ACE PEOPLE

Freelancer Feature: Aaron Moore of Acting with Aaron

February 21, 2020 By upstatecreative

Aaron Moore started “Acting with Aaron,” in 2012. Born, raised, and still living in Albany, he started teaching acting when he came back to Albany after college and noticed that there were a lot of youths in the area who were interested in the performing arts but didn’t have an outlet for it. He wanted to give back to the city and fell in love with doing it. Aaron says, “Giving my knowledge to others and getting to see how it affects them is a true gift.”

What’s your favorite thing about freelancing? My favorite thing about freelancing would be the freedom that it gives you. You can make your own hours, create your own projects, and set your own networking opportunities. I’m able to work on multiple projects at the same time.
What’s the most difficult part about freelancing? I would say that the most difficult part of freelancing would be the lack of stability that a regular 9-5 job has.
What’s your advice to a freelancer just starting out? My advice to folks starting out would be back sure you have a full understanding of your business plan and create realistic long and short term goals. Look for networking opportunities when you can, and always get things in writing.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started? I wish I knew I didn’t have to say yes to everything, that planning ahead does wonders, and to have set up my prices before starting out.
Your most exciting project to date? I’m working on my first written production “When the Sun Rises and the Walls Come Down.” Putting a play together from scratch has been most exciting, and stressful.

Aaron said that it’s great to be a freelancer in the Capital Region because the region has started on a creative renaissance and it’s still growing and shaping. As the city grows, so does the opportunities for freelancing.

Contact:

Email: actingwithaaronmoore@gmail.com

Facebook: @actingwithaaronpage

Instagram: @actingwithaaron

Freelancer Feature: Kristoph DiMaria of Will Kempe’s Players Cooperative

February 14, 2020 By upstatecreative

“I challenge you, the readers, to consider how freelancing not only satisfies the individual creative work experience, but how it can be applied to change how our society operates – think activism, public policy, and working towards intersectional experiences and real inclusivity.” Meet our second Freelancer Friday highlight: Kristoph DiMaria. Many call him Rags, short for “Ragliacci,” his clown-performer-artists identity name. Will Kempe’s Players (Cooperative) is the name of his other business.

Where are you from? Where do you live now? I was born in Troy, NY and grew up in Clifton Park. I moved out at 18 years old to explore the Capital Region, living and working in each of the four cities. From there it was inter/national travel then back home to Troy, NY where I have lived consistently since 2014. I am currently in South Troy.
In what year did you start freelancing? I suppose my freelancing practice started as early as an open guitar case on the streets of Saratoga at 16 years old. I’ve been a notary for three years, officiating weddings for the last four years, divining with runes and tarot for the last 6 years or so, and performing professionally as a musician and actor since 2010. I incorporated Ragliacci LLC and Will Kempe’s Players Cooperative in 2017 and am actively working to consolidate and organize my diverse portfolio into a centralized container.
What inspired you to start? This is a great question. I have always respected the independence and flexibility of freelancing. The opportunity to work with a diversity of people, media, and venues allows for exploration and a natural evolution of one’s art forms. It allows those experiences to affect us and bring us back to ourselves with new awareness. It also allows us to have an effect on those who experience our work, whether audience or collaborator, that deepens relationships and understanding. My biggest push came from the recognition that this failure of late-stage capitalism chooses not to sustainably support artists. The burned-out, crumbling shell of corporate mentality from generations past feels obsolete and oppressive to me. We have to choose ourselves, find our own way, and trust in our impact to do and change, rather than to solely talk about it or trust in a larger system.
What’s your favorite thing about freelancing? My absolute favorite thing about freelancing is the liberty of the work. I am getting to change things up, constantly, and by choice. I follow my inspirations. I set my own schedule. I work with whoever I choose and with those who choose me. At the end of the day, I am accountable only to myself and my loved ones, and that’s what matters.
What’s the most difficult part about freelancing? Consistency is definitely a challenge. A freelancer responds more to the will of the market (or their audience), more than the other way around. Setting boundaries that include a narrative of self-care, such as creating just to create, making quality time for oneself and loved ones, or resting from work entirely can be a tricky balancing act.
What’s your advice to a freelancer just starting out? Finding a rhythm takes time. So does building an audience and context for your work to operate it. Do not despair at hearing “no” or when things seem to take a long time to manifest. Be flexible. Think broadly. Try all the things and be conscious of the responses you get.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started? I wish that I had known how important time and resource management is. I would have greatly benefitted from already having a routine, schedule, and budgeting practice. The learning curve is starting to taper off, however, and I am grateful for the in-flight lessons thus far.
Your most exciting project to date? The most exciting project is still in its primordial form and involves opening and facilitating a multidisciplinary arts and community space in the Capital Region that serves collaborators and the neighborhood it will exist in.
Any helpful “freelancer-friendly” resources you recommend using? Digital: Asana, Instagram, Google Suite. In-person: Power Breakfast Club, Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy, and attending other freelancers’ events / supporting their work.
Why is it great to be a freelancer in the Capital Region? There is such a diverse wealth of creators and ideas here. We’re in a unique position to shape the culture of this area with our work. It’s a fairly affordable area to live/work in and there is a lot of access to outdoor spaces like parks, rivers, and mountains that keep us healthy and sane.

Stay tuned for our third Freelancer Friday highlight next week!

Contact:

Email: Ragliacci@gmail.com

Facebook: @ragliaccirags

Instagram: @ragliacci

www.willkempesplayers.com

Freelance Feature: Jayana LaFountaine of Jayana LaFotos

February 7, 2020 By upstatecreative

There are over 16,000 freelancers in the Capital Region’s Creative Economy. In celebration of “Freelancer February,” for the next four Fridays, we will be highlighting four talented individuals from different backgrounds, with different stories, and different visions. We hope you will take inspiration from their stories and use this as a potential opportunity to collaborate and support the freelancers in our communities.

First up: Jayana LaFountaine of Jayana LaFotos

Where are you from? Where do you live now?: I am from Springfield Massachusetts and I currently live in Troy, NY.
In what year did you start freelancing? I began freelancing in 2010.
What inspired you to start? Losing my foster mother at 13 years old painfully reminded me that I didn’t have many photos with her. It has since been my mission to never miss a moment again.
What’s your favorite thing about freelancing? I am my own boss. My success is not about climbing someone else’s corporate ladder but about building my own. I’m in control of how successful I can be.
What’s the most difficult part about freelancing? Money. People don’t always want to pay you what you’re worth.
What’s your advice to a freelancer just starting out? Ask for help and drop your ego. Know that you don’t know sh*t, so ask for help and be a student. The worst thing you can do is be unteachable.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started freelancing? The backend aspect of running a business. I dove in head first and didn’t know about insurance, bank accounts, pricing etc.
Your most exciting project to date? My most exciting project to date is my book. Book of Jayana has been in the works for about four years now and I’m finally working towards releasing it in 2020.
Any helpful “freelancer friendly” resources you recommend using? I would say Collectiveffort and Power Breakfast. Without those two resources I wouldn’t be where I am. They have all helped me in my venture as an entrepreneur by giving me tools such as space to shoot in, marketing and media tips, lessons in life, one on one mentoring, and SO much more. If they can’t supply something I need, 9/10 times they know someone else that can. They’re both for the betterment of our professional and creative community.
Why is it great to be a freelancer in the Capital Region? For me it’s seeing people that look like me and feeling supported by them. They genuinely want to see you succeed and will always lend a helping hand to make sure you do. It’s all love.

It brings me a great deal of joy to capture families and friends of all colors, shapes and sizes because those memories are forever even if we’re not. I am also a Birth and Postpartum Doula, babysitter extraordinaire & DJ. I make it a point to do all of these jobs with love and an immense amount of intention. I thrive off of meaningful connections with people no matter how long or short they may be.

Contact:

Email: jayanaphotos@gmail.com

Facebook: @Jayana LaFotos

Instagram: @jayanalafotos

www.jayanalafotos.mypixieset.com

Noshing Around Schenectady with Proctors’ Jean Leonard

January 6, 2020 By upstatecreative

Proctors’ Chief of Staff Jean Leonard has been at the epicenter of Schenectady’s creative scene and redevelopment efforts for over eight years, so we asked her about her favorite places to grab a bite.

If I were going to eat my way through Schenectady for a day, I would:

Have a breakfast sandwich at Katz’s on Jay Street. The owner is the friendliest person in Schenectady. It’s impossible to walk out of his store without a smile, and his sandwiches are delicious.

I’d have morning tea at the Whistling Kettle because I never knew there were so many kinds of tea until I took a look at their tea menu!

For lunch, I’d head to Puzzles Café. I love their mission. Their food tastes wonderful and my heart feels good when I leave. Win-win for midday.

Before I ate again, I’d do a little shopping. The Mercantile, Bluebird Home & Gift, Open Door Books, and The Silver Shop. I’m a fan of local, independent stores with friendly, engaging customer service, and these shops are some of my favorites!

For an afternoon sweet treat, I’d head to Apostrophe Café at Proctors. Sorry, but the best coconut macaroons are right there below my cubicle! THE reason I need to head to the gym more often…

I think I’d land at Daley’s on Yates for dinner. There are SO MANY good dinner options here, but since I can only eat one dinner, Daley’s has delicious food and great cocktail/wine options. In the summer, I love their patio.

Because I am incapable of eating a meal without also eating just a little dessert, I’d finish my time in Schenectady at the Cocobar. As it says on their website, “If the question is chocolate, the answer is yes.” Enough said!

10+ things to do in Catskill with Lumberyard’s Niva Dorell

November 14, 2019 By upstatecreative

Niva Dorell, Catskill resident and Box Office and Marketing Manager for Lumberyard Center for Film and Performing Arts recommends her favorite things to do around the village.

If you have a day to spend in the wonderful Village of Catskill, here are some recommendations for how to spend your time:

1. Start off by grabbing a coffee and pastry at HiLo on Main Street. Be sure to check out the art in the gallery and the faces of the people around you. Chances are you’ll see one or two of them later in the day.

2. Take your coffee to go and check out the beautiful pocket parks on Main Street, or walk down to the Creek and take in the views. There’s a nice walking path along Water Street that loops across the red bridge, to West Main Street, to the Uncle Sam bridge and back up to Main Street.

3. Now that your blood is moving and you’re caffeinated, it’s time to do some shopping. Catskill has lots of fun quirky stores! A few musts: Magpie Bookshop, wonderful used books at low cost and Kristi, the owner, knows Catskill very well; Solo Vino for a bottle of delicious organic wine; Sister Salvage for some irreverent vintage; Spike’s Record Rack for some classic vinyl to add to your collection; and a homemade scented candle at Village Common. And that’s just one side of Main Street. Definitely browse the other side too.

4. Have kids? Stop by The Rodney Shop, Shoofly and Kirwan’s Game Store, an epic game store and guaranteed hit with your X-box loving teens.

5. For a mid-day snack, grab some Jane’s Ice Cream at Bittersweet, a fresh smoothie at The Juice Branch on West Bridge Street, or a yummy sandwich at Winkles on West Bridge Street or Circle W on Main Street.

6. If you have time for entertainment and more art, take a tour of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site on Spring Street, see the current exhibition at CREATE (our regional Arts Council), catch a matinee movie at The Community Theater, or an evening performance at Bridge Street Theater or LUMBERYARD on Water Street.

7. When you’re ready to sit down and relax, walk up to Subversive Malting & Brewing for a beer and sit in the comfy couches that face Main Street. If the kids get antsy, you can grab a slice of pizza next door at Village Pizza II and bring it back into Subversive. Another great beer spot is Crossroads Brewery Tap Room on Water Street.

8. At dinner time, some good choices are La Conca D’oro (a few doors up from Subversive) for Italian, Avalon Lounge for Korean (the wings are to die for), Mediterranean Bistro for falafels and hummus, Wasana for Thai, New York Restaurant for Polish/American. There’s also Radici on Water Street for Italian but hit the ATM first because they’re cash only.

9. If you want some live music, head back to Avalon Lounge to check out a great band, and dance the night away with the DJ that follows.

10. End your night with a nightcap where you started, at HiLo. Their cocktail selections will make you smile and send you home feeling warm. Plus, by now you’ve met half the Village, so you’ll see some familiar faces.