I know you are waiting to hear about the Boom. But, before I jump into that matrix, I would like to explore the finances connected to being an artist.
It takes money to make money. It is more of an obstacle when the business barely produces a red cent in the beginning. Before moving to NYC, I spent money on headshots, voice lessons, coaching, scripts, copies of music, gas, plane tickets, a mortgage, property taxes, self-help books, and more and more bills. If you think that you can simply leap into this shit without a job that you tolerate or a kind sponsor then you are fooling yourself. If you are not in a union, you may be earning $100 per week for your artistic efforts. Or nothing! So you better love this life because it does not always love you back.
Once I hit NYC, that amazing show I spoke of earlier, Soul of a Chanteuse, cost me even more money. In fact, I have no idea how I paid a mortgage for an empty house in Chicago, rent in Brooklyn, the musicians, for rehearsal space, more voice lessons, transportation, more pictures, sent money home for my daughter, and FOOD. You know how I did it? I taught at school where I literally trained my students to help me sneak out to auditions. And I still actually taught them so that almost all of them passed the NY state tests with flying colors.
This section is an interruption in my time continuum for those up and coming artists who still believe that this is an easy path. It is not. And I want you to jump in knowing full well that an eviction notice can be in your near future.
Now back to the BOOM.
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