I know January and February are slow months, but looking for suggestions to seek bookings in the short term. 

The short answer is No, you don't need it.

Choosing a location near LA, accessible by a short flight or drive, will make it easier to check on your projects.

I don't think you know enough to consider real estate in the short-term.

To list a few...Anyone who wants to increase their property’s income potential (and equity) and build new housing in a market that struggles with high prices, low supply, and few new construction.House hackers who live in their primary and want to airbnb an ADU love this strategy or vice versaInvestors who want to do both long term and short term benefit from having two separate units.Rental Restrictions on ADUs.Thankfully, Raleigh is very STR friendly and ADU friendly right now.

Once you have a short list, get an account with each one and run them through the wringer to see how they function.

Quote from @Andrea Wellman: Would like to invest in short term rentals to start and learn from this forum and experts.  

:-)BTW, I'm actively looking for working partners with some cash to put in for the short to mid-term.

With the most difficult buyers it can lead to last minute re-trades over inconsequential amounts of money but is just a pain to deal with.

At that point I dont know investing would make any sense, I have heard scary stories I was thinking about short term rentals but that needs constant cleaning after guests and conpetition is very high my friend spent almost 200k out of pockets to buy a property for airbnb and he got 17 bookings per year....