Seeking Advice: 7 Months Without Steady Income, What am I doing wrong?

I sit here watching the rain slide by my window on this rainy Friday in LA and the best next step I think to myself is to write this post. It’s been 7 months now without a steady income and I’m reaching my mental limit. I’m exhausted and I could use some advice of what I might be able to try next.

Quick summary -

I’m 34, lived in LA for a year now, and have thirteen years of professional experience ranging from a Product Manager, Startup Founder, Professional Photographer, and Producer. I lived abroad for a decade through my 20’s, learned a new language and made it work there. I know that with my determination and creativity, I will find my way to my next adventure, but gosh darn it, it’s hard right now.

Current issues/challenges -

• I’ve applied to countless jobs that suit my experience in various levels and I have landed 1 interview out of all of applications in this amount of time. I do not know why and cannot understand why I am not interesting for any recruiters out there.
• After applying I also find their heads of HR or a hiring manager on linkedin and message them a professional message directly to start a conversation. No responses. Not even looks on my profile. I have a professional headshot, my page is updated with the same info on my resume, with additional photos, etc: It’s filled out.
• I’ve re-done my resume 4 times now, I just re-did it again today, and send tailored cover letters to every job application
• I know that I am (I say this while feeling very low about myself right now) a positive asset to any team that I’m on - I’m a very personable, friendly person that usually has a positive flow and energy towards life. I work my butt off at everything I do and have made it work time and time again no matter what career change I want to make. I never thought I would be writing such a post but here I am.
• I have been a contract photographer for the last few years, and have been freelance since 2017. I don’t wish to pursue my photography career any longer. As much as I love and am talented at photography I’m just not that into it anymore as a primary source of income and I feel that there’s something more I want out of my work life.
• Although I’ve been in LA for a year I still don’t know that many people to network with and see about new opportunities. The people that I do know have been helpful, but nothing has landed yet.

Short term goals -

• $6k/month minimum Income needed asap.

Long term goals and curiosity for work -

• Documentary producer - I would love to make films and start a production company one day. Its been a goal/dream of mine since I was a kid
• Continue my mental health startup
• UX Researcher (Always loved UX design when I was a product manager)
• Product Manager of either a mental health startup/company or a company that is purpose driven

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Experience (in order of newest/oldest, oldest starting in 2010) -

Associate Producer - Various commercial sets

I’ve worked on sets before starting as a production assistant and worked my way up to be a producer on film shoots with a 2 camera team. I’ve done everything from booking film gear, flights, coordinating with other production companies, logistics to working on the creative brief, shot lists, etc. I essentially applied all my Product Manager skills into producing and added the creative from photography - and I'm very good at this. I could see this as a career for sure, but again, no luck in landing anywhere.

Professional Photographer - Weddings, Automotive

I’ve been shooting for 3 years now and have applied my work ethic to this creative side which I’ve been told I have a natural gift at. I know this is true and very humbly admit that. I love the work that I do but am extremely hard on myself as I always think I could have done better. I worked my way from weddings to the top of motorsport photography and have worked with some amazing clients. After leaving a toxic work environment I was contracting with I haven’t really picked up my camera since and don’t have the desire to continue as a freelance photographer anymore. I see this side of my career as now a helper to other aspects of my life.

Startup Founder - Mental Health

I started a mental health startup which was a passion project turned startup that I ran for just over a year. It was an incredible experience and I still have a major desire to bring this back to life but need to have funding to do so. Reason I stopped it because I wanted to move back to the US and my cofounders at the time wanted to move onto other things.

Product Manager - Automotive industry

I worked for a major automotive OEM for about six years as a product manager - I loved it until I didn’t love the corporate life/politics anymore. I loved this company so much but had a falling out with it after some shady business practices and internal things happened that I couldn’t shy away from as ethically it shook me as a person so I left.

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Questions to you all reading this (thank you very much for reading this by the way) -

• What am I doing wrong on my applications?
• Where in LA could I meet the right people that are looking to hire?
• Am I missing something very obvious to you that I might not see?
• Any resources you think could help?
• Any other subreddits to consider?
• Any other thoughts you might have if you've been through a similar situation
• Tell me your best joke as I could use it right now

Thank you in advance if you read this whole thing, I really, really, appreciate it!

Jonathan