Just when you were hopeful about your performing career…
You planned to return to work. Maybe you were just excited at the mere prospect of looking for work and auditioning. You were going to be on stage soon!
Then December hit and the daily breaking news is that a show is being cancelled and audience members will receive a refund at the point of sale.
It’s almost a little more disappointing this time around after getting back up on our feet. Weren’t we past this? Live theater and was supposed to be back!
Or was it….
According to a recent article from the NY Times, producer Jack Viertel recounts, “This is the worst I have ever experienced.”
Jack has been producing for 34 years!
Ticket sales were only at 62% on Broadway, the lowest they’ve been since 2003. For major touring music artists, no-show audience members have exceeded the expected 1-3% and jumped to 20%!
In addition to audiences not attending, individual performances are getting cancelled for breakthrough cases and productions across the world closed weeks early citing the same reasons. From regional theater, Nutcrackers, and major singers; it’s all suffering
Where does that leave YOU?
Let me be clear: this post isn’t about how theater needs to be improved, how we need to deal with COVID, or what measures we need to be taking.
What I want to do is help you. I want to prepare you financially for times like this. Maybe we aren’t going to suffer another industry shutdown, but trust me, if you’re just starting out, you will be out of work for periods of time. (No, I’m not wishing you ill fortune)
I wrote on this subject in March 2020 when this happened the first time. After a joyful parade back to our dressing rooms, here we are again, losing jobs. And I find that time and time again, actors and dancers aren’t being taught how to KEEP the little money they are making.
Right now, there’s little work to be had, there are less performers getting paid, and there are even battles between producers and unions to cut pay.
Where does that leave us?
Suppose they cut your pay due to a reduced performance schedule.
Can you weather that financial blow?
Suppose they close your show and tell you they will reopen it at a later date.
Do you have the money or means to carry you through unemployment?
If they close your show early, or put it on a hiatus, and you are no longer accruing weeks for insurance or a contribution to your flex spending account.
Will you be able to afford other healthcare?
As artists, we tend to fly by the seat of our pants. We throw caution to the wind. Wait for inspiration to strike us.
Creatively that might be really wonderful for you. But if you get to your 30’s before you think about your retirement for the first time, it’s going to be scary.
I hate to assume, but I have a feeling that now, just like in March 2020, many artists are once again left stranded, wondering who is going to pay rent or where they are going to get medical insurance from.
Does talking about money make you sweat?
You aren’t the only one. Our education system is grossly underpreparing us for that. That includes arts programs!
If you’re like most people, I bet you already have a lot of internalized fear about not making enough money. We always say, you didn’t go into the arts “for the money”.
It also doesn’t help when people ask you, “so what do you do for work?” when you already told them you’re a dancer, actor or singer.
Companies and producers are coming to the table right now and asking for pay cuts in a struggling industry. This is old news. The real reality is, nobody cares about you or your money as much as YOU do.
Sometimes it feels like they would pay you zero dollars if they could do it. Some of us are lucky enough to be represented by unions where we continue to fight for fair wages, but that’s another story.
The question is, will you be a successful performing artist who is can comfortably survive and pursue their dreams by KEEPING their money or will you be one of the alarming many who remain ignorant about the scary subject of money and end up losing most of it down the road?
