Title: My Odd Experience with Craigslist and a Lady Called Cookie
Around half a year ago, I was balancing different jobs, including stage management and running a blog. Every so often, I also used Craigslist as a hunt for more work. One day, I stumbled upon an ad saying: “Make money with voice work!” It was vaguely put, but my curiosity piqued. I sent an email of interest and my resume.
To my surprise, I received a text message (I had forgotten my number was on the resume) from a guy named RichieG. He asked if I could participate in a “Radio Call.” Being the adventurous type, I agreed.
RichieG sent me an eccentric email about the “character” I’d be playing for the call. He then asked me to fill out a W9 form, so I’d get paid. Apparently, Cookie—not a Nigerian Prince—would be the recipient. I decided to hold off sending it until after the Radio Call to assess the whole situation.
The call was bizarre. An odd mix of character actors, radio show producers, and improvised dialogue filled the 30 minutes. I even played the girlfriend of a basement dweller whose overbearing mom wanted him to ditch me.
After the call, my friend found the clip on the radio station’s website. Just then, I decided to take a leap of faith and send off the completed W9 form to Cookie. A month later, a $40 check showed up at my door.
Guess what? I recognized the company name on the check – it was a big name in radio. From my PR experience, I knew it immediately. Had the Craigslist post mentioned the company, I would’ve trusted RichieG and Cookie a tad more quickly.
The whole experience was strange but easy money. Since then, RichieG occasionally invites me for a Radio Call. However, I have to reinforce – be careful with such ventures. Always approach with caution, and if something feels off, it might just not be worth it. Just remember, some of these strange opportunities could be legit.