Business Skills For Artists @ The New Theatre

Arts entrepreneur, playwright and teacher Pete Malicki
Arts entrepreneur, playwright and teacher Pete Malicki

It is the wish of many artists to make their living from their creative endeavours. In the full passion of youth it appears eminently possible. As time marches on and one hasn’t achieved a best selling novel, risen to the top of the I-Tunes chart, or received a commission from an Art Gallery, the hard practicalities of  life  mean that many people have to get a ‘real job’ to survive.

Forgive the indulgence but here is a personal anecdote that deserves retelling. This is going back a fair bit in time….It is my graduation ceremony from the University where I completed my Bachelor of Creative Arts degree. The ceremony has fallen about six months after the actual completing the degree.

My name is announced and I go up and receive my degree from the University’s Vice Chancellor. All smiles….The Vice Chancellor asks me- ‘And what are you doing now?’. My reply was honest- ‘Sir, I am on unemployment benefits’. We smile, and I leave the stage…The next student’s name is announced.

A group of us, now University alumni, met afterwards to debrief…It comes out that the Vice Chancellor asked the same question of all of us….and yes more than a few of us gave the same answer.

Life on the creative arts scene was tough then…I am sure that freshly graduating students are still finding it very challenging to make substantial inroads in their chosen field.

Which brings me to this…The articulate and personable Pete Malicki, who many people will know as the Literary Manager of the annual Short and Sweet Festival, has announced that he will be running a one day course, Business Skills for Artists, at the New Theatre at the end of the month. It could just be the kind of course that might make things just a little easier if you are starting out in your career, particularly in a performing arts field.

Malicki advises that he has made his living from running arts related businesses for the last ten years. His credits include being Principal of Editors Australia, Producer of The Monologue Project, Editor at New Hollands Publisher and Coordinator of Crash Test Drama.

Topics included within the one day course that will appeal to producers, directors and theatre companies include- How to brand and market yourself, what kind of CV, website, showreel and headshot producers want to see, and an exploration of Producing skills: planning, preparation, production and post production.

The course will take place at the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown on the 27th June between 10am and 4.30pm. Tickets are priced $85 before the 26th June and $100 on the day. For further enquiries http://www.BusinessSkillsForArtists.com. Also Pete Malicki can be contacted directly on petemalicki@gmail.com.