Today Abigail and Kate talked with Catie Staszak, a multimedia equine sports journalist. She has been an announcer and color commentator at major showjumping events and has appeared on television for a variety of sports television networks. She’s also written for many major equine magazines. Catie is the CEO of Catie Staszak Media Inc, a boutique media agency focusing on storytelling-based marketing and PR. We hope you enjoy our conversation today.

If you’re wanting to get your feet wet in freelancing for equine media, event coverage is an excellent place to start. There is a real need for more writers to cover the vast number of horse shows occurring all over the place for magazines and websites. HOWEVER, event coverage is a unique form of journalism. Before you head out to your local rodeo, we want to talk about what you need to know to do this detailed type of writing.

We talk a lot about writing and photography on this podcast, but another important role in equine media is graphic design. Graphic artists are critical to producing eye-catching logos, layouts, infographics and websites…the list is endless. Here to talk with us today is Avery Shifflett from Denim and Velvet, an all-in-one agency serving Western brands. We are so excited to chat with Avery, and we think you’ll enjoy our conversation.

Lindsay Keller is the daughter in the mother-daughter duo behind The Bell Mare Book Company. Together with her mother Marilyn Domer, Lindsay has created several children’s books surrounding the cowboy way of life. With authenticity born from their own ranching lives, Lindsay and Marilyn have created two delightful books and a coloring book enjoyed by children and their parents alike. We loved hearing about their company vision and the process to make their books.

2020 threw us a collective curveball, am I right? Thanks to a global pandemic transforming the way we worked this year, and uncertainty on many fronts, those of us carving out careers as equine media professionals have met our share of challenges this past year. But amid the chaos, there have been good things to come our way as well. Looking ahead, here at The Freelance Remuda, we thought we’d do a bit of reflecting on what we’ve learned this past year and share some of our individual (and Freelance Remuda) goals with you.

In today’s podcast episode, we talked with Olie Moss, the founder of Olie's Images and Equine Photo School. Olie is a veteran equine event photographer, covering mainly roping competitions and barrel races. He’s shot events all over the West, including The Patriot and Wrangler Team Roping Championships. We’re so excited to share this conversation with you—listen close, he shares a huge announcement about his company during our talk. And don’t miss his educational blog post from our Event Photographer Series from earlier this month. Olie, welcome to the show!

Milt Toby is an attorney and the president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, an organization dedicated to helping independent non-fiction writers. Milt also serves as legal counsel for the American Horse Publications, and is a frequent presenter on publishing contracts, copyright and other legal issues affecting writers at AHP seminars and other national meetings. He’s also an author, and his latest book, Taking Shergar was named the best horse racing book at the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest in 2019.

Milt has been a great source of knowledge for the American Horse Publications community, as well as our Freelance Remuda group. I’ve learned so much from talking with him, and I hope y’all will too. Today we’re going to focus on some pending laws that may affect freelancers in the United States.

show notes: http://www.freelanceremuda.com/blog/2020/1/28/episode-33-freelancer-laws-with-milt-toby

We are staring down the end of the year—and of the decade! In this episode, Kate and Abigail sat down to talk shop for the first time in a while. We recapped 2019, discussed some changes we’re seeing in equine media and how to roll with the punches, and talked about our goals for 2020. Thanks for sticking with us—we’re so thankful for our Freelance Remuda community. We have learned so much from y’all, and you inspire us so much! We hope you have a 2020 that’s everything you’ve hoped for.

Show notes at: 

Recorded during the Elevate Your Pitch session moderated by the Freelance Remuda and fellow freelancer Jennifer Bryant, this episode walks through the hows and why of making a successful pitch to equine media content gatherers.The episode will go through four points: Precise, timely, thorough and follow up.  The session was held at the 2019 American Horse Publications' Equine Media Conference. 

Kelly Artz is the founder and CEO of Entrigue Consulting, a dedicated full-service marketing company. Her company speclizes in helping brands connect with brand ambassadors—businesses sponsoring riders, for example. Kelly’s company offers a variety of services to small businesses, particularly in the horse industry. Kelly herself is a horsewoman, and we’re excited to talk with her today about how she started her company, and how marketing for equine brands is a different breed.

The Freelance Remuda Podcast explores the trials and triumphs surrounding life as a freelancer in equine media, while sharing valuable tips from equine media editors and creatives doing what they love. Visit freelanceremuda.com for more.