I was issued a contract today for a paper collage class that I'm teaching for the next four weeks, and it reminded me why it's important to READ, READ before signing anything. 1. Number one, the duration of the class was wrong. 2. Number two, the amount I was paid was wrong. 3. Number three, the extra teacher was not added on. Always, always READ,READ,READ your contract before you sign. Has this happened to you? Post a comment below to share!

What was one thing you did in January that got you closer to becoming a paid creative contractor with community-based organizations? Examples include: - Joining starving artist fed artists :-) - DM on Instagram to a community organization - Emailing your proposal to a community organization - Deciding on the one thing you want to teach a class or workshop about - Checking the events calendar for an organization.

In my in-person paper collage class for adults and elders, I’ve introduced a feature not commonly used in creative workshops: Live Captions. The response from participants to this ADA-accessible addition has been very positive and encouraging. Here’s a quick overview of my setup: - Zoom (Paid Plan): Used for live captions. I share all windows with shift key or my entire screen relevant to the class (presentations, camera views, etc.). Sharing all windows has proven to be the most reliable option. - Camo Studio (Free): Installed on all my devices to enhance camera quality and flexibility. - Hardware Setup: - Mac Book Pro - Iphone 12 mini - Projector - Overhead Tripod - Ring Light - Wireless mic with audio receiver or if you're on budget a Bluetooth mic that can connect to your Mac/iPhone/iPad or an amplifier mic that's self contained This combination allows participants to see captions in real time and follow along visually and auditorily, improving accessibility and engagement for everyone in the room.