After quitting my web developer job of 6 years for a Fortune 500 corporation that shall remain nameless, I took a long needed break to recharge. Traveled for 2 months. Started brainstorming and decided to create my own business.
After some tinkering and experimenting, I've developed a little steam and reputation of delivering good live video content for the web to a wide variety of audiences. For the Kink & LGBTQ community, I broadcast a very popular monthly San Francisco Sex Storytelling event called Bawdy Storytelling. For the Burning Man/Electronic Music community, I broadcast local DJ events with my secondary streaming service called BURN THE TV. And I've recently been streaming Weddings for people who aren't able to attend a wedding for whatever reason. These services coupled with Event Photography and Aerial Videography that I do for friends, I feel I've gotten some momentum in getting my business out there and known.
That being said, running your own business doesn't pay much. I've mostly done a lot of these jobs for friends and in part to develop my skills and build a reputation. If all goes well, the momentum I've gained will start paying off and deliver more business my way. In the interim, I've started polishing up my web development skills to possibly get a side job building websites.
I may not be paid anywhere as much as when I was a web developer...but I sure as fuck am a lot happier. And I think in the end, that matters more.
-Rubeun