Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Catherine Jarmon.
Hi Mary Catherine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Looking back, I’ve created content for as long as I can remember. My extensive media library begins in Memphis, TN, where I used to utilize the Photo Booth app on the family Mac to create TV shows featuring my friends and family. After I obtained my first digital point-and-shoot camera, it became my most-used tool, either for nature photos or for filming and producing my first vlog series, centered around my middle school classmates and their shenanigans (it was two hours long and included bonus clips and bloopers).
Documentation has been incredibly important to me ever since. After filling up every inch of memory on the family computer with photos and video, I just kept collecting footage through every experience in high school, college, and beyond. While I majored in Music Business and have been singing my entire life, I realized that documentation through content creation is an equal through line in my life, and an avenue that has continuously brought me new opportunities. At this point, I have been involved in digital media professionally for the past decade, working with companies large and small. I founded my freelance business in 2020 and now manage social media accounts for several local businesses in Columbia TN in addition to freelancing with my own content creation for e-commerce brands. I love how social media and the way people consume it is always changing and yet people always find their way back to loving authenticity the most.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It never really is simple and easy, is it? I started my freelance business out of necessity in 2020 after my full-time job was not able to give me any hours due to COVID, and it helped me last a few months with a few clients until I started managing at a local cafe. Shortly after that I joined up with a corporate company that I had previously worked for seasonally, and ended up working in customer service for five straight years, putting freelance and content creation entirely by the wayside. Though comfortable, I eventually experienced a lot of burnout, and the fact that I got laid off in 2024 ended up being a blessing (hardly in disguise).
I knew it was time to make a decision – do I dig until I find another salaried corporate job, or do I start to build something that will be flexible, creative, and sustainable in the next decade? After much prayer and consideration, I knew in my gut that my biggest regret would be to not pursue freelance, and I started re-imagining my portfolio for social media management as well as UGC, or User Generated Content – a niche that has blown up in the last five years especially. Meanwhile, I finally started a local Instagram account, @muletownmoments, after years of my husband and friends encouraging me to create content centered around all of the local recommendations and reviews that I was already sharing with people unsolicited.
Even now, I am not yet as flexible as I hope to one day be, but everything has a season, and in this season I needed to take on an additional cashier job at a locally owned market (for whom I also run social media accounts) to bolster our savings a bit. Even though I only have a few social media clients, I never stop pitching, and I make new connections every day. I’m hopeful that I will soon fill out my roster of clients in a way that really flows with all of my other adventures and hobbies. My gut remains the same – that my only regret in a few years would be if I stopped pursuing freelance avenues.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create content! I don’t typically limit myself to what that means. My top priority is my social media management clients on retainer, so I’m always planning their content calendars and prepping shoots. Sometimes I’m filming and editing long-form vlogs for Youtube, and often it’s short-form reels for my local-centric Instagram account to showcase Columbia, TN. I’m frequently brainstorming and scripting ads for companies that have brought me on for UGC to bring an authentic type of video to their feed. More recently I’ve gotten into some writing for local tourism and magazines; another passion of mine that has survived since long before I entered the workforce. I see myself as someone who specializes in authentic content over everything else, because in a world of media that is always fighting for everyone’s attention, I think that is always what a customer gravitates towards at the end of the day.
I’m pretty dang proud of my Muletown Moments Instagram. It’s a small but mighty account, and sometimes locals recognize me or send me sweet messages about my recommendations. It’s allowed me to integrate into the small business community of Columbia that I already loved so much and interact with small business owners as more of a colleague than a customer. It also brought me the opportunity to become an Experience TN Content Partner, a role I’ve really been loving! I’m excited to continue the growth I’ve started there and hopefully do even more cool things in Columbia because of it.
Something that sets me apart from other creatives is the fact that I cannot function without staying organized. Communication and transparency are paramount to me, so my top concern will always be transparency with the client, providing clear documentation and writing out the plan in a way that meets them where they are. Additionally, I’ve seen all sides – small, big, local, corporate, retail, e-commerce, etc. – and even independent as someone who has promoted my own music. Because of that perspective I know that there’s not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to curating a company’s accounts, so I customize accordingly and pivot whenever needed while staying on brand.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Never be nervous about asking to chat. Think about it – have you ever felt more flattered than when someone asked you how you got where you are? People love to talk about their journey, and everyone’s journey is different – so don’t buy into just one person’s set of principles. It’s important to talk to a variety of people that have inspired you, whether it’s someone you just met or someone you’ve admired for a long time. That way you can suss out which pieces of advice will really work for where you are. And don’t put too much stock in one conversation leading to long term employment or a full-fledged mentorship; some of the most encouraging words I’ve ever heard have come from people who never gave me a job and only spoke with me once.
Personally (and I am almost definitely in the minority on this), I don’t love networking events. They feel very difficult to navigate in a way that forces a lack of authenticity (which, as I’ve mentioned, is kind of my whole thing). Instead, I like to reach out to people directly if they’ve caught my eye, typically people I know I have mutual friends with or that I’ve been following for a while. Almost every job opportunity I’ve ever received has been from a friend of a friend. Never be afraid to reach out.
Pricing:
- My pricing is custom; please reach out with details if interested!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.perfectcadencecreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muletownmoments
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mcatvlogs
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6D4Sb3KzQ6Djdkg1ye6mVd
