An interview with lighting designer Christina Giannelli.

Topics:

⭐️ Freelancing in Houston.

⭐️ Teaching as a retirement plan.

⭐️ Putting all contracts through USA 829.

⭐️ A good accountant will keep you on track.

⭐️ Aging parents while growing older yourself.

⭐️ Real estate as retirement plan & COVID safety net.

⭐️ Focusing youthful energy toward retirement planning.

⭐️ Having an agent negotiate contracts is well worth the agent’s fee.

Today’s episode was recorded in person at LDI in Las Vegas. 

We partnered with AYRTON Digital Lighting, who sponsored the Women In Lighting session to raise awareness and community for women in entertainment lighting.

Takeaways:

⭐️ If you’re a part of USA 829, run everything through a USA 829 contract. 

⭐️ Get an agent. Not to help with work but to handle the financial and contractual details. 

⭐️ Getting older. Christina didn’t shy away from the reality that YOU have less energy as you get older. Use the energy of youth to set up a financial retirement plan. 

⭐️ It is possible to be a freelance lighting designer in Houston. It’s not New York, LA, or Chicago. But Gary Archer and Christina Giannelli have both made their living as freelancers in Houston.

Christina Giannelli - Lighting Designer:

https://www.summitentertainmentgroup.com/designers/christina-r-giannelli

Christina Giannelli - LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-giannelli-4558a7b/

Drama Book Shop - Where Christina Picked Up A Financial Help Book:

https://www.dramabookshop.com/

Beer Can House - Houston Art Installation:

https://www.full.orangeshow.org/beer-can-house

Episode On Taxes - with Michael Farmer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3_KOK7EPVM&t=25s&ab_channel=ArtisticFinance

Light Talk:

https://lighttalk.libsyn.com/light-talk-episode-296-swag-wars-interview-with-ethan-steimel

Become a patron at:

Interview by Ethan Steimel