Do we underestimate the business skills a modern dancer needs in 2014? 

This question has been on my mind this weekend. Whether you are a choreographer working towards a weekend of your work, or a teaching artist working for a non-profit, what business skills are needed to do your work and keep your work happening? How do you advocate for your job and make strategic moves to keep afloat? 

Full disclosure – I am married to a person in the business world. Much of what I know about budgets, finances, and marketing is due to him. (Thank you, Chris!) Also, working under incredible non-profit leaders such as Sabrina Klein in the San Francisco Bay Area taught me about grantwriting, budgets, boards, advocacy, and more. None of this vocabulary, skill, and savvy was learned in a college course. All was learned in real time, mainly in real world situations. 

So, looking at your life in modern dance, where and why do you need to know a little about finance, marketing, and public relations? How will you learn? Who are your role models? 

And, what are your next steps? Ideas include informational interviews with business-savvy artists you know, or family and friends who are in the for-profit and non-profit worlds. Also check out websites such as boardsource.org or the classic book The Nonprofit Kit for Dummies by Francis Phillips and Stan Hutton.

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