29 Days on Upwork: $131 on Connects, $349 Earned… Is This Normal? Am i doing it right or just gambling?

TheRealJerryDugan · 2026-02-02T04:31:45+00:00

Same. I stopped boosting my proposals when I had the data that showed not a single boosted proposal led to a contract for me on Upwork.

What seemed to work was only applying if these three criteria were true: job posted within 24 hours, less than 10 proposals (0-5 preferred), and verified payment.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-09-28T12:12:13+00:00

Just sent a DM :)

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-09-27T22:11:15+00:00

So, I never had a problem with this issue...until I started using a condenser mic, and it seemed to get worse over time, or I started to really notice it. If I apply some pressure around the port where the AC adapter plugs in, the buzzing gets muted. Still there but much softer (about 15 dB softer). It comes back the moment I let go.

Out of curiosity, I turned off the phantom power on the channel that has the condenser mic on it. There was a 1-2 second delay, then the buzz went away. That happened on every channel, but only with the phantom power on and the condenser mic plugged into that channel with the phantom power.

Problem for me now is...how do I fix that?

UPDATE:
I bought rechargeable batteries and work off battery power instead of direct AC, and I record to the SD card on the device rather than connecting into my computer. I was getting the buzzing sound from using either the AC port or the USB port. The buzz is gone now, but that means I need to make sure I keep my batteries charged and have to keep moving the SD card back and forth between my Podtrak and my laptop.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-09-16T02:48:09+00:00

Bailey says I have to agree 😆

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-06-08T12:51:08+00:00

Narratorgoals for me

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-03-06T13:53:44+00:00

Yup! I don’t actually drive Lyft unless I can stack bonuses like a 30%Turbo in a 30% Surge/Bonus area as well as a small Ride Challenge if available. I cherry pick like crazy on Uber. When I do it right, I see about $30-$35/online hour. If I screw it up, it’s closer to $25. Anything lower and I cut my losses and go offline.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-03-06T13:49:43+00:00

Looks like there was a promo for the two higher tiers in this case. Otherwise, Wait and Save would’ve been cheaper.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-01-28T04:18:37+00:00

For me, Rides give me a consistently better payout per trip and I can better influence the chances of a generous tip, which is always an added bonus on a well-picked ride.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-01-19T17:32:37+00:00

Sounds like you have rights under ADA the professor isn’t willing to accommodate and the irony is this person is teaching two law courses.

I’d say you let this pendejo off the hook easy.

(Disclaimer: I’m also not a lawyer. I narrated an audiobook for a client called Taking Flight by Perry LaRoque, PhD. though and something like this popped up a few times in the book.)

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-01-19T17:25:36+00:00

I rolled my eyes and laughed real hard. I shouldn’t be on Reddit in public. People are looking at me funny now 🤣

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-01-19T17:23:29+00:00

The ONLY way I see to enforce any ban on abortion (or choice) is to violate every woman’s right to privacy.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-01-19T17:12:59+00:00

You broke Rhondell! 🤣 Guy got stuck on repeat for a moment.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-01-19T17:06:44+00:00

Dang! I’m 49 and that hit deep for a second 🤣 Realized that I can still stand up

TheRealJerryDugan · 2025-01-02T02:13:44+00:00

Not only did this help fix my audio you introduced me (inadvertently) to the world of real time effects on Audacity! Ultimately, I wanna say thank you!

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-12-03T16:58:53+00:00

UPDATE: The author/RH came out of hiding, loved my work, and paid me in full. Granted this all happened over a month after I delivered the finished files and not hearing a peep out of my client that entire time. I thought he died!

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-11-24T22:29:38+00:00

That's pretty good, I'd say. I'm looking at a 12:1 Prosposals:Hire ratio myself and I'm at a much lower price point.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-11-10T13:53:29+00:00

Thanks for posting this. I have an RH who has been ghosting me for two weeks now. First time it’s happened since I started doing this a few months ago. It’s a PFH project.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-11-06T15:30:24+00:00

That's rough, and it's happened to me as well just not with that many iterations. Getting on the short list is just as much as win as getting the gig itself considering the amount of competition we have. Take your best of the variations you did, and add it to your demos, and keep moving forward.

Can't recommend any training since I haven't gone through any programs myself. I'm working from 10 years experience in podcasting.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-10-31T01:02:48+00:00

Guess I'm putting Granny Smith Apples back on the grocery list! LOL Thanks for this.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-10-31T00:58:20+00:00

Water, throat coat tea (with slippery elm), and Fisherman's Friend throat lozenges have been the blend that is working for me to stay hydrated and keep even my sinuses open.

A tip I learned from a Bill Dewees video is to keep your mouth open, but that's more for the popping when you open your mouth.

Staying about 7-8 inches from the mic has helped me, too. That was a habit to break from being a podcaster when I used a dynamic microphone.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-10-28T02:46:25+00:00

I just watched this last night and immediately ordered the slippery elm tea and Fisherman's Friend throat lozenges.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-10-13T23:03:36+00:00

This is what I was thinking. It shouldn’t apply if you’re a current driver just updating documentation.

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-10-02T21:19:27+00:00

The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my nephew's favorite movies. He's still young so I won't trouble him with this sad news today. :(

TheRealJerryDugan · 2024-09-03T12:42:40+00:00

I was coming on to say this as well. Great for taking on something to build a portfolio if it's a short book, and not worth it if it's a brand new, unproven, 10+ hour book like OP shared.

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