When Jenn and I started Freelance Theater, we knew that it would be a great new way to approach traditional freelance writing topics. From difficult clients to working alone, to billing and rates to content mill work, there are no topics that we can’t cover in a fun, entertaining and new way through this medium.

Introducing the Writer’s Beat Series

We’ve decided to play around with many different formats for expression and this month we are introducing the first. This new format is a series called Writer’s Beat. Writer’s Beat will help us explore the freelancing lifestyle using Beat poetry as our vehicle. If you aren’t familiar with Beat poetry, here’s Jack Kerouac doin’ a little. And here’s Mike Myers’ version. Basically, it is a nontraditional, ground-breaking style of poetry that was developed by Beat Generation writers during the 40′s and 50′s. It was raw and honest and not all devicey like traditional poetry. Beat is a term that was used by jazz musicians at the time to describe their employment and financial status—which was not good—and most (maybe even all) Beat poems were read with jazz music playing.

Since Beat poets really laid it all out on the line, I appreciate it like I don’t any other kind of poetry. While my version is more satirical than a real poet’s, it does delve into the day of a freelancer.

So grab up a clove cigarette to smoke and adjust your beret, close your eyes and listen to the first installment of Writer’s Beat—snap if you like it.

The Future of Freelance Theater

The longer audio plays that we do through Freelance Theater’s Madlance series take quite a while to produce and we simply aren’t able to keep up that pace on a monthly basis. Our goal is to bring you the full 5-10 minute audio plays 3-4 times per year, and shorter poems and stories during the other months. We’ve got some great, innovative ways to communicate the freelancing lifestyle in the coming months. I can’t wait to hear your reactions!

*I’d like to throw in a special thanks to our sound engineer Frank Prinzel. He really works some magic on these podcasts with the music, timing, voice overs and effects, and his dedication is way appreciated. Oh and he’s really cute.

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