An Inspired Chat with Claudia Bloom of Beach community in Queens

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Claudia Bloom, the owner/founder of rock locations. Check out our conversation below.

Claudia, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
I would hire me, who wouldn’t hire themselves! I hope I can provide more to my clients than just pulling a pretty house or a cool bar. I try to offer many options with variety. I ask a lot of questions to make the process efficient and offer support in other areas that I can provide. I give my clients a local food list for crew meals and if they require a missing prop, I can usually find it nearby. I’ve sent over a food stylist to a location at the last minute when they needed that help on a lunch styling photoshoot and for a film. I found a PA who lived nearby at the last minute as well – anything that can make the inquiry process and/or booking a location a bit more seamless than they may find with others doing the same sort of work. I meet & greet every crew at the start of a job to make sure the client and location owner are comfortable and ready to work. I check in halfway and try to stay nearby if I’m needed to return or to answer last minute questions.

Awesome, so let’s give our readers some background – can you briefly introduce yourself?
My company, Rock Locations launched in 2016 in The Rockaways, New York City. We represent home and business owners for production in their locations. I am the owner/founder – the location representative for all the businesses and homes. My passion for the beach and surfing led me to my home from Manhattan after many years to The Rockaways, Queens. My professional background in film and television – as an actress in LA, a casting director for films, theater and print, an acting coach, as well as a women’s magazine editor. These all inspired the launch of Rock Locations. I combined my experience in production with my love for the new community after quickly discovering the richness in its locations as well as its convenience to Manhattan and Brooklyn production companies. Rock Locations seemed to be a perfect fit for the area. I’ve since expanded outside of The Rockaways to include locations in Astoria, Broad Channel, Brooklyn, Connecticut, Long Island, Manhattan, and New Jersey. The company offers locations for film, TV, commercials, photoshoots, music videos, indie films, PSAs, social media video shoots and more. We’ve hosted hundreds of production jobs from very small ones (a few hours, a few on cast & crew) to large (a few days,100 on cast & crew) and every size in between. We’d hope to bring in more TV & feature film and to have the opportunity to book a location for a longer period – the house the family “lives in” every TV episode, for example!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Thinking professionally – I think honesty and transparency are crucial for business. I try to get as much information i can about a job and hope with the client we can form a strong relationship to ensure they get a great job and that my location is well taken care of. Any issues I’ve had with clients has been generally about not full disclosure about their needs and using the location in ways I was unfamiliar with. Any surprises during production are a challenge. I can always run a request by the owner, and we decide if it’s good to go, and almost all requests are accepted. If bonds have been broken, I try to get on a call and work through the issues and have had some success. Sometimes the “fit” is just not right and that’s OK, too. My business is a people business and the relationships I build are equally as important to my work as the work itself and good connections often bring back repeat clients.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Four years into the launch of Rock Locations, we were amid the COVID lockdown. New York City did not allow any production for about 4 months. During that period, I took an online course about what a COVID compliance officer would be responsible for on location so I would be very familiar with this “new world” and for me to help to keep us all safe. I came up with a list of about 50 “do’s & don’t’s” that all my clients had to agree to. It was a true challenge for all of us, but we had to abide to stay healthy. I wasn’t sure if I could bring my company back in full swing once lockdown was over. But everyone adhered to the new rules. I booked so many jobs, the busiest time ever – with so much work that had been on hold and crews that couldn’t travel to leave the area to work. The 2nd very challenging period was a few years ago when the WGA and SAG-ATFRA unions both went on strike at the same time for months. This time all union jobs ceased until these strikes were resolved. I had some non-union (lower budget) location jobs, but it was very concerning, very slow and again I was uncertain how to maintain the company and if I would be able to bring it back actively afterwards. Work did return but gradually and budgets were reduced, so there was (and still are) some aftereffects.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Personally to me staying fit and healthy is critical.

I enjoy many types of exercise and it all helps me to stay strong, in shape and emotionally balanced and happy. Whether I’m taking long beach or city walks, doing my pool laps, catching (small!) waves, riding a Spin bike or my outdoor bike, lifting weights or practicing Yoga, it’s all important and fun. I try to eat well too, with some looser restrictions for an event or a craving! Like who doesn’t NEED ice cream in summer? Or an occasional cold beer?

I plan to maintain this lifestyle as long as I can.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
I love to travel but time and money limits it as much as I’d like to.

I’ve driven across the US a few times, driven up and down the California coast also a few times, I’ve taken a number of solo surf/yoga trips to Central America and to some of the Caribbean islands, too. I’ve lived for a bit in London and Oxford and have taken some other European trips.

But it still never feels like enough! There’s so many countries I’ve still yet to get to (Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Ireland to name just a few…). Running my own business makes it a challenge to step away but this coming year I am spending one cold winter month in Mexico City! First time there and the longest trip ever and I plan to work remotely on Rock Locations.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Ben Diamond Photography
Scanlan Photography

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