The entertainment industry is going through a difficult period, especially in television and film production, where widespread slowdowns and uncertainty have left many crew members struggling to secure consistent work. Freelancers, who already operate in a highly unstable environment, are feeling this pressure more than most.
Against this backdrop, a new platform called ShoBizzy is positioning itself as a modern solution to a long-standing problem: how independent production professionals actually find their next job.
Rather than relying on traditional job boards or application-heavy hiring systems, ShoBizzy is attempting to rebuild industry networking from the ground up—turning it into a more dynamic, social, and connection-driven ecosystem.
Moving Beyond Traditional Job Boards
ShoBizzy, launched in January, enters a space already occupied by platforms like Backstage and StaffMeUp. However, it deliberately avoids the conventional application model that dominates those services.
Instead of requiring users to submit resumes and apply for individual postings, ShoBizzy focuses on profile-based discovery and networking. Freelancers build detailed public profiles showcasing their experience, credits, and skill sets, and the platform connects them with relevant opportunities based on visibility and relationships rather than formal applications.
The core idea is simple: in entertainment, who you know often matters as much as what you know. ShoBizzy is built around that reality instead of trying to replace it.
Co-founder Doug Weitzbuch, a veteran television producer with experience on shows such as Duck Dynasty, Hell’s Kitchen, and Lip Sync Battle, describes the industry as fundamentally network-driven. In his view, careers in production rarely follow a straight employment path, which makes professional relationships the most valuable long-term asset for freelancers.
Expanding Beyond TV and Film
While ShoBizzy originally focused on television and film crews, the platform is now expanding into adjacent industries, particularly live events and digital content creation.
This expansion reflects broader shifts in the entertainment economy. Traditional TV production has contracted in recent years, while other sectors—especially live events and online content—have seen growth.
Live entertainment alone is a significant market. Industry projections from PwC estimate that U.S. live event revenue could reach tens of billions of dollars annually, driven by concerts, festivals, and touring productions. At the same time, the creator economy continues to expand rapidly, fueled by platforms like YouTube and independent digital production.
ShoBizzy is positioning itself at the intersection of these trends, allowing freelancers to move more fluidly between industries rather than being locked into a single type of work.
Co-founder Kevin Eberly, previously the founder of PayYourRent, emphasized that many workers in the TV sector are actively looking for alternative sources of income due to ongoing instability. According to him, ShoBizzy aims to surface opportunities that freelancers might not otherwise consider, effectively broadening their professional horizons.
Partnerships and Industry Integration
A major part of ShoBizzy’s strategy is forming partnerships with production companies and industry players in adjacent fields.
One notable example is its collaboration with Red Light Management, a major entertainment management company representing artists such as Luke Bryan, Sabrina Carpenter, The Black Keys, The Fray, The Strokes, and Tom Petty’s legacy projects. This connection opens the door for freelancers to access large-scale live tours and events that require extensive production crews.
By integrating with companies like this, ShoBizzy is attempting to position itself not just as a job board, but as an operational layer for real-world production hiring.
New Tools for Production Workflow Management
Alongside its expansion into live events, ShoBizzy has introduced new workflow tools designed specifically for production companies managing complex, multi-location projects.
Unlike traditional job platforms, ShoBizzy allows companies to:
- Manage multiple production dates and locations in a single project
- Coordinate crew hiring across different stages of production
- Match with vendors such as camera rental providers
- Communicate directly with freelancers within the platform
This system is especially useful for touring productions, where logistics are fragmented and constantly changing.
The platform is designed to reduce friction in hiring workflows by centralizing both discovery and communication in one environment.
AI-Powered Matching and Hiring Suggestions
A key feature of ShoBizzy’s system is its AI-driven recommendation engine, which helps production companies identify suitable candidates for specific roles.
The algorithm takes into account multiple variables, including:
- Location of the production
- Availability of freelancers
- Relevant professional experience
- IMDb credits and past work history
Based on this data, the system suggests potential hires and helps companies assemble crews more efficiently. It also tracks the hiring process in real time, allowing production teams to see how a crew is coming together step by step.
This approach reflects a broader trend in hiring platforms, where AI is increasingly used to reduce manual searching and speed up recruitment decisions.
Early Traction and Industry Adoption
Since its launch, ShoBizzy has reportedly attracted around 6,500 individual signups and approximately 650 companies.
Its user base includes a mix of well-known industry players such as:
- A&E
- Amazon
- Disney+
- Discovery Channel
- Food Network
- Netflix
- Nike
- WNBA
This early adoption suggests that both traditional media companies and broader entertainment organizations are exploring more flexible ways to manage freelance labor.
While still in its early stages, the platform is gaining visibility across multiple segments of the entertainment industry.
Funding and Growth Ambitions
ShoBizzy is currently in the process of raising a $2 million seed funding round, which will likely be used to expand its platform capabilities, improve its AI matching system, and scale its presence across different entertainment verticals.
Given the competitive nature of freelance marketplaces and the volatility of the entertainment industry, securing capital will be crucial for sustaining growth and building long-term adoption.
Conclusion: A Platform Built for a Changing Industry
ShoBizzy is emerging at a time when traditional entertainment employment structures are under pressure. With fewer stable roles in television and film, freelancers are increasingly forced to navigate fragmented opportunities across multiple industries.
By combining networking, AI-powered matching, and production workflow tools, ShoBizzy is attempting to redefine how creative professionals find and secure work.
Whether it becomes a central hub for freelance entertainment labor or simply one of many niche tools will depend on its ability to scale, maintain industry trust, and prove that its network-based model can consistently deliver meaningful job opportunities.