WORK WITH US

Working in AV doesn’t have to suck.

We’re growing our freelance network across Canada.

We’re looking for good people who want to do great work with a team that respects their time, skills, and contribution.

We think the best work happens when people feel respected, supported, prepared, properly compensated, and genuinely part of the team.

A DIFFERENCE KIND OF FREELANCE EXPERIENCE

Freelance work shouldn’t feel transactional.

Great shows start with great crews. And great crews are built on trust, consistency, clear communication, and people having each other’s backs.

We want to build long-term relationships with people who like doing good work, enjoy being part of a team, and want to work in an environment where everyone is treated fairly.

We take the work seriously. We don’t think we need to take ourselves quite as seriously.

HOW WE WORK

Good crews deserve good working conditions.

01

Fair + Transparent Pay

Our standard freelance rate is $60/hour. We want people to know how they’ll be compensated before saying yes to a show.

02

Respect for Every Role

Driving the truck, running cables, operating equipment, stage managing, or calling the show all contribute to the final result. Every role deserves respect.

03

Travel Covered

When work takes you out of town, applicable flights, hotels, Ubers, parking, travel costs, and meals are covered.

04

Training + Growth

Training isn’t just for employees. When we can, we open training and development opportunities to our freelance team too.

Who We’re Looking For

Different roles. Different backgrounds.

AV Technicians
Show Leads
Stagehands
Drivers + Logistics
Production Support
Virtual Event Support

Experienced AV technician? Great.

Coming from live music, theatre, film, hospitality, technology, agencies or somewhere completely different? We’d still like to hear from you.

Attitude, enthusiasm, communication, reliability and treating people well matter just as much to us as where you learned your technical skills.

What We Pay
$60/hr
Standard freelance rate

No guessing.

We believe people should know how they’re being compensated before they commit to the job.

  • $60/hr standard freelance rate
  • Additional overtime pay after 10 hours
  • Paid breaks
  • $600/day minimum for out-of-town work
  • Paid parking
  • Travel costs covered
  • Flights, hotels, Ubers, and meals covered where applicable
GOOD PEOPLE MAKE BETTER SHOWS

There isn’t one path into AV.

Some of the people we work with come from traditional AV backgrounds. Others come from live music, theatre, film, hospitality, tech, agencies or completely different industries.

We think different perspectives make teams stronger and create better experiences for both crew and clients.

Historically, this industry hasn’t always been welcoming to everyone. We’re intentionally building something different: a professional environment where a wide range of people can thrive, do great work, earn a good living and have some fun along the way.

FAQ

A few things you might be wondering.

Do I need professional AV experience?
Not necessarily. We work with people from traditional AV backgrounds, but also live music, theatre, film, hospitality, technology, agencies and other industries. Technical experience is helpful, but attitude, communication, reliability and a willingness to learn matter a lot to us.
Do you only work with freelancers in Ottawa?
Nope. Upstream is based in Ottawa, but we deliver events across Canada and we're actively building our freelance network in communities across the country.
How much do freelancers get paid?
Our standard freelance rate is $60/hour, with additional overtime pay after 10 hours. Paid breaks, out-of-town minimums and applicable travel expenses are also part of our compensation structure.
How does out-of-town work work?
For out-of-town work, our minimum day rate is $600. Applicable travel costs such as flights, hotels, Ubers, parking and per-diems are covered by Upstream.
If I contact you, am I committing to anything?
Not at all. We're building relationships with freelance crew so that when the right project comes up, we know who we can call. Connecting with us simply gets the conversation started.
How often will I get work?
Freelance work varies depending on project schedules, location, client needs and the skills required for each show. We can't guarantee a certain number of hours, but our goal is to build ongoing relationships with people we enjoy working with and bring them back whenever there's a good fit.
Do you provide training?
Yes. Where possible, we make training and development opportunities available to our freelance network.
What should I send you?
Whatever best tells us who you are. That could be a short introduction, resume, LinkedIn profile, list of technical skills or a few notes about your relevant experience.
WORK WITH UPSTREAM

Sound like your kind of crew?

We’d genuinely love to hear from you. Send us whatever best tells us who you are: a short intro, resume, LinkedIn profile or a little bit about your relevant experience.

careers@upstreamav.ca