Artistic Finance

Set designer Seth Howard talks about freelancing from the midwest. 

Topics:

⭐️ ROTH IRAs 

⭐️ Being a good person

⭐️ High yield savings accounts

⭐️ Getting work from social media

⭐️ DBAs - Doing Business As - for taxes

⭐️ Our actual design fees on recent projects

⭐️ Discussing production budgets while in academia

⭐️Theatrical light boxes - which has little to do with finances but hey we’re theatre people so they came up in discussion.

Video Version

https://youtu.be/FUkF3UWD7Vs

Seth Howard

https://www.sethhowarddesigns.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sethhowarddesigns/

Christopher Kriz

https://www.christopherkriz.com/

Cory Pattak

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

Wilson Chin

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

DBA - Doing Business As

https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/doing-business-as-dba-guide

ROTH IRA

https://www.calculator.net/roth-ira-calculator.html

SETH HOWARD (Scenic Designer) is a freelance scenic designer based out of St. Louis, MO. Some of his design credits include Athena (The Rep St. Louis); Grease (Bucks County Playhouse); Mamma Mia! & Come From Away (Theatre Aspen); Purlie Victorious (Charleston Stage); The Lightning Thief & Cinderella (Children’s Theater of Madison); Topdog/Underdog (Palm Beach Dramaworks); The Addams Family and 42nd Street (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre). Check out @sethhowarddesigns on social media.

Instagram Handles

@sethhowarddesigns

@ethansteimel

A round table about Artificial Intelligence in theatre design with a panel of cross discipline designers.

Topics:

⭐️ Types of AI Models

⭐️ Ethical Concerns of AI

⭐️ How designers are using AI

⭐️ How designers hope to use AI

⭐️ What parts of our workflow we’re comfortable using AI in

Video Version

https://youtu.be/CEp-XAkVLCY

USA 829’s resources on AI

https://www.usa829.org/Education/Tech-Committee-Resources

Science Vs

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-is-it-ruining-the-environment/id1051557000?i=1000736569496

China Data Centers Underwater

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/china-powers-ai-boom-with-undersea-data-centers/

House of Future Memory - Florida AI Theatre

https://mikewoodld.com/projects/house-of-future-memory/

David Murakami

https://davidmurakami.com/

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

David Murakami is a projection designer and film director whose work explores the intersection of cinematic and theatrical storytelling, creating visually immersive experiences for opera, theatre, dance, and large-scale entertainment. His designs have been seen on five continents for companies such as Seattle Opera, Mark Taper Forum, Opéra de Montréal, LA Opera, and Princess Cruises.

Carl Faber

https://carlfaber.com/

https://carlfaberdesign.com/

Carl Faber is a multidisciplinary visual designer for theatre, opera, dance, and experiential projects. Based in Portland, Oregon, he is Director of Operations at Culture House Immersive and Lighting Supervisor at Portland Opera and Oregon Ballet Theatre, while continuing to freelance on productions ranging from Broadway to large-scale immersive experiences.

Jay Duckworth

https://www.proptologist.com/

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

Prof. Duckworth, The Proptologist is a props designer and educator at Pace University whose work includes Hamilton, Shakespeare in the Park, Here Lies Love, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson & Fun Home at his over a decade long residency as Props Designer at the Public Theater.

Ari Fulton 

https://arifultondesigns.com/

https://www.instagram.com/queen_of_the_indies/

Ari Fulton is a costume designer for stage and film, known for her richly detailed and expressive design work. Her regional and international credits include Disney's Frozen, Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, and the Sundance Award–winning film Ricky (2025). A recipient of the Black Theatre Coalition Costume Design Fellowship and the Lilly Creative Spirit Award, she also teaches costume design at Brooklyn College and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Sun Hee Kil

https://www.instagram.com/jokerkil/

Associate designer on Broadway productions and PyeongChang Winter Olympics Opening & Closing Ceremonies in South Korea. Her sound design includes Off Broadway, regional and international theatre productions. Her sound designs were nominated for Henry Hewes Awards and World Stage Design and selected to exhibit at Prague Quadrennial. Sunny is an Assistant Professor of Sound Design at Purchase College, State University of New York and a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, Audio Engineering Society and Theatrical Sound Designers & Composers Association.

Anita J Tripathi

www.anitajtripathi.com

Anita is a Charlotte based Scene Designer. Professional design credits include: Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (LORT B), Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Virginia Stage Company (LORT D, Resident Scene Designer), and PlayMakers Repertory Company (LORT D).  Anita has also worked regionally as both a properties designer and scenic charge and has assisted Tony Award winning designer David Gallo on several productions. Anita is currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Theatre Department at Davidson College.  She holds an M.F.A. in Scene Design from the University of South Carolina and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.  

Instagram Handles

@jokekil

@cxfaber

@proptologist

@ethansteimel

@murakamidavid

@carlfaberdesign

@unitedscenicartists

@queen_of_the_indies

#propdesign

#sounddesign

#thecreativelife

#costumedesign

#projectiondesign

​

Jessica Ryan, Founder of Broadway Unlocked and CEO of All Together Now a production company for scaleable in-person and digital live experiences joins the show to discuss realities of Broadway's unhealthy producing model.

Topics:

⭐️ Cats: The Jellicle Ball

⭐️ Holding space for performing arts and capitalism 

⭐️ Being a theatre person and teaching yourself business terminology

⭐️ Broadway’s unhealthy producing model of pricing, marketing, and Cost Disease 

Video Version

https://youtu.be/uDzDmCXG1Bs

Jessica Ryan

https://broadwayunlocked.substack.com/

https://www.jessicaryancreative.com/

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

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

Broadway Unlocked

https://www.broadwayunlocked.com

Freakonomics of Broadway

https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/how-is-live-theater-still-alive/

Jared Harbour

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-harbour-ba8415186/

https://jharbour.substack.com/

Jerry Herman

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

Gateway Playhouse

https://www.thegateway.org/

The Greene Space NYC

https://wnyc.org/tgs

BroadwayHD

https://welcome.broadwayhd.com/

Kirkwood Theatre Guild

https://ktg-onstage.org/

Howl Round

https://howlround.com/

Pookie Goes Grenading

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/pookie-goes-grenading-fiscal-sponsored-project

Particle - New Musical

https://www.seldaandderek.com/new-page-3

Missouri State University

https://theatreanddance.missouristate.edu/

Instagram Handles

@jessicaryannyla

@ethansteimel

#theatre

#broadway

#thecreativelife

#commercialtheatre

#broadwayproducing

Christopher Kriz, a composer and sound designer based in Chicago, talks about sustaining a freelance theatre career.

Topics:

⭐️ Opening a ROTH IRA

⭐️ Filing taxes on your own

⭐️ Saying yes to everything

⭐️ Our actual fees on a recent gig

⭐️ Talking being good for your health

⭐️ The university of store front theatre

⭐️ Using an agent so you have less stress negotiating fees

⭐️ USA 829 contracts including CBAs, SDAs, POAs, and LORT

Video Version

https://youtu.be/eaupUamsABo

Christopher Kriz

https://www.christopherkriz.com/

https://www.instagram.com/christopher.kriz/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-kriz-997b99b/

Cricket Myers

https://www.artisticfinance.com/14.html

Alabama Shakespeare Festival

https://asf.net/

USA 829 - Contracts

https://www.usa829.org/Contracts/USA-829-Contracts-Overview

ROTH IRA

https://www.nerdwallet.com/m/investing/standout-accounts-for-retirement-investing-roth?utm_source=goog&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=in_mktg_paid_2025_roth&utm_term=roth%20ira&utm_content=ta&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22393064320&gbraid=0AAAAADfKLw2RKEiVVbQ-8baKNELiCbwQs&gclid=CjwKCAjw7KvTBhA6EiwAWnutYdiWSbvbvc5qwuaZ9QW7w-0U63N6y5UeRG7aioNPE9v65raZh0x3KBoCafgQAvD_BwE

Octet

https://www.goodmantheatre.org/show/octet/

Instagram Handles

@christopher.kriz

@ethansteimel

#theatre

#composer

#sounddesign

#thecreativelife

#sounddesigners

Performing arts consultant and producer Matthew Principe talks about producing opera, theatre, and multimedia content.

Topics:

⭐️ The Performing Arts Industrial Complex

⭐️ Hiring a qualified person to file your taxes

⭐️ Taking the emotion out of our financial life

⭐️ Saving 10% of your gross income for yourself

⭐️ Producing opera, theatre, classical music, and multi media

⭐️ The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for student loans

⭐️ Networking - but not as an individual, doing it through organizations

Video Version

https://youtu.be/6T8g_rfmPa8

Matthew Principe

https://www.instagram.com/operaprince/

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

Principe Dynamics

https://www.principedynamics.com/

https://principedynamics.substack.com/

Student Loan Forgiveness

https://studentaid.gov/articles/student-loan-forgiveness/

Candy & Dorothy

https://www.principedynamics.com/candy-dorothy

Rosalia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosal%C3%ADa

Cookie Jordan

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/cookie-jordan-485223

https://www.artisticfinance.com/39.html

Producers Guild of America

https://producersguild.org/

Opera America

https://www.operaamerica.org/

The Podcast Academy

https://www.thepodcastacademy.com/

Elena Sartor / Pookie Goes Grenading / IRT Theatre

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/pookie-goes-grenading-fiscal-sponsored-project

Matthew Principe is an internationally recognized producer, strategist, and arts innovator—and a five-time Grammy Award winner, two-time Emmy Award winner, and recipient of a Peabody Award, GLAAD Media Award, and Webby Award Honoree. He is Cultural Partnerships Producer on the documentary Viva Verdi!, which earned a 2026 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song (“Sweet Dreams of Joy”). A performer in more than fifty opera and musical theater productions, he built a career as a producer with institutions spanning the Metropolitan Opera, Detroit Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, and Boston Baroque before founding Principe Dynamics.

Through Principe Dynamics, Matthew bridges historical performance with contemporary storytelling, advancing sustainable models for new works and artist-centered practices that position the arts as a living, socially resonant force in the 21st century. Current projects include Creative Producer of Cantos y Tumbaos with 2026 Guggenheim Fellow Reinaldo Moya, development of The Swann with Tamar-kali and Carl Hancock Rux, and the Kindred workshop for The Apollo. He also consults with founding-phase arts organizations on infrastructure and strategic planning, and delivers his talk “Beyond ‘If You Build It, They Will Come’” to institutions including the New England Conservatory and Alliance for Leaders in Music and Art.

Equally adept across mediums, Matthew has produced award-winning short films (Monsura is Waiting, Stag) and GLAAD Media Award-winning theater (Candy & Dorothy). He is a Recording Academy member, Blue Ribbon Judge for The Podcast Academy’s Ambie Awards, and Juror for the 2026 Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival.

Instagram Handles

@principedynamics

@operaprince

@ethansteimel

LinkedIn posts on arts and capitalism. Plus Al Heartley's article on the departure from Arena Stage of artistic director Hana Sharif.

Topics:

⭐️ Artists are people too

⭐️ Theatre education is versatile 

⭐️ Capitalism, good, bad, and ugly

⭐️ The resignation of the Arena Stage artistic director Hana Sharif

Video Version

https://youtu.be/8aVKi_Hp5zE

Feature Not A Bug - Al Heartley:

https://alheartley.substack.com/p/feature-not-a-bug-how-regional-theater?r=6model&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

DC Theatre Arts by Nicole Hertvik

https://dctheaterarts.org/2026/07/05/at-arena-stage-artists-and-staff-describe-a-workplace-in-crisis/

LinkedIn Post #1 - Capitalism

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaelstevenrobbins_you-cant-spend-your-time-on-linkedin-publicly-activity-7473467739005931521-Ylnl/

LinkedIn Post #2 - Artists are People

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sheyrivera_its-still-wild-to-me-that-we-have-to-continue-activity-7474088488364036097-Ylus/

LinkedIn Post #3 - Education Versatility

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jenn-katona_make-no-mistake-visual-and-performing-arts-activity-7476776988527980544-634D/

LinkedIn Post #4 - Education Critical Thinking

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-nina-lemon-4a980a38_creativearts-highereducation-criticalthinking-activity-7476150268963950592-PbEq/

Instagram Handles

@ethansteimel

The business part of a freelance career in Louisville with theatrical lighting designer Jesse AlFord.

Topics:

⭐️ Lighting and teching a circus

⭐️ Panic cancelling recurring donations

⭐️ Home ownership positives and negatives

⭐️ Buying your own gear to make your work easier

⭐️ Not needing a down payment to purchase a home

Video Version

https://youtu.be/LxeimTTYTEY

Jesse AlFord

https://www.litbyjesse.com/

https://www.instagram.com/litbyjesse/

https://www.instagram.com/customercircus/

Royal Court Theatre

https://royalcourttheatre.com/stories/announcing-a-reset-to-pay-terms-for-freelance-creatives/

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/231242/full-print

Circus Flora

https://circusflora.org/

Actors Theatre of Louisville

https://www.actorstheatre.org/

Ben Gonzales

https://www.viterbo.edu/profile-list/benjamin-gonzales

Christina Ferriter

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

Theatre Work - Interview

https://www.artisticfinance.com/161.html

Theatre Work - Book

https://www.productionlaborbook.com/

Designer Pay Resource

https://www.elsahiltner.com/theatrical-designer-pay-resource

First Time Homebuyer Loan

https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/fha-loans

USA 829

https://www.usa829.org/

Liability Insurance 

https://www.artisticfinance.com/136.html

Carly Does Books

https://www.carlydoesbooks.com/

A former circus performer and coach turned Lighting Designer, Jesse is from Southern California, but has settled in Louisville, Kentucky after a brief stint in San Francisco, and graduating from Washington State University. He is the Lighting Director and Resident Lighting Designer at Louisville Ballet, and has enjoyed an award-winning freelance career spanning more than a decade, working with organizations including Kentucky Shakespeare, Cincinnati Ballet, Kentucky Opera, The Va Va Vixens, Circus Flora, The Big Apple Circus, Westchester Circus Arts, The Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis, Stage One Family Theater, Louisville Orchestra, Pandora Productions, Time Slip Theater, Theatre [502], and many more across the country. He has designed more than 250 productions for over 35 organizations. Working in circus, dance, theatre and more, he specializes in the moments and productions that happen in between those disciplines. 

Instagram Handles

@litbyjesse

@customercircus

@ethansteimel

@nicolevsteimel

Theatre performer and educator, Rayme Cornell, talks career finances as a single mom.

Topics:

⭐️ NOT having hobbies

⭐️ A resume versus a CV (Curriculum Vitae)

⭐️ NOT preboarding an airplane with a child in tow

⭐️ Playwrights being the most famous people in theatre

⭐️ NOT opening a 529 education savings plan for your child

⭐️ Raising a child, as a single mom, while working in theatre

⭐️ Training students who then go work on Broadway and beyond

Video Version

https://youtu.be/WfdJXIEPJD4

Rayme Cornell

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayme-cornell-783884117/

https://www.instagram.com/raymecornell/

Webster University

https://www.webster.edu/fine-arts/conservatory-theatre-arts.php

Lynn Nottage

http://www.lynnnottage.com/

Why I’ll Never Make It

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4xWZ2BR6bjoHth2lGIRLMB?si=tySdmOr-QVaNN_t8FB5x3A

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lynn-nottage-writes-through-some-of-lifes-hardest-moments/id1330237490?i=1000690245304

529 Plan

https://www.finra.org/investors/investing/investment-accounts/college-savings-accounts/529-plans

Wilson Chin

https://wilsonchin.com/

Illinois Shakespeare Festival

https://illinoisshakes.com/

Instagram Handles

@raymecornell

@ethansteimel

@nicolevsteimel

Researcher, educator, and director CeCe Ortiz-Barnett discusses funding and access in theatre education.

Topics:

⭐️ Imposter syndrome and the importance of ego

⭐️ Giving grace and providing safe space in higher education

⭐️ Training all types of learners and accommodating them as we’re able

⭐️ CeCe’s exchange program for students from HBCUs to experience PWI of higher education, so they can have a higher likelihood of pursuing a Masters or Doctorate in theatre

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/Qhhxx5WK2CU

CeCe aka Crestencia Ortiz Barnett

https://www.crestcenciaortizbarnett.com/

https://www.instagram.com/cecebeme01/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/crestcencia-ortiz-barnett-ma-mfa-ph-d-52743583/

Reggie the SM

https://reginacwisniewski.com/

Black Theatre Troupe

https://www.blacktheatretroupe.org/

Detroit ‘67

https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/12567/detroit-67

Rep Theatre STL

https://www.repstl.org/

URTA

https://urta.com/

UPTA

https://upta.org/

Kathy Perkins

https://kathyaperkins.com/

Arizona State University

https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/degree-programs/theatre

Ebo Whyte

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

Dyscalculia

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

Stardust Riders

https://www.stardustriders.com/

Instagram Handles

@cecebeme01

@ethansteimel

@nicolevsteimel

Lighting designer Carl Faber returns to the show to discuss freelancing in the performing arts in Portland.

Topics:

⭐️ Zone defense

⭐️ Using local Credit Unions

⭐️ AI entering our workflow

⭐️ HELOC - home equity line of credit

⭐️ Ethics of Credit Cards and Big Banks

⭐️ Freelancing in theatre in Portland, Oregon

⭐️ Our fellow lighting designer Mark McCullough

⭐️ Being a father and freelance theatre designer

⭐️ Building systems in your life to help you succeed

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/QROF7Jtj4lM

Carl Faber

https://carlfaber.com/

Mark McCullough

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/mark-mccullough-76158

https://plsn.com/newsroom/all-news/in-memoriam-mark-mccullough-lighting-designer-62/

Guidestar.org

https://www.guidestar.org/

Tony Awards

https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/

USA 829

https://www.usa829.org/

Evernote

https://evernote.com/

TurboTax

https://turbotax.intuit.com/

Portland Opera

https://www.portlandopera.org/

Carl Faber - Episode 100

https://www.artisticfinance.com/100.html

Instagram Handles

@cxfaber

@carlfaberdesign

@unitedscenicartists

@ethansteimel

@nicolevsteimel