A Better Alternative to Mandy and Facebook Groups for Creative Jobs | ArtCube Review
Intro: The Endless Search for The Best Creative Job Board
Every creative–especially those of us in the film world–knows the struggle of finding a job in our industry, even if you’re in one of its hot spots (aka Los Angeles or New York City). You join an endless amount of job boards where you have to pay for a subscription (StaffMeUp, CrewMeUp, FilmLocal… I could go on) and apply to an infinite number of gigs you will probably never hear back from. And if you do hear back, you might be slapped with a NET30 or NET45 if you’re lucky, and if you’re particularly unlucky, you’ll end up being in a weird situation with folks you don’t know or trust, or maybe even scammed. I got lucky when I found ArtCube through a friend I met during grad school. They knew I was struggling to find gigs to keep myself afloat, and suggested I join.
Boy, am I happy I did.
ArtCube Is More Than Just Jobs — It’s Real Freelance Work and Real Community
From the very moment I joined ArtCube, I felt welcomed by even just the website: the interface is simple, easy to navigate, and friendly. It’s an intimate and curated pool of freelance professionals, and it’s free of spam job offers that are too good to be true, like we see on sites like Mandy.com et al.
The jobs are real and the community-focused vibe is palpable in the way that the creative is prioritized, whether you are looking for a prop assistant, director of photography, or a PA.
ArtCube offers high signal and low noise, something that is becoming increasingly rare for those of us in any creative industry.
And what’s even better is the fact that they feature a Marketplace where you can probably find a solution to any problem, or get your hands on any prop or material for free of charge or at a low cost. I was shooting a music video last summer, which required a custom piece of plexiglass, and I made a post about it on ArtCube.
Within hours [of posting, I was at a studio in Bushwick and a kind carpenter was cutting a custom piece of plexiglass for me while I chilled with his friendly cattle dog, all for only ten bucks.
What ArtCube Has That Others Don’t
ArtCube offers so much that other platforms simply don’t. For starters, the founder and CEO, Eva Radke, is just awesome. She’s extremely dedicated and easy to contact; we actually met because she put out a call for holiday markets in NYC and beyond that, she promoted my and others’ markets and events in the platform’s December newsletter.
I’m not only a filmmaker but also a ceramicist, so I sent her information about my studio space’s market. To my pleasant surprise, Eva herself showed up and purchased a piece from me! We hit it off instantly. That kind of human-to-human connection is invaluable in today’s increasingly impersonal world.
Posting a Job Connects you in Minutes to Freelance Talent or Vendor Services
Additionally, ArtCube is the kind of place where gatekeeping is not welcome, unlike all the other platforms, which generally award jobs to folks the hiring team already knows anyway. It feels safe here, and I actually feel connected to the community here. I’m currently working on a docuseries and posted looking for a story producer and got in touch with tons of folks almost instantaneously. I was able to hire an animator for the same project!
Real Opportunities on ArtCube Nation
I replied to an ArtCube job post and got hired to make decorations for Eataly last year when I was looking for supplementary work. ArtCube just feels like home, and the ability to be able to post not only to job boards across the United States, but also to a marketplace and an advice section helps keep the site organized. There’s no bullshit, and you feel truly protected and at ease.
Other, established platforms like FaceBook Groups and StaffMeUp just aren’t cutting it anymore.
For instance, FaceBook Groups are filled with vague listings and even scams, because there’s a total lack of accountability or any regulation on there. There’s no working search function either, which makes it a chore to even look for gigs. You end up scrolling endlessly in the hopes of finding something that could be worth applying to.
StaffMeUp alienates us indie freaks and is way too corporate-heavy. You encounter paywall after paywall, and you can’t really stand out on the website unless you’re already well-established in the industry and stacked with credits.
ArtCube feels like home by comparison. It’s organized, community-driven, and you feel protected instead of exposed or ignored.
Designed for Creative Jobs and Workflow
What I’ve found is that ArtCube brings so much to the table that we creatives need in today’s world. We need a platform that’s designed for us, by us and not squeezed to fit a generalist mold.
ArtCube has legitimate jobs, listings made by real humans and not HR bots, and is mostly free. It offers access to shops, gigs, as well as crew from all over the United States and select international production hubs which makes working on a production outside of your home base much less intimidating.
It’s also community-first, offering networking events, a prop marketplace, as well as networking for all members.
The Better Alternative to Facebook Groups and Creative “Jobs” Platforms
I know it can be intimidating to leave what’s familiar and divest from Facebook Groups or close your StaffMeUp account. But why continue to pay a monthly fee for a website you can’t even secure a job through? Why continue taking shots in the dark in an attempt to secure work?
ArtCube is inexpensive or free,, real, and personable. I’ve closed every other account I have on other job boards and swear by ArtCube. If you want to meet other real creatives looking for legitimate connections, make the switch. I tell every creative I know:
if you want real jobs and a real creative community, you should join ArtCube Nation. humans and not HR bots, and is mostly free. It offers access to shops, gigs, as well as crew from all over the United States and select international production hubs which makes working on a production outside of your home base much less intimidating. It’s also community-first, offering networking events, a prop marketplace, as well as networking for all members.
Meet the Author: Sheherzad Preisler
Sheherzad Preisler
Producer, Ceramicist
My name is Sheherzad Raza Preisler, and I'm a filmmaker based in New York, NY. I have experience as a director, producer, assistant director, assistant camera, scripty, and more. I'd love to work with you! My rates are negotiable.You can find work samples on my website, including several music videos I have directed/DPed/produced: sheherzadrazapreisler.com
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