You’ve probably heard the buzz phrase “multiple income streams”? It’s used among people who want to build massive wealth.
Multiple income streams just means making money from not one job, but a couple or a few different avenues.
Maybe you think you’re going into your performing career ONLY dancing or ONLY SINGING or ONLY DANCING AND SINGING and I need you to change that mindset NOW.
Hear me out, please!
I’m not saying this to scare you out of a career in the arts. I’m saying it because I want you to pursue art with a fiery passion AND I also want you not to STRUGGLE in the process. When you’re desperate for a job to pay the bills you won’t be giving your best performance.
People smell desperation.
Here are two podcast interviews I recently listened to. Two dancers, at the top of their game who struggled unemployment for a FEW YEARS.
Built for the Stage
Conversations on Dance
One is dancer Adam Perry, who has been in multiple Broadway shows, the other is Kurt Froman, a soloist from New York City Ballet, Broadway, and Hollywood’s ballet coach.
Two examples of artists in the height of their careers and were desperate for work. They were probably sweating over rent and piling bills. If you listen, they were considering retirement!
This isn’t more common than you think. It’s the NORM.
That said, your other income streams don’t have to be groan-worthy service jobs, although those are perfectly great ways to make your rent from one closing night to the next opening night (I’ve worked more service jobs than I’d like to admit)
But…
If you don’t want to serve tables or hold a tray of drinks in a doorway then you need to start considering what other skills you have RIGHT NOW.
Teaching?
Are you good at math?
Maybe you sew more than just pointe or ballet shoe elastics?
Trying to make it in one performing career is already a lot to ask (I know, I started dancing at 18!), but if you lay this groundwork now for your “side hustle” or your “multiple income streams” when you’re youthful and have boundless energy, your future self thank you!
Picture this: future you, employed in your dream job, looking back at present-day you. You give a sigh of relief and think, “Thank God I put in the work back then! I’m able to live comfortably, going out with friends without sweating when the server comes with the bill!”
Me? I’m looking back at young me who started his dance career in college and was eager enough to pay off his debt and build an emergency fund.
It was pretty useful for my first pandemic shelter-in-place!
