Alvin Hough Jr, who’s currently the associate music director of The Lion King on Broadway, talks about career finances and a few things about musical theatre musicians.

Topics:

⭐️ Dollar pizza

⭐️ Being a saver, not a spender

⭐️ Living off per diem while touring

⭐️ Rehearsal call versus a performance call

⭐️ Rates of pay for different numbers of instruments

⭐️ The differences between the piano and the keyboard

⭐️ Working a double, in musician speak, and what that means for your pay scale.

⭐️ The importance of family and Alvin investing early on, on the advice from an aunt

Video Version

https://youtu.be/J9Gjb5o_h7E

Artistic Finance

https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

Alvin Hough Jr

www.alvinhoughjr.com

https://www.instagram.com/alvinhoughpiano/

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/alvin-hough-493607#broadway

Believe NYC

https://believe-nyc.com/

Arts for Autism

https://www.artsforautism.net/

Randy Cohen - Keyboard Programmer

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/randy-cohen-454486

NYMF

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Musical_Theatre_Festival

The Lion King on Broadway

https://lionking.com/

Avioms - In Ear Mixing

https://www.aviom.com/AviomProducts/

ALVIN HOUGH, JR. Alvin is a pianist, conductor and arranger in New York City. He is currently the Associate Music Director of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway and was the Associate Music Supervisor of Merrily We Roll Along, featuring Daniel Radcliffe, which closed this past July aEer winning the Tony for Best Revival. Alvin is the Music Supervisor of the current 2nd NaHonal Tour of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, and he has also worked on numerous films and TV series, from “Schmigadoon 2” and “Spirited” to “Annie Live!” and the South Park 25th anniversary commercials. Classically trained by a private teacher from the age of 5, Alvin has had the privilege of performing at the Kennedy Center, the Capitol and the White House while growing up in Washington, DC. One of the more important things Alvin likes to share is that there is no special formula to end up on Broadway. As proof, even though he's currently not using them, Alvin has a Bachelor’s from Harvard College in Earth and Planetary Sciences and a Master’s in Meteorology from the Georgia InsHtute of Technology. He sends love to his wife, Rebecca, and their two young children, Samuel (7) and Camille (6). www.alvinhoughjr.com

Instagram Handles

@alvinhoughpiano

@ethansteimel

@nicolevsteimel

Technical director Tab Birt discusses his journey through live entertainment, financial lessons learned along the way, and his dream of trading the stage for a glass artist’s studio in Norway.

Topics

⭐️ Glass blowing

⭐️ Not selling yourself short

⭐️ Getting on a stagehands union call list

⭐️ Burning out, being cynical, and the joy of theatre

⭐️ The secret investment vehicle called a ROTH IRA

Video Version

https://youtu.be/Kh9TP0Gls0s

Artistic Finance

https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

Tab Birt

https://www.tbirtdesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tbirtdesign/

Saints Peter & Paul - Homeless Shelter

https://www.stspeterandpaulstl.org/homeless-shelter

Third Degree Glass Factory

https://www.thirddegreeglassfactory.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoonESXmz4AvOFvGWqiziSPkJy_kBTC66ol4q9J4rvcuYxhm7cfN

Here’s What I Don’t Get

https://hereswhatidontget.com/podcast

Bullsh*t Jobs - David Graeber

https://bookshop.org/a/86693/9781501143335

Debt: The First 5,000 Years - David Graeber

https://bookshop.org/a/86693/9781612194196

David Graeber Lecture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kikzjTfos0s

ROTH IRA

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rothira.asp

Design Action - Minimum Rate Calculator

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KpsHWVKvc0FYfDftayTh1Dh2befS-oPM6_rwQ6waoVk/edit?gid=691329339#gid=691329339

The Lighting Archive

https://thelightingarchive.org/

Tab Birt hails from the Land of Praying Hands, Tulsa Oklahoma. He received his BFA in Lighting and Sound Design from the University of Oklahoma, and currently resides in in St Louis as the Technical Director for Edison Theatre. He’s worked in live entertainment for 17 years around the country, and when not in production you can find him in the hot shop pursuing his interest in glass, or at home sipping a fine whiskey, grilling steaks, or smoking a rich cigar. He dreams of one day retiring from theatre and becoming a glass artist in Norway.

Instagram Handles

@tbirtdesign

@thirddegreeglass

@ethansteimel

@nicolevsteimel

A guide of financial resources, and where to find them, for freelancers working in theatre or other facets of the entertainment industry.

⭐️ Unions

⭐️ Job boards

⭐️ Scholarships

⭐️ Financial Planning

⭐️ Taxes / Accountants

⭐️ Financial Communities

⭐️ Educational Worksheets & Supplements

⭐️ Community Resources - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

⭐️ Episodes of Artistic Finance - separated out by career focuses

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/lOlmkn7Obi4

Artistic Finance Website - click on "resources +"

https://www.artisticfinance.com/

Dads - Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7clwrlPI64U

A panel of live event lighting and media professionals having a Q&A about career finances.

⭐️ Theatre Lighting Designer Christina Watanabe

⭐️ TV Lighting Designer Mike Grabowski

⭐️ Media Designer Zak Borovay

⭐️ TV Gaffer Seán Linehan

Topics:

⭐️ Taxes

⭐️ Agents

⭐️ Contracts

⭐️ USA 829 / LORT Contracts

Youtube Version

https://youtu.be/ojmSqEkGqi8

Artistic Finance

https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

LDI

https://www.ldishow.com/

Christina Watanabe

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-watanabe/

http://www.starryeyedlighting.com/

Mike Grabowski

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegrabowski/

https://www.mtgdesigns.net/

Sean Linehan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanlights/

Zak Borovay

https://www.linkedin.com/in/borovayz/

https://borovaydesign.com/

USA 829 Design Membership Candidate - LORT Program

https://www.usa829.org/Portals/0/Document%20Library/LORT/2024%20Docs/Final%20Docs/USA%20829%20DMC%20Program%20for%20LORT%20Theatres%208-21-2024.pdf?ver=9uPaXqxM9aNe1IYejocFfg%3d%3d

USA 829 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Page

https://www.usa829.org/Contracts/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements-CBAs-Public-View/Theatre-Opera-Dance

Accountants for Creatives

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YG1sgP4LqJa6Rk5CBdnvlQ2ByEvzFNKSS6uI61QkMlY/edit?usp=sharing

IRS Website

https://www.irs.gov/

Social Security Website

https://www.ssa.gov/

Frank Zappa Autobiography - (affiliate link)

https://bookshop.org/a/86693/9780671705725

Luna Lux

https://lunalux.us/

The Lighting Design Group

https://ldg.com/

Instagram Handles

@ldg_lightingdesigngroup

@starryeyedlighting

@ldg.entertainment

@front_projection

@wandering_lush

@ethansteimel

@mtgdesigns

@lunaluxllc

@ldishow

An interview with television lighting designer Josh Hutchings about how intimate and taboo it is to discuss finances.

Topics:

⭐️ Compound interest

⭐️ Not having a financial plan

⭐️ Investing early and consistently

⭐️ It’s an industry based on relationships

⭐️ How intimate and taboo discussing finances is

⭐️ Making a financial life plan with the help of professionals

Video Version

https://youtu.be/6hFYG8HHQ0Y

Artistic Finance

https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

Illumination Advocates

https://www.illuminationadvocates.com/

https://www.instagram.com/illumination_advocates/

Joshua Hutchings

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-hutchings-55439a38/

LDI

https://www.ldishow.com/

Oscar Dominguez - Lighting Designer

https://dfld.com/the-team/oscar-dominguez/

IATSE 600

https://www.icg600.com/

IATSE 728

https://www.iatse728.org/

IATSE 33

https://www.ia33.org/

Radford Studios Stagehand Death

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/marvel-crew-member-dies-wonder-man-1235899835/

Midnight Mission

https://www.midnightmission.org/

Travis McHale & Compound Interested

https://www.youtube.xn--5ca/watch?v=7psS_ebQEyc

Compound Interest with Paddy Hirsch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmhmR_tn-Qo

Bill Klages Remembered on Light Talk

https://lighttalk.libsyn.com/light-talk-episode-380-ocean-views-our-tribute-to-bill-klages

Instagram Handles

@illumination_advocates

@nicolevsteimel

@ethansteimel

@live.design

@ldishow

Interview by Ethan Steimel

A discussion of various financial independence topics for people working in the creative industry.

Topics:

⭐️ Improving Financial IQ

⭐️ The “starving artist” narrative

⭐️ Empowering confidence in personal financial decisions

A live episode recorded at LDI in collaboration with Amy D Lux / Lobolux Design's Financial Independence Club.

Video Version

https://youtu.be/Nqo4Z7UREKE

Artistic Finance

https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

Kinetic Lighting

https://kineticlighting.com/

LDI

https://www.ldishow.com/

How to Set Up an HSA

https://www.healthcare.gov/high-deductible-health-plan/setting-up-hsa/

What Is An IRA?

https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/what-is-an-ira

Rocket Money

https://www.rocketmoney.com/

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

https://bookshop.org/p/books/rich-dad-poor-dad-what-the-rich-teach-their-kids-about-money-that-the-poor-and-middle-class-do-not-robert-t-kiyosaki/17533307?aid=86693&ean=9781612681139&listref=artistic-finance-books

(my affiliate link)

IATSE 728

https://www.iatse728.org/

Gusto

https://gusto.com/

Intuit

https://www.intuit.com/

Matt Mills

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-mills-0556026/

https://www.lightingprogrammer.com/about

https://www.instagram.com/mattmills407/

Matt Guminski

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-guminski-bba32816/

https://www.mglightingdesign.com/portfolio

https://www.instagram.com/mattygld/

Erica D Hayes

https://www.ericadhayes.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericadhayes/

https://www.instagram.com/ericadhayes/

Amy D Lux:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-d-lux-953a7318a/

https://utopiadreamscape.com/author/luvlogica/

Instagram Handles

@ericadhayes

@mattmills407

@mattygld

@lobolux

@nicolevsteimel

@ethansteimel

@live.design

@ldishow

Hosted by Ethan Steimel

Learn about the process of designing and producing live shows for music artists with our Los Angeles based guests: lighting designer and programmer, Erica D Hayes and COO and Show Director at Wasted Potential, Zach Berget.

Topics:

⭐️Balancing the creative vision of an artist with the logistical realities of large-scale budgets.

⭐️ The workflow behind developing these narratives and visual elements.

Video Version

TBDhttps://youtu.be/H2sMFfOzyB4

Artistic Finance

https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

Wasted Potential

https://www.wastedpotential.net/

Human Persons

https://humanperson.com/

Kinetic Lighting

https://kineticlighting.com/

Grand MA Lighting Consoles

https://www.malighting.com/

Hog Lighting Consoles

https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Consoles/Hog-4-Consoles/

Avolite Lighting Consoles

http://www.avolites.us/

ACT Entertainment

https://actentertainment.com/

LDI

https://www.ldishow.com/

Erica D Hayes

https://www.ericadhayes.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericadhayes/

https://www.instagram.com/ericadhayes/

Zach Berget

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-berget-201836164/

https://www.instagram.com/zachconcepts/

Ebony Madry

https://www.instagram.com/ebmadry/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebony-madry-6a9651139/

Instagram Handles

@ericadhayes

@zachconcepts

@wastedpotential

@nicolevsteimel

@ethansteimel

@live.design

@ldishow

Hosted by Ethan Steimel