I agree with the other folks that these sorts of events are for those without imagination, on both ends of the 'sale'.
The last commercial I created came from a guy who used to work with K.T. A few years before he asked if I'd edit it for him, he offered to help me produce the first few shows for what I'm doing at work right now, completely for free. He came out for the day and really helped me get down timing in a way that you just can't learn without a hell of a lot of experience.
Since then, I've recommended him on LinkedIn, and he's offered to be my personal reference to future employers.
I've also done free projects through people I've met at Penguicon - projects I am happy to do for free, I should say, as opposed to people thinking they'll pad my portfolio and thus pay the bills.
I really like getting to know people through the Maker Faire, local hackerspaces, and (hopefully) TedX, because they are -not- industry events, but instead places for people who are passionate about whatever they do, which I love. Maybe I'll run into someone who inspires me to offer my own services (free or otherwise), or maybe someone will offer something to me, but they are ways to grow and get to know the sort of people that define "happy accidents".
In order to make a difference or to jump on those opportunities, I have to be someone other people are interested in working with, and that includes not selling myself short - I try to leave my professional self-esteem quandaries at home because I -want- to work on awesome things. I want people, ha ha, to want me, and that is not a dishonest thing when you are presenting the best of yourself to others.
As someone else said, there are transactions taking place, and if you walk in expecting sheckels when all they have are dinars, it will be a waste of time for everyone involved.
no subject
The last commercial I created came from a guy who used to work with K.T. A few years before he asked if I'd edit it for him, he offered to help me produce the first few shows for what I'm doing at work right now, completely for free. He came out for the day and really helped me get down timing in a way that you just can't learn without a hell of a lot of experience.
Since then, I've recommended him on LinkedIn, and he's offered to be my personal reference to future employers.
I've also done free projects through people I've met at Penguicon - projects I am happy to do for free, I should say, as opposed to people thinking they'll pad my portfolio and thus pay the bills.
I really like getting to know people through the Maker Faire, local hackerspaces, and (hopefully) TedX, because they are -not- industry events, but instead places for people who are passionate about whatever they do, which I love. Maybe I'll run into someone who inspires me to offer my own services (free or otherwise), or maybe someone will offer something to me, but they are ways to grow and get to know the sort of people that define "happy accidents".
In order to make a difference or to jump on those opportunities, I have to be someone other people are interested in working with, and that includes not selling myself short - I try to leave my professional self-esteem quandaries at home because I -want- to work on awesome things. I want people, ha ha, to want me, and that is not a dishonest thing when you are presenting the best of yourself to others.
As someone else said, there are transactions taking place, and if you walk in expecting sheckels when all they have are dinars, it will be a waste of time for everyone involved.