for instance (no need to prove qualifications), the plans are–in my opinion–not that great (but compared to Motion Picture Health & Welfare, no plan looks that great).  I don’t think 30/70 (you pay 30% of medical until the 70% kicks in from the coverage), is something to cheer about, but it is an option.

The 401k they offer as well, from what I’ve read, has quite a few fees attached that may not make the investment as worthy as other alternatives, so I would weigh and compare that with lots of research and discretion.

Otherwise, I think this Union is a great resource.  I would recommend the Freelancers and their Free membership over a similiar guild for Independant Professionals that requires significant membership dues and a high qualifier (2 yrs as a pro, for instance, making 14K or more a yr).  It’s bad enough that you have to buy the coverage.  AND work all by your lonesome.

*waves to all you office dwellers out there*

~~~miss eeee (not quite footloose, but still quite fancy free)

PS:  If anyone has personal experience with the Freelancers Union and their local coverage, please add your two cents.  I’m certainly not an expert and am only pushing the seminars, which Look Good.

…when the silver ball hits the scrolls of pictures I thought: This is animation (!!).

One Shot, how many takes??  I guess by counting the destroyed TVs that litter the back of one of the movements, then we’d know.  This was built and executed in a warehouse in Echo Park.  To think such Awesomeness was happening so close by while I was, I dunno, at the grocery or something! *sob*

PLAY IT AGAIN,

~~~miss eeee!

(not making awesomeness in warehouses with kinetic motion but fixing toilets)

…to reassure myself I’m in the Real World.

http://www.scbwisocal.org/events/la_writers_toolbox.html

I just attended this 7 hr workshop on Social Media hosted by SCBWI-LA and as taught by this very knowledgeable expert and writer, Greg Pincus:

http://www.thehappyaccident.net/

I just wanted to comment that of the Many professional workshops I’ve attended (at SD Con, CTN-X 2009, or around town), this one ranked right up there with STUFF YOU REALLY OUGHT TO KNOW.  So if you’re in town and see Greg Pincus speak again, I think you should reg and go for it.

It is because of this wkshop that I am doing some cosmetic changes again to …Airships when I’d already resolved to let the sites be for now and return to drawing/writing.  Just making it easier for folks, when landing or returning here to possibly recognize, right away, what I and loyal peeps of mine out there Like and are about (I think that recognition thing is going to take awhile in the works…).

Things are always going to be changing here anyway because I’m keen on making it a place where people will really Enjoy staying and hanging out.  Of course, it can’t compete with real flowers and mountain air (or city air, or wherever you may be–submersibles, the Antarctic, your Parisien garret), but then, how many of you are really spending time in the Real World, anyway?  *suspicious look*

I think you’re all at Facebook.   Hmm.  Do I have time to type up my wkshop notes before miss J gets here?  Yes I do.  This workshop was so awesome and necessary I’m going to share my notes with a few of my fellow artists.  I don’t think it’s super important to take such Knowledge (or my modest understanding of it) and apply it de riguer in order to make a Success Story out of oneself, but it was definitely worth having the baffling Social Web explained.  It’s not as easy as Flowers, folks.

I hope you all are having a Good almost spring!!

~~~miss eeeeeee

…one of the best animated movies ever on my blog, because it’s my Party and I’ll post it if I want to!

HOORAH CORALINE!!!

(Firefox, blah, Safari, all reet!)

~~~eeee (maybe wearing a b-hat; maybe not)