Stage Hackers: Performance | Stagecraft | Creative Entrepreneurship

The artistic voice is an evolving part of being a creator. It is neither static nor something we acquire all at once. Rather, it is developed through practice, creation, and intersecting with work that inspires us. Today's episode continues our series on Austin Kleon's book, Steal Like an Artist, by examining Chapter 2: Don't wait until you know who you are to get started. By embracing the journey of becoming a better artist and learning from our role models' processes, perspectives, and modes of creating, we can celebrate every stage of our own work as vital to our growth. As the saying goes, "practice makes perfect!" In This Episode, You'll Learn About: Developing your artistic voice by stealing Improving as an artist by creating Defining "copying" as different from plagiarism Copying aspects of process rather than product The journey of self-discovery Imitation as compared to emulation Good Theft vs. Bad Theft Thanks for Joining Us at the Round Table! For links, resources & show notes, visit St

It's easy to get caught up in the creative side of a performance piece. There's nothing like the thrill of discovery in the studio during the creative process or the rush of being in front of a live audience. But the magic on stage can't happen without the financial means to bring a creative idea to fruition. Ella Mahler shares her expertise as a fundraising advisor and sheds some light on how to make fundraising an exciting and interactive process to be embraced rather than feared. By developing personalized strategies and building a strong relationship to your community and audience, the fundraising process itself can become an exciting extension of your creative passion.   In This Episode, You'll Learn About: Defining your artistic goals and career Identifying common fears of fundraising Viewing fundraising as an opportunity Key questions to ask yourself prior to fundraising Approaching your audience as a resource Fundamental forms of fundraising Articulating why your work matters Setting achievable

The creative act is the synthesis and manifestation of an artist's unique take on their collected experiences, influences, and inspirations. The artist, then, benefits immensely from exposure to as much creative stimulus as possible, but must actively assess what experiences and creative tools to utilize. Today's round table is the first in a series which delves into a book about this very process. Austin Kleon's "Steal Like an Artist" details thoughts and strategies for engaging in life to accrue inspiration and artistic influences. Each episode in this series will examine one or more chapters as a springboard for discussion on the very Stage Hackers-esque concept of stealing like an artist. Join us for today's episode on Chapter One: Steal Like an Artist.   In This Episode, You'll Learn About: • Discerning what is and isn't worth stealing as an artist • Finding freedom in the fact that "it's all been done before" • The artist as collector rather than hoarder • Exposing yourself to art and in

An essential component of an independent artist's career is identifying the intersection of passion, purpose, and public need. Having drive and clear goals to pursue in the creation of work fosters a lasting impact on creator and audience alike. Today's guest has developed an organization and performance model that truly harnesses her personal experience, discipline, and creative voice to meet a vital public need. Marina Tsaplina is a versatile, kinesthetic performer and founder of The Betes Organization. She blurs performance lines, integrating highly expressive physical precision, mime, clown, puppetry, object theater, silence, text, music and improvisation to create pieces of wonder, mystery, beauty, and breath. The Betes' work is focused exclusively on the illness experience -- developing methods and creating opportunities for people to consider their chronic ailments in the context of their self-identity through theatrical engagements, discussions, and group exercises.   In This Episode, You'll Lear

In seeking to captivate, performers must uncover what it is to inhabit the performance space as different from the everyday. Authenticity, vulnerability, charisma--words often used but rarely decoded into skills the performer can develop. Today at the round table we work, along with our shared vocabulary of Margolis Method, to define the performative state and discuss inroads for the performer to find it. As a pivotal creative influence for all three of us, Margolis Method redefined our understanding of the actor/performer’s craft and what it calls the “creative state” as something practicable, not left to fate. Bringing a skilled and expressive instrument to the stage is a transformative experience for performer and audience alike, and ultimately creates work that transcends the everyday to profound effect.   In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Theatrical effort and resistance The dialogue of self and space in inhabiting performativity Physicalizing imagination Expanding possib

Establishing a creative environment that fosters collaboration, communication, and a sense of community is essential to developing strong work. HowlRound embodies this approach to work as a commons for theatrical research and discourse. HowlRound representatives and dramaturgs, Ramona Ostrowski and Adewunmi Oke join us to discuss their personal approaches to the creative process as well as the HowlRound philosophy of sharing, learning, and growing. HowlRound was born five years ago—as a place for artists to provide feedback, learning, expertise, frustration, and vision—in an effort to enliven the fields of theatre and performance to the aspiring and established artist alike. Ramona Ostrowski is the Associate Producer of HowlRound at Emerson College. An advocate for new plays, Ramona has worked on various projects as a dramaturg, reads scripts for multiple companies, and is an editor of the New England New Play Alliance's weekly newsletter. Ramona is a member of LMDA and a graduate of Boston Univer

Whether it’s a 24-hour theatre festival, a last minute invitation to an open showing, or a self-appointed deadline, the short creative process offers challenges and opportunities to test your creative mettle and experiment with your craft. Today’s round table dives into strategies to make the most of a short or condensed process. Understanding how to frame your mindset, choices, and environment can make the process a fulfilling experience yielding exciting work and enormous personal growth.   In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Applying the skill set of free writing to any aspect of creation Creating an environment that fosters generation and risk taking Trusting skill sets to conquer self-doubt Honoring initial propositions Applying your skill sets to other mediums Embracing the challenges inherent in a short process Taking advantage of what’s at your disposal Staying receptive to collaborators while working efficiently Approaching festivals and the short process as an opportun

Scintillating, thrilling, daring, tantalizing; while burlesque’s specific dramatic flair embodies these qualities on stage, all theatrical forms can likewise learn to benefit from these visceral attributes. Emerging theatre and burlesque artist Jacob Paul Miller, also known as Jäc Pau, joins us today to discuss his creative process and research, revealing much about how the conventions of burlesque--costuming, imagery, audience rapport--can be applied to enhance any theatrical experience. Jacob lives in Minneapolis, MN, where he trains and performs in burlesque, clown, physical comedy, and most recently has been working as an assistant director and stage manager for numerous companies in the Twin Cities. He is co-founder of The Neutral Mask Collective, a theatrical research laboratory with a monthly performance called Awkward Love. Recent original productions include Babes in Wonderland and I’ll Be Trying to Be There, as well as burlesque performance in Carnevale Revolver.   In This Epis

Mindset is a crucial component to staying positive, productive, and sane as an artist. An individual’s frame of mind can make or break a creative process or even career. Today’s round table digs into previous guests’ pearls of wisdom as well as some of our own thoughts on developing an effective mindset for a successful and fulfilling artistic career. By developing a mindfulness of perspective and work ethic, you can be a more powerful creator and storyteller. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Fostering self-confidence and owning the validity of your creative voice Pursuing inspiration proactively Thinking outside of conventional theatrical forms Developing a creative support network Committing to an end product Creating goals to be accountable to Mentally preparing for the ups and downs of the creative process Focusing on your unique perspective rather than finding an “original” idea Working collaboratively rather than competitively Knowing what kind of artist you are

It’s the artist’s journey to continually discover, interpret, and share the stories and inspirations that are all around us, waiting to be found. Today’s guest calls them “provocations.” Whether it’s the story told in your own body’s posture or gait, or an event transpiring in your current locale, provocations are abundant if you take the time to identify them. Denise shares her story of drive, travel, movement, research, and training with enlightening thoughts on the creative environment and process. Denise is a Lecoq-based devising theatre artist and pedagogue. Theatre has led her throughout the world including USA, England, France, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines and Poland. Denise is the founder and artistic director of Theatre Amoeba.   Presently, she is based in Italy, giving pedagogical workshops to movement theatre students in Italy and Sweden. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Developing awareness of one’s body/instrument Finding inspiratio

Whether you’re in a conventional cast or a collaborative ensemble, there is a specific skill set to working creatively with a group of people. Understanding how to contribute in a positive and clear way creates an environment that fosters honesty, inspiration, and the freedom to take risks. Join today’s round table discussion as we dissect what makes a dream ensemble member--someone everyone wants to work with and gets the most out of any creative opportunity.   In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Embodying generosity as an artist Understanding the potential within propositions Acknowledging whether you function best as a solo or ensemble artist Approaching a process with compassion Strategies for dealing with a challenging ensemble member Maintaining professionalism in the studio Preparing for each rehearsal Identifying your role in supporting a given story How and when to say “no”   Thanks for Joining Us at the Round Table! For links, resources & show note

Life is movement, and our drive as artists is to translate this journey into a shared experience on stage: to move our audiences. Today’s guest is an expert at doing so, using movement, dance, and a multi-disciplinary process to create vivid, evocative performances. Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite shares her insights on the creative process and the genesis of new work. Crystal Pite is the creative director of Kidd Pivot, whose distinct choreographic language – a breadth of movement fusing classical elements and the complexity and freedom of structured improvisation – is marked by a strong theatrical sensibility and a keen sense of wit and invention. Crystal has collaborated with celebrated dance artists, theatre companies and filmmakers in Canada, Europe, and the United States. Since 2002, she has created and performed under the banner of her own company. Her work and her company have been recognized with numerous awards and commissions. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Creati

The aural sense is a powerful component of the theatrical experience. Sound and music can help create an immersive environment to deepen the visceral impact of a performance. Today we discuss a few ways to think about and integrate sound and music into the creative process and product. Whether you’re choreographing a song and dance routine, creating an atmospheric soundscape, orchestrating a live soundtrack of breath and guttural expression, or setting poignant sound cues, developing the awareness of how choices affect the audience can help enrich any production. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Using music to reinforce or juxtapose moments on stage Facilitating choreographical or character driven scenes The fine line between evocative and didactic The effect of popular or recognizable music Practical uses of sound/music Defining sound and music Experimentation and transposition during the creative process Ways to describe the kind of audio you want for richer research and discussion with a c

Through the exhilarating and sometimes chaotic whirlwind of creation, it’s essential to maintain mindfulness about personal process and an audience’s experience. As theatrical storyteller Rachel Nelson puts it, the balance of focus and flexibility serves to bolster, ground, and fuel creative growth and development. In speaking with her, it’s clear Rachel exemplifies this philosophy in every aspect of her process: through solo research, in working with an outside eye, and in the live performance -- all in the pursuit of touching hearts and changing lives. Rachel Nelson is a storyteller, songwriter, and musician whose passion is live performance. She likes to push the edges out to keep roots music a growing tradition.    In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Balancing focus and flexibility Identifying seemingly inert periods as part of a creative process Making creative connections with a new theatrical concept Owning personal strategies for creation Creating a framework to get

The creative process can be a vulnerable time for us as artists. With work still in development it can be hard to receive feedback without it feeling incredibly personal, yet feedback can be a profound tool for refining a piece. Today’s roundtable discussion delves into how to best utilize an outside eye in a way that services and empowers your process. Knowing how to seek feedback and structure it in a way that speaks to process rather than personal taste can make receiving it exciting rather than terrifying. Moreover, developing an analytical eye and the craft of giving clear feedback makes for a stronger creator and can even open financial opportunities for the creative entrepreneur -- both are inspiring prospects to us as Stage Hackers! In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Ways to define an outside eye Essential characteristics of a strong outside eye Ways a director can interface with an outside eye Methods for communicating goals and guidelines When to bring in an outside eye Refining your

Being an artist means taking risks both on and off stage. Whether we relish or dread the idea, ultimately taking a leap teaches us valuable and profound lessons. Jared Fladeland, founder and director of Conduit Theatre, shares his reflections on fostering the ability to “listen” and identify otherwise unseen opportunities for tremendous impact in life and for an audience. Conduit Theatre is a company based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, that strives to create, curate, and collaborate to produce spiritual and resonant theatrical productions. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: The virtue of tenacity Finding space for inspiration when dealing with creative block Using imagery as a starting point for creative research Knowing when and where to leave creative space within a performance Developing a “spine” as a structure from which to improvise Staying present with the audience to be aware of creative opportunities Adaptable technical design Learning from performances to continue a

Great performances capture our hearts and imaginations in a profound way. It is the magic of these experiences that draw us back to the theatre, both as audience members and as performers. This very magic, in its seemingly unquantifiable nature, poses a problem for performers and the greater cultural understanding of what it means to be a great artist. How do you capture charisma if you don’t innately exude it? What is the “x factor” and what do you do if you’re not born with “it?” These questions and more inspire the greater conversation of today’s topic. In a culture obsessed with the phenomenon of the apparent overnight success and newbies making it big on the silver screen, many artists are left questioning whether they were “born for the stage” or not. The truth is far more liberating and simple. Join us as we delve into what makes a great performer. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: The dangers of comparison Embracing the work to become gre

For many self-starting artists, the dream of touring their own production is enticing, but daunting. Here to dispel those fears is the experienced and energetic Grant Knutson of Minion Productions. Grant and his company are devoted to helping artists fulfill their dreams of successfully touring to festivals across North America and internationally. They provide valuable support with their extensive knowledge, network and marketing skills. Join our conversation with Grant as he shares with us his insights on the nature of “social introverts” and the unique demands and opportunities of fringe festival tours. In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: The possibilities of touring fringe festivals Marketing strategies in unfamiliar locales Time management for producing Networking effectively with artists and audiences Tapping into passion about your work to keep outreach authentic Developing polished, quality work for new audiences Understanding the social dynamic of fringe festivals How to start edu

Technical elements are able to deeply enrich the live experience. Whether it’s light, video, sound, or some sophisticated set piece or machinery, these elements can take a production to the next level and help transport the audience to another world. However, theatrical tech can be the creator’s best friend or cruelest enemy. An undeniable component of the live experience is the simple fact that malfunctions happen; lights can flicker, microphones can stop working, audio can fail. When Murphy’s Law kicks in, it’s up to the creator to assess how best to deal with a given situation in the moment. Join us as we discuss skill set, trust, personal standards, and techniques to deal with technical glitches during a live performance.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Our perspective on the technical issue during Adele's performance at the Grammys. Working with technical elements as early in the creative process as possible Using technical expertise to deal with problem

Honesty is paramount to us as creators. We seek to create honesty on stage, to evoke an honest reaction, and engage in honest dialogue on stage. As the bold and forthright Deanna Fleysher shares with us, we must also be honest with ourselves in understanding the kind of work we wish to create, the lives we wish to lead, the people we best work with, and the boundaries we need to set. Deanna is a comedy artist, teacher, and director devoted to audience inclusion. Currently, she tours her award-winning solo show BUTT KAPINSKI and teaches Naked Comedy labs internationally.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn About: Perspectives on working outside of the commercial paradigm of acting Misconceptions about working outside of your craft Developing an array of skill sets to sustain your career Pairing workshops with touring performances Workshopping new work in small segments The value of video recording rehearsals Balancing flexibility and boundaries Choosing the right people to work with Thoughts on theatre