Artistic Finance

LinkedIn posts on arts and capitalism. Plus Al Heartley's article on the departure from Arena Stage of artistic director Hana Sharif.   Topics: ⭐️ Artists are people too ⭐️ Theatre education is versatile  ⭐️ Capitalism, good, bad, and ugly ⭐️ The resignation of the Arena Stage artistic director Hana Sharif   Video Version https://youtu.be/8aVKi_Hp5zE   Feature Not A Bug - Al Heartley: https://...

Theatre performer and educator, Rayme Cornell, talks career finances as a single mom.   Topics: ⭐️ NOT having hobbies ⭐️ A resume versus a CV (Curriculum Vitae) ⭐️ NOT preboarding an airplane with a child in tow ⭐️ Playwrights being the most famous people in theatre ⭐️ NOT opening a 529 education savings plan for your child ⭐️ Raising a child, as a single mom, while working in theatre ⭐️ Tr...

Researcher, educator, and director CeCe Ortiz-Barnett discusses funding and access in theatre education.   Topics: ⭐️ Imposter syndrome and the importance of ego ⭐️ Giving grace and providing safe space in higher education ⭐️ Training all types of learners and accommodating them as we’re able ⭐️ CeCe’s exchange program for students from HBCUs to experience PWI of higher education, so they can...

Lighting designer Carl Faber returns to the show to discuss freelancing in the performing arts in Portland.   Topics: ⭐️ Zone defense ⭐️ Using local Credit Unions ⭐️ AI entering our workflow ⭐️ HELOC - home equity line of credit ⭐️ Ethics of Credit Cards and Big Banks ⭐️ Freelancing in theatre in Portland, Oregon ⭐️ Our fellow lighting designer Mark McCullough ⭐️ Being a father and freelan...

An interview with projection designer Wendall K Harrington.   Topics: ⭐️ Building credit ⭐️ SEP IRAs for freelancers ⭐️ Asking producers to contribute to your SEP IRA ⭐️ Artistically building a 3rd show that’s a combo of the director’s vision and your vision   Video Version: https://youtu.be/tOYo1Qd1WXQ   Wendall K Harrington http://www.wendallharrington.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendal...

A conversation about the business side of being a projection designer with Zak Borovay, who on Broadway has designed Elf, Xanadu, and Rock of Ages. He has also done work for Disney and Universal theme parks, lots of cruise lines, and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.   Topics: ⭐️ Protections of a union ⭐️ Keeping your investments ⭐️ History of projection designers joining USA 829...

Choreographer Staś Kmieć explains how he’s handled the business side of his theatre and dance career.   Topics: ⭐️ Tax filing ⭐️ Healthcare ⭐️ Fiddler On The Roof ⭐️ Not spending money when on tour   Video Version: https://youtu.be/CUtkLbPZnQ4   Staś Kmieć https://www.linkedin.com/in/sta%C5%9B-kmie%C4%87-462b8519/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sta%C5%9B_Kmie%C4%87   Guernica by Pablo Picasso h...

Broadway lighting programmer Brad Gray discusses financial literacy and the importance of making that choice to prioritize your finances so that you aren’t forced to hustle until your dying day.   Topics: ⭐️  Rich Dad, Poor Dad ⭐️  Programmer day rates ⭐️  Rental real estate investing ⭐️  ROTH IRAs and Retirement Accounts ⭐️  Starting them early and NOT dipping into them when purchasing a new...

Tax expert Susan Lee discusses tax implications and best practices for freelancers.   Topics: ⭐️  Cashflow ⭐️  Having a will ⭐️  Being your own bookkeeper ⭐️  A financial health checklist and a financial disaster kit   Video Version https://youtu.be/uJQLmbiwCA0   Freelance Taxation https://www.freelancetaxation.com/   Pieter Bruegel The Elder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Bruegel_the_El...

(Audio problems? I made a mistake uploading, so delete the episode and then try to play it again.) Costume designer Elsa Hiltner talks about the lack of pay equity in theatrical design and what she is doing about it.   Topics: ⭐️ Living wage ⭐️ The Pay Equity Standards ⭐️ The Theatrical Designer Pay Resource ⭐️ Annual income for Chicago-based non-union costume designers   Video Version: https:...

Part two of the conversation with Broadway lighting designer Jane Cox.   Topics: ⭐️ Keeping overhead low ⭐️ Paying theatre designers hourly  ⭐️ Penny Remsen - Jane’s lighting mentor ⭐️ Paying for assistants / drafting out of the design fee ⭐️ Two recent design fees - one for an opera, one for an off Broadway musical   Video Version https://youtu.be/1qBXKh3-QfM   Artistic Finance https://linkt...

Lighting designer Jane Cox discusses life as a freelance theatre designer who has also taken on some full time academic work.   Topics: ⭐️ Parenting while working in the arts ⭐️ Paying student loans with a credit card ⭐️ Prioritizing the needs of the community above the market rate  ⭐️ The financial system working against theatre design as a career ⭐️ Jane’s tax rate as a freelancer nearing 5...

An update on the $6,000 of investments we made in May of 2021.   Four lighting designers and a bond investment CEO review how our investments compare to the S&P 500.   Video Version https://youtu.be/_hiXSC5HY6A   Artistic Finance https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance   False Steps: A Ballroom Comedy https://www.falsestepscomedy.com/   ETFs: IVV - iShares Core S&P 500   Stocks: VST - Vistra Cor...

Set designer Vincent Gunn talks about the benefits of tracking the hours that you work.   Topics: ⭐️ Valuing your time  ⭐️ Investing the money in your retirement account ⭐️ Writing things down and getting them out of your head ⭐️ Designers thinking about work even when they’re not at work   Video Version https://youtu.be/g1BZrnh3l7A   Artistic Finance https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance   Vincen...

TheatrIcal lighting designer Jason Lynch talks about freelancing in Chicago.    Topics: ⭐️ LLCs ⭐️ Estate Sales ⭐️ Keeping our humanity ⭐️ Investing in the S&P 500 ⭐️ Some of Jason’s recent design fees ⭐️ Moving to a big theatre city, that’s not New York   Video Version https://youtu.be/y5PApxbBG_I   Artistic Finance https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance   Jason Lynch https://www.jasondlynch...

Projection designer Sven Ortel talks about career finances.   Topics: ⭐️ Being persistent  ⭐️ Insisting you get credit for your work ⭐️ Organizing your taxes and writing it down ⭐️ Separating the production budget from the design budget   Video Version https://youtu.be/YDxUvU-in4U   Artistic Finance https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance   Sven Ortel https://www.svenortel.com/ https://www.linkedin....

Discussing designer pay and transparency with Broadway, Off-Broadway, and West End lighting designer Isabella Byrd.    Topics: ⭐️ Dealing with the IRS ⭐️ Union pension, healthcare, and the union ledger ⭐️ Commercial theatre fees (aka Broadway) versus off-Broadway fees (aka non-profit theatre) ⭐️ CDs, as in Certificates of Deposit   Video Version https://youtu.be/HJ1wBWuLwKQ   Artistic Finance...

Today is the 5th anniversary of Artistic Finance. A quick thank you to mark the occasion and announcing a non-AEA casting notice for NYC!

Broadway lighting designer Beverly Emmons discusses commercial theatre practices for designers.   Topics: ⭐️ Adding riders onto your contract ⭐️ Theatre Law which aims to protect investors’ money ⭐️ W2 and 1099 and how that impacts copyright for designers ⭐️ The history of the theatre design union - United Scenic Artists ⭐️ Those union contracts, what they protect, and how they’re helpful for...

Alvin Hough Jr, who’s currently the associate music director of The Lion King on Broadway, talks about career finances and a few things about musical theatre musicians.   Topics: ⭐️ Dollar pizza ⭐️ Being a saver, not a spender ⭐️ Living off per diem while touring ⭐️ Rehearsal call versus a performance call ⭐️ Rates of pay for different numbers of instruments ⭐️ The differences between the pi...

Technical director Tab Birt discusses his journey through live entertainment, financial lessons learned along the way, and his dream of trading the stage for a glass artist’s studio in Norway.   Topics ⭐️ Glass blowing ⭐️ Not selling yourself short ⭐️ Getting on a stagehands union call list ⭐️ Burning out, being cynical, and the joy of theatre ⭐️ The secret investment vehicle called a ROTH IR...

Today’s show is an “ordinary and necessary” episode in which we learn about prepping and filing taxes for freelancer 1099 income.   Topics: ⭐️ Documentation matters! ⭐️ Personal expenses versus business expenses ⭐️ Tracking your expenses as you go ⭐️ Missing expenses are the number one way to pay more in taxes.   Video Version https://youtu.be/EJBHsud0Iis   Artistic Finance https://linktr.ee/a...

A guide of financial resources, and where to find them, for freelancers working in theatre or other facets of the entertainment industry.   ⭐️ Unions ⭐️ Job boards ⭐️ Scholarships ⭐️ Financial Planning ⭐️ Taxes / Accountants ⭐️ Financial Communities ⭐️ Educational Worksheets & Supplements ⭐️ Community Resources - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ⭐️ Episodes of Artistic Finance - separ...

A panel of live event lighting and media professionals having a Q&A about career finances.   ⭐️ Theatre Lighting Designer Christina Watanabe ⭐️ TV Lighting Designer Mike Grabowski ⭐️  Media Designer Zak Borovay ⭐️ TV Gaffer Seán Linehan   Topics: ⭐️ Taxes ⭐️ Agents ⭐️ Contracts ⭐️ USA 829 / LORT Contracts   Youtube Version https://youtu.be/ojmSqEkGqi8   Artistic Finance https://linktr....

An interview with television lighting designer Josh Hutchings about how intimate and taboo it is to discuss finances.   Topics: ⭐️ Compound interest ⭐️ Not having a financial plan ⭐️ Investing early and consistently ⭐️ It’s an industry based on relationships ⭐️ How intimate and taboo discussing finances is ⭐️ Making a financial life plan with the help of professionals   Video Version https:/...