Lights, Camera… Networking: Meet Shobizzy!
Ah, Hollywood, where dreams are made… and then subsequently dashed by a text from your agent saying they “just weren’t feeling it.” With the unemployment crisis snaking its way through Tinseltown like a stealthy cat burglar, many of our beloved TV and film crew members are left wondering how to keep the lights on, or at least the WiFi running while they scroll through Netflix without judgement.
Enter Shobizzy, the fresh kid on the block, sprouting up like a dandelion in a Hollywood lawn that’s seen better days. Launched in January 2024, this shiny new professional networking app is a beacon for freelancers who are tired of feeling like they’re perpetually auditioning for “Survivor: The Job Market Edition.”
Freelancers Unite!
Let’s face it, freelancers are the unicorns of the entertainment world – they’re rare, colorful, and hard to keep track of! Many are wrestling daily with the inconsistency of gig work; one moment, they’re rolling in the dough, and the next, they’re rummaging through the couch cushions for loose change. Shobizzy aims to change that, expanding into live events and content creation just as the freelance world starts to feel like a game of musical chairs—sans the music.
Traditional job boards, like Backstage and StaffMeUp, may have employees jumping through hoops to apply, but Shobizzy cuts to the chase. No more filling out endless applications! Just create a snazzy profile (think Tinder, but without the weird first dates) to showcase your skills, expertise, and perhaps your hobby for interpretative dance if that’s your thing.
Networking Like a Pro
Doug Weitzbuch, co-founder and sage of the freelance realm, knows a thing or two about the industry. He mentions that in the freewheeling world of freelancing, “your network is the most valuable piece to your career.” In layman’s terms, if you want to succeed, you’ve got to know someone who knows someone. It’s like trying to get a reservation at a fancy restaurant; it helps to have a friend on the inside who isn’t going to ask for a table for one.
The Creator Economy: A Booming Business
In an economy where making money seems almost mythical, the creator economy is thriving, estimated to be worth a whopping $250 billion by 2027. Huh? It’s almost enough to inspire one to quit their day job and just become an influencer, which, let’s be honest, might be harder than it sounds.
And if you fancy live events, good news! PwC predicts the revenue for live events in the U.S. is set to hit an astronomical $68.7 billion in 2024. Good luck finding a seat at that concert — you might need to use Shobizzy just to get your friends to cooperate on who’s staying at home.
Partnerships and Possibilities
Shobizzy’s partnership with Red Light Management, which boasts talent like Luke Bryan and The Black Keys, is your golden ticket for freelancers! It’s basically like getting on the VIP list at a club; suddenly, you’re no longer on the alleyway with the rest of the uninvited.
Streamlined Hiring, Coming Soon to a Stage Near You!
New functionalities allow live event companies to manage their hires without needing a degree in herding cats. With Shobizzy, productions can add multiple dates and locations—like when your friends ask you to go out for brunch every weekend. Plus, AI-driven matching is here to find the perfect crew for any production, which is possibly more accurate than your GPS when it gets lost in the middle of nowhere.
Since its inception, Shobizzy has captured the attention of 6,500 sign-ups and approximately 650 big-name companies (sorry, your secret has been revealed, Netflix). They’re raising a cool $2 million in seed funding, which is basically like asking a Hollywood type for a budget increase—always a good plan!
Final Thoughts
So, what’s the takeaway here? If you’re part of the Hollywood chaos and want to swap out job-hunting despair for networking highs, give Shobizzy a shot. Because if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that in a town where everyone’s fighting for the next role, it’s all about who you know. And, thanks to Shobizzy, that could just mean you know everybody.
