and I could conceivably work for free
What Whirls said.....
And my $0.02....... Please don't....there are many in the industry who have spent thousands trying to get the right amount of experience.....some of us need to EARN a living to keep our families....ANYONE who works for free loses the respect of EVERY working helicopter pilot.
For what it is worth....I would say that in the current economic climate, your chances of achieving your "dream job" are slim to none, but for your sake, would love to be proved wrong as long as you respect the rest of us "working" pilots.