184: Load-In, Load-Out, Cash In: A Technical Director’s Thoughts On Finance

Technical director Tab Birt discusses his journey through live entertainment, financial lessons learned along the way, and his dream of trading the stage for a glass artist’s studio in Norway.

 

Topics

⭐️ Glass blowing

⭐️ Not selling yourself short

⭐️ Getting on a stagehands union call list

⭐️ Burning out, being cynical, and the joy of theatre

⭐️ The secret investment vehicle called a ROTH IRA

 

Video Version

https://youtu.be/Kh9TP0Gls0s

 

Artistic Finance

https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

 

Tab Birt

https://www.tbirtdesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tbirtdesign/

 

Saints Peter & Paul - Homeless Shelter

https://www.stspeterandpaulstl.org/homeless-shelter

 

Third Degree Glass Factory

https://www.thirddegreeglassfactory.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoonESXmz4AvOFvGWqiziSPkJy_kBTC66ol4q9J4rvcuYxhm7cfN

 

Here’s What I Don’t Get

https://hereswhatidontget.com/podcast

 

Bullsh*t Jobs - David Graeber

https://bookshop.org/a/86693/9781501143335

 

Debt: The First 5,000 Years - David Graeber

https://bookshop.org/a/86693/9781612194196

 

David Graeber Lecture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kikzjTfos0s

 

ROTH IRA

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rothira.asp

 

Design Action - Minimum Rate Calculator

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KpsHWVKvc0FYfDftayTh1Dh2befS-oPM6_rwQ6waoVk/edit?gid=691329339#gid=691329339

 

The Lighting Archive

https://thelightingarchive.org/

 

 

Tab Birt hails from the Land of Praying Hands, Tulsa Oklahoma. He received his BFA in Lighting and Sound Design from the University of Oklahoma, and currently resides in in St Louis as the Technical Director for Edison Theatre. He’s worked in live entertainment for 17 years around the country, and when not in production you can find him in the hot shop pursuing his interest in glass, or at home sipping a fine whiskey, grilling steaks, or smoking a rich cigar. He dreams of one day retiring from theatre and becoming a glass artist in Norway.

 

Instagram Handles

@tbirtdesign

@thirddegreeglass

@ethansteimel

@nicolevsteimel