3 Questions to Ask When Determining Worth As An Artist
Melody DeRogatis
It’s not a huge secret that making a living in theatre isn’t the most lucrative career choice. Even if you’re a member of a union, oftentimes, theatre artists need to find multiple jobs and side hustles to make ends meet. Given the reality of financial instability, most people don’t go into the theatre industry professionally expecting to get rich… but, professional theaters usually do pay something. So, when it comes to making artistic career decisions, how does a person navigate?
Determining your worth as a theatrical artist is multi-faceted and tricky, but everyone has artistic worth. While it’s not only financial, it’s always crucial to consider your worth as an artist before committing to any new projects. Here are some things to think about before committing to a new production (in no particular order):
Is it worth the money?
If your theatre income contributes to your cost of living, then money is likely a primary consideration when taking on a production… but even if it isn’t, it is still something to consider. If theatre-making is a part of your income, make sure you know the value of your time and hard work, and how that translates to a wage. If income isn’t a consideration, make sure you’re not losing money by committing to a show. Is the show in a town 35-miles away, where you’ll be spending $60 on gas each week? Of course, there are likely some roles you’d want to play, or shows you’d want to design, so badly, that you would pay a company to hire you themselves! That’s awesome! Just always make sure that you’re aware of the potential financial gain/loss when you take on a new production, and it’s worth the commitment.
Is it worth the time?
Time is a form of currency in itself. The schedule of a theatre artist is busy and crazed, so it’s important that your time is spent wisely. Is the show something you’ll enjoy working on? Is it with a company and folks who seem enjoyable to spend time with? Also, consider other commitments you have going on. If you’re getting married or moving houses or starting a new job, will the amount of time you have to focus on the production be worth the time you won’t have to allocate to your other commitments?
Is it worth your energy?
Making art is bold and exhausting. Every time we work on a show, we’re exposing a piece of ourselves to the universe… that takes a lot of energy and bravery. It’s always important to make sure that any production you commit to, is worthy of consuming your energy and space in your life. If you hate musicals and being around kids, working on a production of Willy Wonka might not be worth your energy.
Additionally, sometimes a production might be interesting, but not the right thing to right thing at the right time. If you’re feeling down-trodden with the state of US politics and you want to find a way to help with your art, maybe doing a production of Cabaret where all the proceeds go to Planned Parenthood is a better use of your energy than a random production of Avenue Q. Conversely, if you are currently grappling with the death of someone close to you, maybe working on a funny, light-hearted show like You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a better idea than a production of ‘Night, Mother. Whatever your circumstances, it’s always crucial to consider your energy before committing to a new production, because otherwise, you could end up with long-term damage.
As your life changes, your priorities will change. Sometimes, you’ll need to take the project that pays the most money. Other times, you might need something that isn’t a huge time commitment. And sometimes, you might not have much of a choice. But no matter what, your worth is always something to take into consideration, because you’re worth it.