IM presence messages as work advertisements

Cory Doctorow 3:05 am Mon Jun 13, 2005

Hollywood freelancers are using their IM's presence-messages ("Away," "Idle") to hunt for work with status messages like "Wrapping shoot" or "need work." I think the next time I need to change currency in an airport, I'm going to hop onto the WiFi and change my message to something like "Will trade Kroners for Pounds Sterling" and avoid the usury forex service charges.

Instead of displaying simple "away from my computer" messages, Hollywood buddy lists now overflow with come-ons, from "need work" to "wrapping up shoot." Producers hiring for a new production can tell at a glance who's available now, who's not and who might be free in the near future.

"Ninety percent of my work is given to me through a pop-up (chat window) on my desktop," said Simon Foster, 32, a freelance production coordinator living in Santa Monica, California.

Link

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