Career

136 posts
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  • 5 min

Surviving Tax Season as an Artist

When you work as an artist, tax season blows. With a slough of 1099s and income that is often earned from various states, artist taxes are some of the most complex. Meanwhile, we earn gross incomes small enough that we often can’t afford accountants. Instead, artists are left to struggle through seas of forms, cross our fingers that we’ll avoid an audit, and hope against hope that we can eek out a refund. Before panic sets in, take a moment to relish in the fact that YOU MADE A LIVING AS AN ARTIST. Now, get smart, submit your paperwork, and get that refund!
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  • 6 min

Community: A Theatrical Necessity

Community engagement must be a part of every theatre-making process. There is no theatre without an audience. The audience is as much a part of a play-making experience as the artists—so how do we incorporate them more actively into what we do? We must work with them – and I’ve learned, in so doing, that working with the community teaches me just as much or more about the play on which I’m working than anything I do in the rehearsal room or on stage.
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  • 4 min

How to Help Your Director Carry Out His or Her Vision

As an experienced Actor, Director, Choreographer of many-a-year and stage show for that matter, I’ve utilized the past 5 years in theater as more of a personal mission to learn more about the theater processes and procedures and determine the key components that help a particular show achieve success.

It would seem that within the realm of any individual stage show, it’s the associated stage director that is the single most powerful driving factor to help guide the show to ultimate success. But be not fooled, the director needs a ton of help/support to carry out his/her vision. Let us take a few moments to touch upon some key elements that lead to a highly effective stage director.

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  • 7 min

Social Media Savvy for Actors

Some people say that social media is more important to your career than actual talent. I wish I could say that is entirely untrue. We live in a world where people are dealing with lots of money. It takes a great deal of money to put on a Broadway show or create a new television series. We know that the industry likes to hire celebrities to star in their movies because name recognition sells tickets.

So why are we so surprised that industry executives want their performers to have followings? Maybe it is time to start looking at social media in a different way. Flip it on its head, and look at it as a brilliant opportunity to cultivate what makes us unique, and — in turn — helps us find our tribe. That tribe of followers can translate into a platform that can truly help you in your career. How you go about gaining your followers, creating your niche, and nurturing your platform is up to you. Here are some vital tips on how to use social media to enhance your performing arts career:

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  • 4 min

The Art and Importance of Asking for Feedback

In my book, the number one thing that separates good actors from great actors is their ability to hear and respond to feedback. But who is telling artists what they need to hear? There is something amazing that happens when you get cast in a show: you inherit a director.

Suddenly, you have someone to shape your work, and help you see beyond your own limitations. You have a person who is on your side, but is being paid to push you. That person is allowed to question your choices, encourage you to do more and be more, and ask you to reach further inside to make the piece stronger, as a whole. Like a football coach, your director helps you find the plays and puts you in the best position for overall success.

But what about the other ninety percent of your career? All that time when you are trying to get the gig. Ladies and gentlemen —-THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME TO ASK FOR FEEDBACK.

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