Living the Dream

Living the Dream: Building a Sustainable Career in the Performing Arts offers an accessible guide to understanding one's arts career as a business.

Autorentext

Kirstin Chávez has sung leading operatic roles on many of the world's great stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, and the Sydney Opera House. In addition to her extensive performing career, she is ArtistinResidence at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and a Certified Financial Planner.

Johnathon Pape is a stage director of opera, theatre, and musical theatre with numerous credits in the US and abroad, including New York City Opera and HaBimah National Theatre of Israel. He has served on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music and most recently was the Director of Opera Studies at Boston Conservatory.

Klappentext

Living the Dream: Building a Sustainable Career in the Performing Arts offers an accessible guide to understanding one's arts career as a business.

Inhalt

Introduction

• About You

• About Us *

PART I :Defining the Dream

1 Your Career as a Business

• What it Takes for a Career

• Adopting Best Practices

• Portfolio Careers *

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
  3 Branding

  *

• Brand Identity

• SWOT Analysis

• Building a Branding Platform

• Competitive Landscape

• Final Thoughts on Branding *

4 Creating Business Plans

• Strategic and Tactical Planning

• Short and LongTerm Goals

• Strategic Plan Statements

• Goals, Tactics, and Timelines

• A Business Plan Template

• Review, Assessment, and Revision *

5 Support and Accountability

• Creating a Board of Advisors

• Working With Your Board

• Evaluation and Evolution of Your Board *

Further Reading and Resources on Defining the Dream

PART II: Sharing the Dream

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 *

7 Business and Artistic Relationships

• Networking

• Setting up Productive Professional Relationships

• What to Look for in Specific Relationships

• How to Cleanly End Unproductive Professional Relationships *

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 III: Financing the Dream

9 Budgets (ugh!)

• Fixed Expenses

• Variable Expenses

• Periodic Expenses

• Budget Templates

• Take on the World *

10 Liabilities, Assets, and Net Worthoh my!

• Liabilities
• Assets *
• Net Worth

• Balance Sheets * 11 Savings

  *

• Reasons for Savings

• Different Savings Vehicles for a Smooth Ride to Financial Success *

12 Managing Your Risk

• What Are Life's Biggest Risks?

• The Risk of Damage or Loss

• The Risk of Illness or Disability

• The Risk of Dying Too Soon

• The Risk of Living Too Long

• The Risk of Being Sued *

13 Nothing is Certain Except Death and Taxes

• Taxes

• Deductions
  Retirement Savings Plans for the SelfEmployed
  Tax Credits *

14 Plan Your Estate/Leave a Legacy

• The Will

• Living Will and Advanced Directive for Healthcare

• Durable Power of Attorney

• Legacy *

15 Organizing Your Dream Business

• LLC

• Partnership (General or Limited)

• SCorporation

• CCorporation *

Further Reading and Resources on Financing the Dream

PART IV: As Dream Becomes Reality

16 Career/Life BalanceAt Home

• Choosing a Home Base
• Supporting Yourself

• Managing Daily Life While Working
  17 Career/Life BalanceOn the Road

  *

• What to Expect as a Working Performer

• Maintaining Your Health and Well Being

• Getting ReHired *

18 Facing the Future

• Assessments and Benchmarks

• Reconnecting with Mission

• Stuff HappensCultivating Resilience

• Is it Time for a Bigger Pivot?

• Pivots within the Industry

• Pivots Outside the Industry

• Final Thoughts on the Future *

Further Reading and Resources on the Dream Becoming Reality

Conclusion: Keep Dreaming!