In this episode of The Almost Creative Podcast, we bring back our Riches in the Niches series and dive deep into one of the most talked-about topics in the creative industry: podcast retainers Retainer clients are often pitched online as the ultimate path to stability but are they actually the best move for videographers and creatives? We break down when retainers do make sense, when they don’t, and why podcasts are one of the few niches where recurring work can truly work long-term.💬 Inside this episode:✅ Why retainers aren’t a “golden bullet” for every creative✅ What types of industries actually benefit from monthly content✅ How podcasts naturally lend themselves to retainer relationships✅ How we package and price podcast work (real numbers included)✅ Why consistency, availability, and niche matter more than hype✅ How podcasters can monetize beyond views (affiliates, sponsors, relationships)✅ Gear, setup, and workflow considerations for sustainable podcast productionIf you’re a videographer, filmmaker, or creative thinking about offering retainers — or being pushed by online gurus to chase them — this episode brings real-world clarity from creators actually doing the work 📌 Timestamps00:00 – Intro ( Riches in the Niches)02:52 – Retainers vs One-Off Projects06:12 – When Retainers Don’t Make Sense08:24 – The Reality of Retainer Income13:07 – How We Price Podcast Production22:18 – When It’s Okay to Outgrow Clients24:13 – How Podcasts Actually Make Money30:11 – Our Recommended Podcast Gear Setup35:25 – YoloBox Extreme vs Other Switchers36:41 – Final Takeaways & Recap📲 Follow Us🎙️ Podcast: @almostcreativepod📸 Travis: @trheberling📸 Chris: @chrisshootsvideo📺 YouTube: Almost Creative🎁 Free Tools & Resources📄 FREE Pricing Template → https://bit.ly/wedding-pricing-template🎧 Music (SoundStripe) → https://soundstripe.com?fpr=almostcre...🎬 Wedding Day Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/wedding-video💡 Lighting Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/lighting✂️ AI Clipping Tool (Opus) → https://www.opus.pro/?via=almostcreative📋 CRM (17 Hats) → https://referrals.17hats.com/?r=gspzs📌 Subscribe for more conversations on creative business, niches, and building work that lasts. Follow us on Instagram @almostcreativepod for new episodes and behind-the-scenes content.

In this episode of Almost Creative, Christian Diaz sits down with Kayla Kalisz, a third-generation entertainer whose work spans NBA halftime shows, luxury events, and large-scale productions, to break down the world of specialty entertainment and circus arts.

Kayla shares her journey from dance and acrobatics into aerial performance, immersive character work, and professional circus acts — along with the realities of building a sustainable career as a performer. They dive into how specialty entertainment works behind the scenes, how performers actually get booked, and what it takes to stand out in a competitive creative industry.

This episode explores the balance between creativity and business, offering practical insight for dancers, models, and creatives interested in live performance, gig work, and non-traditional creative careers.

In this episode of The Almost Creative Podcast, we reflect on three client projects from this past year that genuinely stuck with us — not because they were perfect, but because of what they taught us about trust, communication, and creative leadership We walk through one project where the client fully trusted the creative process, one where that trust was missing and things unraveled, and a third where lessons learned helped shape a much stronger outcome. Each story comes with real takeaways for creatives working with clients, brands, and teams at different levels.🎯 In This Episode✅ Why clients often don’t know what they actually need — and how to guide them✅ The difference between being a vendor vs a creative partner✅ When (and how) to push back on client requests✅ Why pre-production can make or break a project✅ How trust leads to better storytelling, fewer revisions, and stronger results✅ Lessons learned from commercial, event, and manufacturing projectsIf you’re a creative trying to grow professionally, work with better clients, or build more meaningful projects, this episode offers honest insight into what actually works — and what doesn’t — in real-world creative work 📌 Timestamps00:00 – Intro & New Year01:24 – Why These Projects Matter01:43 – Project #1: Client Trust in Action08:10 – Sponsor Break09:05 – Project #2: When Process Fails16:36 – Project #3: Lessons Applied23:18 – The Core Takeaway26:43 – Closing & Sponsor📌 Subscribe for more conversations about creative work, business growth, and lessons learned the hard way. Follow us on Instagram @almostcreativepod for new episodes and behind-the-scenes content.📲 Follow Us🎙️ Podcast: @almostcreativepod📸 Travis: @trheberling📸 Chris: @chrisshootsvideo📺 YouTube: Almost Creative🎁 Free Tools & Resources📄 FREE Pricing Template → https://bit.ly/wedding-pricing-template🎧 Music (SoundStripe) → https://soundstripe.com?fpr=almostcre...🎬 Wedding Day Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/wedding-video💡 Lighting Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/lighting✂️ AI Clipping Tool (Opus) → https://www.opus.pro/?via=almostcreative📋 CRM (17 Hats) → https://referrals.17hats.com/?r=gspzs