Poor Dancer's Almanac Managing Life and Work in the Performing Arts

9780822313199

0822313197

Combining how-to information with voices of working artists, Poor Dancer's Almanacis an essential resource tool and source of inspiration for all independent artists-choreographers, performance artists, dancers producers, managers. Created in 1975 and revised again in 1984 this handbook has come to serve as one of the most crucial references for the arts community. In the most up-to-date and comprehensive edition yet, a broad range of issues affecting performers and producers is addressed, interwoven with newly added, more personal contributions from major figures in the performance world. Organized and compiled by Dance Theater Workshop in New York and authored by more than fifty leading professionals in the field, Poor Dancer's Almanacoffers in-depth discussions of everything from personal livelihood to professional career development, from medical care, housing, and unemployment insurance to management, touring, and legal issues. Each chapter is followed by an appendix containing extensive and varied listings, giving names and addresses for finding internship programs, videotaping, flooring, grant-writing, and reference publications. Although centered on New York the Almanacincludes lists of resources and contacts for many other states-California, Washington D.C, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. An entirely new section has been added dealing with health issues and the crisis of AIDS. In personal anecdotes and essays various performers offer their own insights and stories-both of struggles and of successes-to bring to life the practical realities of working in the arts. We hear from Merce Cunningham, Eric Bogosian, Karen Finley, Paul Zaloom, and Bill T. Jones, among others. Illustrated with original drawings by Janie Geiser, this thoroughly revised and updated edition of the Poor Dancer's Almanacwill continue to serve as one of the leading sources for those concerned with managing life and work in the performing arts. Selected contents The Financial Realities of Performance Art From Studio to Stage Promoting Your Performance What is Management? Budgeting Funding AIDS Explained Action Medical Insurance for the Arts Psychological Issues for the Dancer