Self-employed Happy Hour

How do you find your way through the brambles of online galleries to find the one that offers what you're looking for—as a buyer, or as an artist? OAC Gallery founder Sarah Biondi talks about starting an online contemporary art gallery, the business of art consultants, and her background in the film industry and in marketing. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Contributing Editor At Large Eva Avenue.

We get to the raw, bloody heart of filmmaking today. Emily Best of Seed&Spark, a crowdfunding and streaming distribution platform for independent filmmakers, talks about her new magazine Bright Ideas, adventures in filmmaking, and why artists are more crucial now today than ever. Catch her on her informational cross-country #StayIndieTour to learn how to make the most of your crowdfunding campaign! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter and Contributing Editor At Large Eva Avenue.

Commercial sensibilities combined with artistic imagination equal workable success! Artists Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters, founders of Stranger Factory, join us to talk about the art business, running a gallery, the history of Stranger Factory and Circus Posterus, Kathie and Brandt's personal work and career backgrounds, and so much more! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing-Editor-At-Large Eva Avenue.

Hey, you gonna smoke that? Editors from Pyragraph, Humbird and Nightly Noodle Monthly gather at Pyragraph Studios to talk about Albuquerque's writing scene, art-career author Jackie Battenfield, writer Mike Smith, and other people and happenings in our writers' worlds. We also chat with call-in guest Brendan Doherty, the Weekly Alibi's former music editor, about leaving the self-employed life to serve the Man. All this, and so much more! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter and Contributing Editor At Large Eva Avenue.

I know Billy! Billy McCall joins us to talk about refereeing the imminent Zine Olympics at ABQ Zine Fest, his band Rudest Priest, pinball, stories from the casino floor and so much more! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter and Contributing Editor At Large Eva Avenue.

Eryn Bent is a fiery singer-songwriter who plays indie folk originals with both power and softness. Eryn joins us to chat about being an independent musician, recording her latest album Firefly, and building her music career one lesson at a time. She sings some gorgeous songs for us to boot.  Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter. Theme song: "Brainless Job" by Grand Canyon (featuring Sam Miller). The video is rad.

Eric Renz-Whitmore is a ninja-level organizer, networker and promoter within Albuquerque's tech scene, and just wrapped an amazing Tech Fiesta ABQ week. He is Community Manager at the NM Technology Council, Organizer at One Million Cups, and Organizer at Startup Weekend New Mexico. We chat about cool stuff happening with art and tech, news on start-ups in NM and more. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter, and Contributing Editor at Large Eva Avenue. Theme song: "Brainless Job" by Grand Canyon (featuring Sam Miller). The video is rad.

Kendra Crooks and Austin Madrid are a year into their photography business, JAK Media, and besides developing an impressive reputation and body of work, they've also gone through ownership changes and are in the middle of a rebranding campaign. They share their story and lessons learned with Pyragraph's editors Peri, Josh and Jeremy, including tips on how to deal with kooky clients and what details to make sure to spell out in client contracts.  Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter, and Contributing Editor at Large Eva Avenue. Theme song: "Brainless Job" by Grand Canyon (featuring Sam Miller). The video is rad.

Fresh off the plane from a summer in Europe playing backup in another band's tour, Sam Miller comes to the Pyragraph Studios to shake off his jet lag with mimosas and breakfast burritos. He tells us about the recording of his debut solo album You Need to Hear It, how he uses social media platforms for his music, and how his previous bands morphed into the solo career he's pursuing today.   Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Senior Contributing Editor Sage Harrington, Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter, and Contributing Editor at Large Eva Avenue.    Theme song: "Brainless Job" by Grand Canyon (featuring Sam Miller!). The video is rad.

After a two-year hiatus, we are re-booting Self-Employed Happy Hour! Host Peri Pakroo is now Publisher and Editor of creative career magazine Pyragraph, so her co-hosts, guests and topics will focus on creative careers and the many ways creative workers manage self-employment.   In this Reboot Edition, Peri is joined by Pyragraph Senior Contributing Editor Sage Harrington, Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter, and Contributing Editor at Large Eva Avenue.    Theme song: "Brainless Job" by Grand Canyon. The video is rad.

I chat with the owner of one of my very favorite shops, The Octopus and the Fox, Jessi Campbell. (Her co-owner Belita Orner couldn't make it. :( ) Nicknamed OctoFox, their über-sweet boutique showcases handmade (and way-affordable) art, fashion and gifts from dozens of local artists and designers. I get the scoop from Jessi on how she started, how she merges art with business, and how we love the sweet small business scene in Albuquerque.

I chat with Marie Abaya, owner/operator of Simeona Gardenaire, a landscape design firm specializing in art- and pet-friendly xeriscaped gardens. Marie has had an eclectic career as a designer and artist, including working in architecture and fashion (and making an amazing pair of handmade leather boots!). We talk about working with plants, earth, art, and clients.

I chat with Miriam Ortiz y Pino, a certified professional organizer who owns and runs More than Organized. Miriam has worked with many a self-employed person looking to tame home office chaos. As she kindly overlooks the clutter in my house we talk about organizing a home business, using social media and working with hoarders.

I chat with Linda Hussey Goble who owns/runs See Yourself Teaching with her husband Cameron Goble. They've also been involved with Ignite New Mexico and ABQ Sprout AND she just became a mom, so we had plenty to talk about! Three-month-old Marion makes her debut as well so it's a banner show. 

I chat with Elissa Breitbard, owner and founder of Betty's Bath & Day Spa — not only a perennial favorite spa in Albuquerque, but recipient of several business awards since its launch in 2000. Elissa (FYI, there is no "Betty") started Betty's after a career in teaching, and quickly established herself as a savvy businesswoman and networking ninja. We talked about how she started, how she developed such a strong brand and role in the community, and how she balances business ownership with being a mom. 

Our guest is Giovanna Rossi, owner and President of Collective Action Strategies, a consulting firm that works with public and private organizations on women's health and other issues affecting families and communities. Giovanna specializes in developing women's health policies and went out on her own two years ago, after various positions with nonprofits and government agencies for many years. Like me Giovanna has two little kids so she's also intimately familiar with the self-employed mom juggling act.

Our very first stab at making this podcast happen! I talk with my longtime collaborator and friend David Dabney, principal of Red Rooster Creative, about small business websites, clients with unrealistic budgets, and why WordPress is the bomb.