Dating can be expensive, but romance can be enlivening.

What a shame to miss out on heart fluttering, loin burning moments because you're worried about money! On the other hand, how awful to have a dreamy encounter undercut by your terror of spending money you don't have.

This topic is "artistic practice adjacent" but useful nonetheless. So often we're told, you can have love or you can have your art. Not both.

Today, I want to challenge that notion by addressing it in a practical, nuts and bolts, way.

artist life hacksHaley McGee3 November 2020THEATRE ARTIST, LIFE HACKS, ADMIN FOR ARTISTS

How to Cultivate Longevity in the Arts

I'm gonna jump right in and say something bold:

You cannot make good art and have longevity in your career without self-care.

I’m learning this the hard way.

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in July this year. I’m going to be fine, but it’s made me stop and take stock.

I was running on adrenalin for a decade, pushing myself so hard I couldn’t see that I needed a break. I didn’t even realise I was stressed or that I was addicted to being busy.

If you don't know...Rosie Elnile

Rosie Elnile is an award winning performance designer, currently responsible for some of the most exciting theatre design in London.

Put Your Bum in a Seat: How Getting Yourself to the Theatre Will Transform Your Work.

I often hear theatre artists say that they hate theatre. They don’t feel like going. They’re sick of it. They don’t like anything they see.

Full disclosure: I have 110% been there and said those things. And I still struggle with those feelings.

Sometimes when you’re hard at it, grinding it out, going to the theatre is a royal pain in the ass.

That being said, I believe firmly that regularly getting yourself to the theatre will transform your artistic practice and your business savvy for the better.

If you don't know...Matilda Ibini

Matilda Ibini is a bionic playwright, screenwriter and occasional facilitator from London, and she’s a wheelchair user. She writes for stage, TV, film and radio.

An Argument For Embracing Hobbies

Do you have a hobby? I didn’t have any until a couple years ago. It can be difficult to have a hobby when your work is your passion, or obsession.

A hobby can appear frivolous -- a misuse of your precious time and money that should be funnelled back into your CAREER. That’s how I thought anyway.

creative processHaley McGee13 October 2020HOBBY, THEATRE ARTIST, SELF-CARE, STRESS RELIEF, CAREER

If you don't know... Emma Dennis-Edwards

Emma Dennis-Edwards is a writer and actor, who has trained as part of the Old Vic 12, Soho Writers Lab, and The Royal Court and Lyric Hammersmith’s Writers programmes. She is also a current participant at BBC Writersroom Drama Room and Continuing Drama Writer's Academy 2019/2020.

Why Documenting Your Work Is Crucial

I did a short performance of a brand new piece last November. Camden People’s Theatre commissioned me to make a short piece on the theme of 25th Birthdays, to celebrate their 25th Birthday.

I used the occasion to make a start on an idea I’ve had floating around for a while. I had a title, Age is a Feeling, and a broad idea to explore ageing, time and how to live without fearing death.

self-producingHaley McGee29 September 2020THEATRE ARTIST, SCRATCH, DEVELOPMENT

The Creative Power Triad

Since I started teaching artists in my Solo Show Lab about 2 years ago, I've been meditating on what is essential in order for artists to be able to make headway with their work in a way that feels good.

I’ve been working on a theory: The Creative Power Triad. I believe that there are three symbiotic elements necessary for artists to have a healthy and productive creative practice.

The Glory, Power and Freedom of Saying 'No'

As lockdown is eased, it’s fun to think about what things you’d like to shed so you can move into this next period a little lighter, a little freer.

What clunk (physical, mental or relational) can you clear out?

A great, but sometimes easier said than done, way to make space, is to begin saying NO.

artist life hacksHaley McGee15 September 2020SELF CARE, THEATRE ARTIST, ARTIST BURNOUT, COLLABORATING, INNER CRITIC

When To Stop Writing Applications And Invest In Yourself

First of all, I need you to know that I believe the GRANT MONEY IS YOUR MONEY.

You deserve to be supported and fairly compensated for the work you do.

This week however, I want to address what I call, The Application Booby Trap, and when NOT to apply for funding but instead, INVEST IN YOURSELF.

self-producingHaley McGee8 September 2020GRANT WRITING, THEATRE ARTIST, FUNDRAISING, SELF-PRODUCING, ARTIST BURNOUT

If you don't know... Joan Iyiola

Joan Iyiola is an actress, writer, producer and changemaker in the industry.

As an actress, Joan’s credits span film, television and theatre including roles in ENTERPRICE (BBC), BLACK EARTH RISING (BBC/NETFLIX), in TREE (Young Vic,Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba) and as THE DUCHESS in THE DUCHESS OF MALFI for the RSC.

If you don't know... Ingrid Mackinnon

Ingrid Mackinnon is a dancer, choreographer, movement director and educator. Training in Kinesiology at Western University and then in an MA in Movement: Directing & Teaching at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, her work is critically acclaimed and featured on some of the most prolific stages in the UK.

If you don't know... Isabel Adomakoh Young

Isabel Adomakoh Young is an actor, writer and activist. She regularly performs at with Pecs, an all-female/non-binary Drag King troupe who create shows for the LGBTQ+ community (I’m a HUGE fan) and Shotgun Carousel, a London-based, female led production company and performance collective.

BIPOC Artist SeriesHaley McGee21 August 2020arts, pecs, theatre artist, drag king, THEATRE ARTIST, london theatre

If you don't know... Valerie Ebuwa

‘The inspiration is my life… a combination of wanting to fight for dancers, wanting to fight for artists and wanting people to understand how racism works.’ – Valerie Ebuwa, Dance Art Journal

Valerie Ebuwa is a freelance dance artist, activist, writer, mentor and model based in London. Most recently as a maker, she choreographed and created Body Data, a filmed dance piece that provides a fresh perspective on the naked, black, female form.

In Praise of Classes and Workshops

When I relocated to London in 2016 I found myself in a new city, facing big changes in my career.

In Toronto I’d been gigging as a theatre actor, 6 days a week, for several years (read an interview I did about burnout and this transition here).

creative processHaley McGee11 August 2020THEATRE ARTIST, EDUCATION, SELF CARE, CREATIVE RESOURCES, INSPIRATION

ME ME ME: Tips For Making Autobiographical Work!

Autobiographical work is on my mind these days. I’m in the middle of writing a book based on my autobiographical solo show, The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale.

I’ve also taught many artists through my Solo Show Creation Lab who were creating their own autobiographical work. These artists often express fear that their autobiographical work is self-indulgent — That it’s not worthy of a platform. They worry that it’s therapy not art, or a diary rather than a show and therefore won’t have relevance or value.*

creative processHaley McGee4 August 2020AUTOBIOGRAPHY, WRITING, THEATRE ARTIST, INNER CRITIC

The #1 Thing I Wish I'd Accepted Early in My Career

This week I'm digging into the idea that YOUR ART IS A BUSINESS.

… Gross, I know. It gave me the creeps for a long time. I didn't want my creative expression corrupted by capitalism!

However, after years of panic and anxiety about money, I now wish I'd accepted this idea, rather than run from it, early in my career.

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