Episodes

  • 171: Union Strong & Console Agnostic with Erica D Hayes - Bonus Episode

    171: Union Strong & Console Agnostic with Erica D Hayes - Bonus Episode
    Nov 14 2024
    Ellen and Ethan interview Los Angeles based lighting designer, programmer, and video director Erica D Hayes. Topics: ⭐️ Following the money ⭐️ A high school internship leading to a career path ⭐️ Contracts are only as good as the people they’re made with ⭐️ Speed of payments as a contractor with Net 30, Net 45, and Net 60 ⭐️ Joining IATSE 728, The Union Dedicated to Motion Picture Set Lighting Video Version https://youtu.be/WBo6MsgPxoU Artistic Finance https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance LDI - Free registration with promo code ARTISTICFINANCE https://www.ldishow.com/ Erica D Hayes https://www.ericadhayes.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericadhayes/ https://www.instagram.com/ericadhayes/ IATSE 728 https://www.iatse728.org/ Artistic Finance Resource List https://www.patreon.com/posts/resource-list-114287278?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link KEM https://www.musicbykem.com/ Ledisi https://www.ledisi.com/ The Isley Brothers https://officialisleybrothers.com/ The Pearl Theater https://www.palms.com/entertainment/pearl-theater Teri Garr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teri_Garr Ellen Lampert-Gréaux https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-lampert-gr%C3%A9aux-2abb351b/ Erica D. Hayes discovered her gift for lighting the same way she found her love for directing: through a love for music, and a penchant for building genuine relationships. The Detroit, Michigan native was on the road with R&B/soul singer KEM in 2007 as his video director, when she learned that one of his tour mates, future repeat Grammy nominee Ledisi, needed lighting for her own first headlining tour. She asked Ledisi for a shot. In the years since, Hayes has moved to Los Angeles, where she’s become a go-to lighting designer for both legacy acts like The Isley Brothers, Anita Baker, Fantasia, and Run DMC, and contemporary stars like SYD, Coi Leray, and H.E.R., who she toured with. She also designed R&B star Daniel Caesar’s Freudian Tour, and his performance on “The Late Night Show with James Corden.” Additionally, Erica has provided designs for rising stars Flo Millie, Lucky Daye, Amaarae, and FLO, further cementing her reputation as a versatile designer. Once she established herself in the music industry, Hayes prepared to take her talents into television and film. After more than 15 years in the industry, she was initiated into the IATSE 728 union. She was pregnant with her second child, but she didn’t let that stop her: Hayes landed early opportunities as a lighting console programmer for HBO shows such as Made For Love and Westworld. Her work on those shows helped her earn additional gigs for the Nickelodeon sitcom That Girl Lay Lay, HBO’s hit Insecure, and ABC’s Call Me Kat, along with the feature film House Party produced by LeBron James’ Springhill Company. These days, with both the music and film industries at her fingertips, Hayes can afford to be selective with her projects, but that doesn’t mean she’s slowed her pace. She has the phrase “work comes from work” tattooed on her wrist and continues to make moves steadily. Her dedicated approach has led her to work with a multigenerational swath of award-winning musicians, television shows, and feature films with many more ahead for the future. Instagram Handles @ericadhayes @iatselocal728 @nicolevsteimel @ethansteimel @live.design @ldishow Hosted by Ellen Lampert-Gréaux and Ethan Steimel
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    39 mins
  • 171: Sober Shakespeare with Clara Kundin & Ella Fent

    171: Sober Shakespeare with Clara Kundin & Ella Fent
    Nov 11 2024

    An interview with two of the union organizers who helped Drunk Shakespeare join the Actor’s Equity Association. Ella Fent from the Chicago production and Clara Kundin from the Phoenix company talk about the long day's journey into unionizing.

    Topics:

    ⭐️ Reasons for unionizing

    ⭐️ Navigating the process of joining AEA

    ⭐️ The benefits gained through union membership

    ⭐️ Advice for other theatre workers considering unionizing

    Video Version

    https://youtu.be/G5i2aXVQNPI

    Artistic Finance

    https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

    Drunk Shakespeare

    https://www.drunkshakespeare.com/welcome

    Drunk Shakespeare United

    https://www.instagram.com/drunkshakesunited/

    https://linktr.ee/drunkshakesunited

    Clara Kundin

    https://clarakundin.com/

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

    Ella Fent

    https://www.instagram.com/bi.banshee/?hl=en

    LDI

    https://www.ldishow.com/

    Free pass with promo code ARTISTICFINANCE

    Clara Kundin (she/her) is a theater-maker and educator. She holds an MFA in Theatre for Youth & Community with an emphasis in Directing from Arizona State University, a certificate in physical theater from the École Jacques Lecoq, and a BA in Theatre from St. Olaf College. She has performed nationally and internationally including Off-Broadway and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Most recently, she performed in the original cast of the Phoenix branch of the Off-Broadway hit Drunk Shakespeare. She is now an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Eastern New Mexico University.

    Ella Fent (she/her) is a union organizer and theater professional in Chicago. She is a volunteer organizer with the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC), and currently serves on Actors’ Equity Committee to Prevent Harassment and Hostile Work Environments. She has a special place in her heart for organizing workplaces around environmental issues, and recently spoke at the 2024 Labor Notes Conference on a panel called “Fight the Boss, Fix the Climate”. She has been a bartender at Drunk Shakespeare for 3 years, and has been part of Drunk Shakespeare United since day 1.

    Instagram Handles

    @drunkshakesunited

    @clarakallday

    @bi.banshee

    @actorsequity

    @nicolevsteimel

    @ethansteimel

    Interview by Ethan Steimel
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • 170: Balancing Light and Life with Kat Borderud - Bonus Episode

    170: Balancing Light and Life with Kat Borderud - Bonus Episode
    Nov 7 2024

    Lighting and visual production designer Kat Borderud sits down with Ellen and Ethan to talk about handling finances as a touring LD and programmer.

    Topics:

    ⭐️ Needs versus wants

    ⭐️ The ebb and flow of rates

    ⭐️ Freelancers learning finances on the go

    ⭐️ Working prep in the rental shops that build tours

    Video Version

    https://youtu.be/qQ5AcRshTSE

    Artistic Finance

    https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

    Kat Borderud

    https://www.katborderud.com/

    @katmagik

    The Art of Tailoring A Show

    https://sched.co/1odhj

    Financial Independence for Creatives

    https://sched.co/1hUTn

    Khruangbin

    https://www.khruangbin.com/

    LDI - use code ARTISTICFINANCE - for a free expo hall pass

    https://www.ldishow.com/

    Ellen Lampert-Gréaux

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-lampert-gr%C3%A9aux-2abb351b/

    Kat Borderud is a Nurnberg, Germany-born multi-disciplinary light artist, production designer, lighting programmer, and lighting director from the USA. Her approach to working with musicians and bands of all sizes comes from both her own musical background and personal place of designing with people she loves dearly, executing a vision of how artists wish to be seen on stage. Kat’s background as a musician growing up fueled her career as lighting designer embodying the visual band member through percussive programming, as well as a designer who can work with artists on a personal level to fulfill their production desires.

    Instagram Handles

    @katmagik

    @nicolevsteimel

    @ethansteimel

    @live.design

    @ldishow

    Hosted by Ellen Lampert-Gréaux and Ethan Steimel
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    40 mins
  • 170: Holy Dismissal - Producing Faith & Identity Onstage with Matthew LaBanca

    170: Holy Dismissal - Producing Faith & Identity Onstage with Matthew LaBanca
    Nov 4 2024
    Performer and musician Matthew LaBanca discussing his upcoming solo show Communion, in which he tells the story of getting fired from his music teaching job by the Catholic Church when he was reported for being gay. Topics: ⭐️ Finding a lead producer using the internet ⭐️ Producing a non-profit off-Broadway mini contract ⭐️ Theatre careers are about relationships, so have integrity because it’s a magnetic trait ⭐️ It’s a solitary career, so let people into your process sooner than later to have company and momentum as you take projects to fruition Pitch Deck https://www.patreon.com/posts/170-holy-faith-115323912?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Video Version https://youtu.be/AmztiOgdy-k Artistic Finance https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance Matthew LaBanca www.MatthewLaBanca.com Communion www.CommunionThePlay.com @communionsoloshow The Cell Theatre https://www.thecelltheatre.org/ New York Times Article https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/27/nyregion/catholic-school-teacher-fired-same-sex-marriage.html Backstage Jobs (now Off Stage): https://staging.offstagejobs.com/jobs.php 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture https://www.1946themovie.com/ Kira Simring - director https://www.linkedin.com/in/kira-simring-0134025/ Alissa Orlando - producer https://www.linkedin.com/in/alissa-orlando-0118531b/ Matthew LaBanca – actor, writer, teacher, musician Matthew made his Broadway debut with the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein, where he covered the title role and stepped in during previews, garnering great acclaim. He has since appeared on Broadway in White Christmas, as well as the 2019 Tony Award winning play A Christmas Carol. Matthew’s self-penned solo show Good Enough played Off-Broadway at the United Solo Festival, winning the festival's Best Musical Award in 2014. For years, Matthew worked as a musician and music teacher within the Diocese of Brooklyn and was controversially terminated after he wed his husband in 2021. This led to a media firestorm and, ultimately, the creation of his newest solo show Communion, which makes it’s world premiere Off Broadway November, 2024 for a limited run. Matthew’s story is also portrayed in the new documentary film May All Be Wed, which made its debut on the festival circuit this autumn. National Tours: Crazy for You (Bobby), Anything Goes, Joseph...Dreamcoat (cast album). Regional: Mary Poppins (Bert), Singin’ in the Rain (Don Lockwood), A Chorus Line (Zach), Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch), Love, Valour, Compassion (Perry), and The Rocky Horror Show (Frank-N-Furter, *BroadwayWorld.com Nominee for Best Actor). Matthew has performed at Paper Mill Playhouse, TUTS Houston, Kansas City Starlight, Asolo Rep, San Jose Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera, and Carnegie Hall. His TV credits include Comedy Central's Broad City, Live from Lincoln Center, and the upcoming season of Severance on Apple+. In addition to performing, Matthew is a proud NYC elementary music teacher at PS151 in Woodside, Queens. Instagram Handles @matthewlabanca @communionsoloshow @kirasimring @thecelltheatre @nicolevsteimel @ethansteimel Interview by Ethan Steimel
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • 169: Navigating Rates, Retirement, and Networking with Emily Malone - Bonus Episode

    169: Navigating Rates, Retirement, and Networking with Emily Malone - Bonus Episode
    Oct 31 2024

    Ellen and Ethan talk with Emily Malone, head of live events at Disguise, known for hardware and software for events and installations, like the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    Topics:

    ⭐️ Determining rates

    ⭐️ Saving for overhead

    ⭐️ Saving for retirement

    ⭐️ Benefits of networking

    We also discuss the Vegas Sphere, Adele’s Munich Show, and Philadelphia Cream Cheese

    Video Version

    https://youtu.be/p2ZI0DUH0O4

    Artistic Finance

    https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

    LDI

    https://www.ldishow.com/

    Emily Malone

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

    Disguise

    https://www.disguise.one/en

    Free Agent

    https://www.freeagent.com/us/

    Ellen Lampert-Gréaux

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-lampert-gr%C3%A9aux-2abb351b/

    Emily Malone is the Head of Live Events at Disguise, where she champions the company’s role at the forefront of the live events industry. Trained at RADA in Technical Theatre and Stage Management, she began working with video at the National Theatre before embarking on a 10 year freelance career as a media server programmer on productions such as Back To The Future: The Musical and War Horse. At Disguise, Emily has remained close to her hands-on production roots, having also held roles in the support and software engineering teams.

    Instagram Handles

    @nicolevsteimel

    @ethansteimel

    @live.design

    @ldishow

    Hosted by Ellen Lampert-Gréaux and Ethan Steimel
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    29 mins
  • 169: Illuminating Public Art with Ben Davis

    169: Illuminating Public Art with Ben Davis
    Oct 28 2024

    Amy D Lux interviews Ben Davis, founder of Illuminate, a San Francisco non-profit that rallies large groups of people together to create impossible works of public art.

    Topics:

    ⭐️ The Bay Bridge Lights

    ⭐️ Raising a million dollars a month

    ⭐️ Conversely, turning down millions of dollars of funding

    ⭐️ The economy of generosity vs. economy of reciprocity

    Quicklinks - Artistic Finance:

    https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

    Video Version:

    https://youtu.be/327Aw0bEuAs?si=CDtY99XwNtVgB0rg

    Illuminate

    https://illuminate.org/

    Ben Davis

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-davis-sf/

    Musco Lighting

    https://www.musco.com/baybridge/

    Leo Villareal - Bay Bridge Lights

    https://villareal.net/the-bay-lights-2013-the-bay-bridge-sf-ca

    George Zisiadis - Grace Light

    https://www.georgezisiadis.com/

    Gabriel Gold - Grace Light Composer

    https://www.gabrielgoldmusic.com/

    Mark Deem - Misfit Toys

    https://goldenmileproject.org/project/remember-when/

    Reuben Rude - Whale

    https://goldenmileproject.org/project/street-whale/

    Dana King - Rooted (In) Justice

    https://goldenmileproject.org/project/rooted-in-justice/

    Charlie Gadekan

    https://goldenmileproject.org/project/tune-in/

    Doggie Diner Heads

    https://goldenmileproject.org/project/doggie-diner-heads/

    Cristo and Jeanne-Claude

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christo_and_Jeanne-Claude

    Amy D Lux:

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

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

    Instagram Handles

    @illuminatethearts

    @lobolux

    @ethansteimel

    @nicolevsteimel

    Interview by Amy D Lux
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 168: Full Time Church Lighting, Freelance Gigs, and Parenting with Amanda Carradine - Bonus Episode

    168: Full Time Church Lighting, Freelance Gigs, and Parenting with Amanda Carradine - Bonus Episode
    Oct 24 2024

    Ellen and Ethan chat with Amanda Carradine, the lighting director for Eastside Christian Church in California.

    Topics:

    ⭐️ Being a church LD

    ⭐️ Saving for inevitable slow seasons

    ⭐️ Determining rates for freelance gigs

    ⭐️ Finding stability in a production career

    Video Version

    https://youtu.be/p2ZI0DUH0O4

    Artistic Finance

    https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

    LDI

    https://www.ldishow.com/

    Amanda Carradine

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

    FILO

    https://filo.org/filo2025/

    Eastside Christian Church

    https://eastside.com/anaheim/

    Ellen Lampert-Gréaux

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-lampert-gr%C3%A9aux-2abb351b/

    Amanda Carradine is passionate about working in live entertainment and specializes in lighting. She has professional experience in a large variety of venues: theaters, theme parks, cruise ships, houses of worship, broadcast studios, conference/corporate events, and performance arenas. She is currently working full-time as the Lighting Director for Eastside Christian Church, a large multisite church based out of Anaheim, CA, and also contracts for Trinity Broadcasting Network. When she's not working she loves having adventures with her two kids.

    Instagram Handles

    @manda.plus.two

    @nicolevsteimel

    @ethansteimel

    @live.design

    @ldishow

    Hosted by Ellen Lampert-Gréaux and Ethan Steimel
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    23 mins
  • 168: Windy City Lighting with Heather Gilbert

    168: Windy City Lighting with Heather Gilbert
    Oct 21 2024
    An interview with lighting designer Heather Gilbert about financial habits throughout her decades-long career in Chicago and recently on Broadway. Topics: ⭐️ Picking up the tab ⭐️ Asking for higher design fees ⭐️ Freelancer designers filing their own taxes ⭐️ Broadway design fees for plays versus musicals ⭐️ And an apology to Assistant Stage Managers from Lighting Designers Video Version https://youtu.be/o5gZkkBQ5V8 Full Interview https://www.patreon.com/posts/168-windy-city-113688908?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link "Entering The Industry" Slideshow & Resource List https://www.patreon.com/posts/resource-list-114287278?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Artistic Finance https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance Heather Gilbert https://www.hgilbertdesign.com/ https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/heather-gilbert-522765 Pay Quarterly Taxes https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/oc-paytaxeswithyourmobiledevice.pdf Per Diem Rates https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates Entertainment Community Fund https://entertainmentcommunity.org/free-tax-preparation-services Acorns https://www.acorns.com/ Parade https://paradebroadway.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parade_(musical) David Cromer https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/david-cromer-478813 Laura Ingalls Wilder https://bookshop.org/a/86693/9781250182487 Carole King Biography https://bookshop.org/a/86693/9781455512621 The Outsiders https://outsidersmusical.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outsiders_(musical) Bug https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bug_(play) Carrie Coon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Coon Tracy Letts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Letts Scott Pask https://www.instagram.com/scottpaskstudio/ Casa Pask https://www.instagram.com/casapask/ Wilson Chin https://www.instagram.com/wilsonchindesign/?hl=en Cory Pattak https://www.instagram.com/corypattak/?hl=en Adam Koch https://www.instagram.com/instadamkoch/ HEATHER GILBERT (Lighting Designer) is a Chicago based lighting designer. Broadway: Parade (Tony Nomination, Drama Desk Nomination), The Sound Inside (Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony Award Nomination), Cult of Love (Second Stage). Off Broadway Dead Outlaw for Audible at Minetta Lane (Drama Desk Nomination). Chicago: Steppenwolf, Goodman, Writers Theatre, Northlight, Victory Gardens, Court Theatre, Steep Theatre, and many, many storefronts. Regional: The Muny, Center Theatre Group, Studio Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alley Theatre, American Repertory Theater, Magic Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pasadena Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Olney Theatre Center. She is the Head of Lighting Design at Columbia College Chicago and received her MFA at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Instagram Handles @htglights @unitedscenicartists @ethansteimel @nicolevsteimel Bookshop.org links are our affiliate links. Interview by Ethan Steimel
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    1 hr and 2 mins