New,Living the Dream: Building a Sustainable Career in the Performing Arts

Contents

• INTRODUCTION
• • About You
• • About Us
• PART ONE - DEFINING THE DREAM
• Chapter 1 - Your Career as a Business
• • What it Takes for a Career
• • Adopting Best Practices
• - Understanding the Roles You Will Play
• - Vital Record Keeping
• - Developing Self-Reliance
• - Finding the Balance Between Your Outer Adult and Inner Child
• - Performance Reviews
• • Portfolio Careers
• Chapter 2 - Mission
• • Why Mission is Important
• • Assets and Deficits
• • A Mission Exploration
• • Values
• • Questions to Consider
• • Elements of a Dynamic Mission Statement
• • Vision
• • Writing Your Mission/Vision/Values Statement
• Chapter 3 - Branding
• • Brand Identity
• • SWOT Analysis
• • Building a Branding Platform
• • Competitive Landscape
• • Final Thoughts on Branding
• Chapter 4 - Creating Business Plans
• • Strategic and Tactical Planning
• • Short- and Long-term Goals
• • Strategic Plan Statements
• • Goals, Tactics, and Timelines
• • A Business Plan Template
• • Review, Assessment, and Revision
• Chapter 5 - Support and Accountability
• • Creating a Board of Advisors
• • Working with your board
• • Evaluation and evolution of your board
• Information Classification: General
• Further Reading and Resources on Defining the Dream
• PART TWO - SHARING THE DREAM
• Chapter 6 - Facing Outward While Grounding Inward
• • Appropriate Professional Communication
• • Getting Your Materials in Order
• • Performance Resumés
• • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• • Work Resumés
• • Bios
• • Repertoire Lists
• • Quote Sheets
• • Pictures
• • Audio and Video Files
• • Websites
• • Social Media
• Chapter 7 - Business and Artistic Relationships
• • Networking
• • Setting Up Productive Professional Relationships
• - Expectations
• - Boundaries
• - Chemistry
• • What to look for in specific relationships
• - Teachers
• - Musical or Vocal Coaches
• - Other Collaborators
• • How to cleanly end unproductive professional relationships
• Chapter 8 - Key Allies
• • Mentors, Colleagues, and Role Models
• • Collaborators
• • Patrons and Benefactors
• • Agents and Managers
• • About Contracts
• • Union Affiliations
• • Philanthropic, Topical, and Developmental Support Organizations
• Further Reading and Resources on Sharing the Dream
• PART THREE - FINANCING THE DREAM
• Chapter 9 - Budgets (ugh!)
• • Fixed Expenses
• • Variable Expenses
• • Periodic Expenses
• • Budget Templates
• • Take on the World…
• Chapter 10 - Liabilities, Assets, and Net Worth…oh my!
• Information Classification: General
• • Liabilities
• • Assets
• - Liquid Assets
• - Illiquid Assets
• - Personal Use Assets
• • Net Worth
• • Balance Sheets
• Chapter 11 - Savings
• • Reasons for Savings
• - Emergency Fund
• - Home Down Payment
• - Children’s Education Fund
• - Other Mid- to Short-term Savings Goals
• - Retirement
• • Different savings vehicles for a smooth ride to Financial Success
• - Bank accounts
• - Bonds
• - Stocks
• - Mutual Funds
• Chapter 12 - Managing Your Risk
• • What are Life’s biggest risks?
• • The Risk of damage or loss
• - Car Insurance
• - Home-Owner’s Insurance
• • The Risk of illness or disability
• - Health Insurance
• - Disability Insurance
• • The Risk of dying too soon
• - Life Insurance
• • The Risk of living too long
• - Annuities, retirement planning, and smart investing
• • The Risk of being sued
• Chapter 13 - “Nothing is Certain Except Death and Taxes”
• • Taxes
• • Deductions
• - Above the Line deductions
• - Below the Line deductions
• • Retirement Savings Plans for the self-employed
• - Traditional IRA
• - Roth IRA
• - Simplified Employee Pension
• • Tax Credits
• - Foreign Tax Credit
• - Child and Dependent Care Credit
• - Education Credit
• - Child Tax Credit
• Information Classification: General
• Chapter 14 - Plan Your Estate / Leave a Legacy
• • The Will
• • Living Will and Advanced Directive for Health Care
• • Durable Power of Attorney
• • Legacy
• Chapter 15 - Organizing your Dream Business
• • LLC
• • Partnership (General or Limited)
• • S-Corporation
• • C-Corporation
• Further Reading and Resources on Financing the Dream
• PART FOUR - AS DREAM BECOMES REALITY
• Chapter 16 - Career / Life Balance - at Home
• • Choosing a Home Base
• - Life in the Artistic Hub
• - Basing Your Career Elsewhere
• - Working and Living Globally
• • Supporting Yourself
• - Day Jobs
• - Expanding Your Portfolio
• - Setting Boundaries
• • Managing Daily Life While Working
• Chapter 17 - Career / Life Balance - on the Road
• • What to expect as a working performer
• - Before you arrive
• - Rehearsal Process
• - Other Obligations
• - Lodging
• • Maintaining your health and well being
• • Getting re-hired
• Chapter 18 - Facing the Future
• • Assessments and Benchmarks
• • Reconnecting with Mission
• • Stuff happens—cultivating resilience
• • Is it time for a bigger pivot?
• • Pivots within the industry
• • Artistic Leadership Positions
• • Artistic Support Positions
• • Production Management
• • Becoming an Ensemble Performer
• • Administration
• • Artist Management
• • Teaching
• • Pivots outside the industry
• Information Classification: General
• • Final thoughts on the future
• Further Reading and Resources on the Dream Becoming Reality
• CONCLUSION - KEEP DREAMING!
• INDEX
• ABOUT THE AUTHORS