I make more than $5,500 a month using an app to pick up restaurant shifts. Here's how I use it to make the most money.

• Kai Cowan uses FrontHouz, a staffing platform, to balance gig work with family responsibilities.
• The flexible scheduling allows Cowan to waitress and bartend while pursuing her passion for dance.
• Cowan's earnings from using FrontHouz regularly average more than $5,500 monthly.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kai Cowan, a 24-year-old gig worker in Atlanta. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I'm a waitress, hostess, and bartender in Atlanta. I pursued a degree in dance for one year but dropped out to gain experience. I then spent a few years working in retail and hospitality until the restaurant I worked at shut down due to COVID-19.