A lot of time, I think we can feel like we’re in this financial journey alone. Sometimes I think the unique challenges we face as freelancers in the arts can really amplify those feelings. We have some really unusual challenges at times. That beings said below are a few resources to consider using when you…
One kind of cool thing about blogging for a long time is that once in a while companies reach out to you with something they want to send you for free to review. I’ve been really lucky to get several pairs of eyeglasses and contacts to review this way, but for the most part, I…
Profile I am thirty six years old and I’m a freelance digital event producer. I also worked for a couple of hours as a stagehand this month. I’m still living at my dad’s house. That’s where we’re at. Spending & Saving You know what? I’ve been blogging about money for more than 7 years and…
Ideally, as an artist, I would move through these steps starting as a young artist at the beginning of my career and moving on from there, but you know what they day about planting a tree. The best time to do so was 20 years ago, the second best time is today. Stage One Assess…
What. A. Year. I was telling a friend recently that whenever I wind up at my parents house between tours, it always feels like time is frozen. This is kind of delightful for two to three weeks, and tolerable for a month or two with visits to friends and other family crammed in there too.…
I was recently asked how I figure out my investments as someone who works in an industry where (at the best of times and certainly in non-pandemic times) we never really know what’s going to happen, and with that in mind, should we only invest with safety in mind? Investing is such a tricky thing…
A lot of this blog was came about because when I was looking for financial tips, so few seemed to apply to the touring life – which is what I have largely lived during my time in the arts. There are some definite benefits to building a nomadic career and, of course, some unique challenges…
I am losing my ever-loving mind. I wonder how many of my touring friends out there, who have occasionally bounced back to mom and dad’s between gigs for a few weeks, and have now been there for months with no end in sight, feel the same way. I was supposed to buy a house this…
I think the number one mistake we all make at times is letting producers and hiring companies use our passion against us. It’s easy, especially at the beginning of our careers, to feel so thankful that we get paid anything to do what we love, that we accept less than we’re worth. This is also…
If you’re currently in the process of hunting for a new job, there are some things that you’ll need to get right. Impressing employers and presenting yourself to them in exactly the right way are two things that often matter more than anything else. Today, we’re going to talk about what you can do to…
I don’t know about you but my Facebook and Instagram targeted messages took a hard turn towards Zeelool at the end of the summer. I’m sure somehow my phone heard me complaining about Coastal eyeglasses and that I had totally lost all patience with them, but whatever the reason, I was intrigued. I have seen…
In September, I wrote an article that focused on the various side hustles that people who work in the arts are using to get by right now. Not a list of ideas for you to necessarily tackle, but a literal list of shops of tangible things people can buy to support arts workers until the…
So who is ready for this pandemic to be over? And is it just me, or does it feel like everyone outside of the events industry has figured out how to get on with their lives in this “new normal” and while they complain a little about things, for the most part, their lives are…
I am super excited to go on the CircusTalk podcast in November where I’ll get to share my passion for personal finance with the wider circus community. In preparation for that interview, the host was kind enough to send over a few of the questions she’s planning on asking, so in preparation for the show,…
I think it’s easy to get caught up in the romantic side of the arts, which sort of ignores or even vilifies a lot of concepts about money and security. I also think that’s nuts. There’s nothing romantic about dying of tuberculosis in a flophouse. Being properly vaccinated and having access to healthcare and crazy…
Profile I am thirty six years old and I’m a freelance digital event producer and customer service agent. I also worked for a week on two outdoor productions as a stage hand this month. I’m still living at my dad’s house. I guess I’ve found some sort of new normal for the duration. Spending &…
Many people refer to the midwest as the “flyover states,” but that hardly does the area justice. Instead of just flying over, take a stop in one of these incredible cities on your next vacation and see why there’s so much to see in the center of the United States. Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati is known…
Cost effective living is simply living within your means, but there are a few things available to people who work in the performing arts that can make this easier. To do this, you need an idea of what money is usually coming in and what your expenses are. Even with wildly variable income, you can…
Ya’ll, I have been wildly naïve to the world of unemployment claims until this year. I had never tried to claim before. If it was just a few weeks between gigs, I planned for them – and I usually went to my parents’ house, so my expenses were minimal. Clearly, the COVID world is a…
It feels a little like kicking folks when they’re down to talk about emergency funds right now, because with this pandemic either you’ve got one and are likely using it, or it’s probably not the easiest time for you to start building one. But again the pandemic, like so many events, is an inconvenient sprinkle…
With such a large percentage of the population now working from home, maintaining optimum wellbeing whilst being stuck indoors is becoming a greater priority. The reality is that some mornings you may log in from the comfort of your bed, staying there to complete your shift, and though this may feel like a luxury compared…
The American tax system makes my blood boil when I think of it too much. Not only the fairly insane tax laws, with ridiculous loopholes for the wealthy, but the sheer complication of filing it. As someone who has toured for years, I particularly enjoy the times I’ve had to file with 20-30 states of…
According to Investopedia, financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. But what does that really mean? I think it means: how schooled are you in finance? I makes me think of my time in school growing up. All those classes left me…
Lately, I’ve been seeing all sorts of blog posts and articles about how to make money on Instagram from the comfort of your own home. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know that I post regularly on topics ranging from travel tips, to how to live frugally, to how to destroy…
I often try to force myself into good habits – running, eating healthy, learning new languages, etc. And lots of the time, I manage for like a week or so and then it’s just back to normal. It is really hard to create new habits, especially when I get no joy from them. It’s even…