I've found reserve not too hard, but it kind of depends on your commuter options. I've got close to 10 direct non stop flights between the various carriers I can jumpseat to LAX. Usually I aggressive pickup a trip that starts with a deadhead and deviate straight to whatever trip I am doing from local airport. Then try to line up a trip ending with deadhead to get me home as well, so far I've been able to do it close to 50% of the time.

As for short calls / fsb LAX tends to have far fewer of them due to base size, and they drop as open assignments well in advance so its very easy to see who's going to get what. Planning wise it's not hard to get a 15-24 hour notice from what I've seen on those events.