Tips on creating an artistic company amid the pandemic

by Ashley Griffin

Follow Ashley by visiting: www.ashleygriffinofficial.com

Many artists dream of starting their own company – a cool downtown non-profit that develops work by lesser-known voices, a film company that bypasses the autocracy of the big studio systems. But starting a production company of any kind is an enormous challenge filled with legal ins and outs, fundraising, and mission statements just to get to the point where you have a website and a space and can get started on the artistic work that inspired you in the first place.

It can be a nightmare but also a dream – allowing you the artistic freedom to create your own work and fill a niche that may have been missing in your chosen field. Starting a company is challenging at the best of times. It becomes seemingly impossible in the midst of a global pandemic.

And yet, the pandemic has seen the start of lots of new artistic companies – using the opportunities afforded by the shutdown – namely virtual means of collaboration and production – to start new ventures that are continuing into more traditional projects. Artists across the world are now able to work together who might never have had the opportunity before – whether that be in joining the board of a company across the country, acting in a multimedia production, or having a work produced in another state or country.

If you’re interested in starting a company here are some top tips:

Take your time

You may be excited to jump in and get from point A to Z as fast as possible, but make sure you have all your ducks in a row first. It’s important to have a solid plan – including a great mission statement, branding, financial structure, etc. Remember, you want your company to be self-sustaining for a long time to come. It may be exciting to get that first project off the ground, but you’re in this for the long haul. Take your time now to build a solid foundation and you’ll be around season after season, not just one great piece.

Know what makes your venture unique (Speaking of that mission statement…)

Of course, there will be similarities between companies, and there should be! We need many companies dedicated to developing new work, restaging the classics, etc. But even within well-trod frameworks, you need to know what sets your company apart from the rest and develop language with which to communicate that difference. Honestly, no one is going to be super motivated to invest in a company whose mission is to “put up Shakespeare plays.” Do you want to make Shakespeare applicable to our modern age? Recreate classic works in historically accurate settings? Provide underprivileged groups access to live Shakespeare performances? Perhaps you want to start a carbon-neutral company or are dedicated to only working with local designers. The possibilities are endless, but make sure you know what about your passion sets you apart and why it’s needed. It will help you target the right funding, the right collaborators, and assist you in finding your audience.

Treat it as a business

Creating art with your friends can be really fun, but starting a company isn’t playtime, it’s business and should be treated as such. Make sure you have contracts with everyone involved covering every best and worst-case scenario. Make sure people are a part of your team that isn’t your friends - folks that can be “neutral.” Make sure you have a way of self-governing and maintaining operations that can function with or without any member of the group and can successfully hold people accountable for actions (including you.) And make sure you think about the future – how can you be financially self-sustaining? How will you handle day-to-day operations? How will you go about making decisions? Starting a company can be a lot of fun, but don’t skip on the grunt work, especially in your setup. And when representing your company make sure you’re responsible and follow through. Respond to e-mails, get folks’ information in a timely manner, etc. People aren’t going to take you seriously if you’re flaky and unorganized.

Always come from a place of love, not ego

You’re here to give your audience a gift, not to have a bunch of people fawn over you. Look for collaborators who will tell you the truth, and make sure your company is self-sustaining and based on collaboration. No company lasts long when it’s just structured around one person getting praise, however much of a genius they might be. Look for how your gift and the gifts of those around you can serve others, not yourself. Your job is to move and inspire others – not have people think you’re wonderful.

Ask for help

You can’t create, and certainly can’t run a company, alone! It’s ok to ask for help from people who are more knowledgeable and skilled than you are. Yes, it’s important that you have an understanding of many different aspects of running a company, from the creative to the business – but that doesn’t mean you have to be an expert at every one. If you’re not the best with numbers find a great financial advisor who you trust. Not super experienced at writing a press release – there are people out there, whether new to the industry or a seasoned pro, who know their stuff and LOVE doing it! Yes, there are times when you need to pitch in and help in areas other than your central focus, but you can’t keep going long-term when you’re serving as the choreographer, stage manager, usher, PR rep, producer, costumer, and legal advisor. It may be scary to ask, but the arts are built around collaboration – and your need might be the perfect complement to someone else’s. This leads to:

Make all your collaborations a win/win situation

Above and beyond doing all you can to pay everyone you work with what they’re worth, don’t just “take” from other people, figure out how every interaction can be mutually beneficial in an honest, exciting way that truly breathes collaboration into a working relationship, rather than making it a cut and dry financial set up. Looking for a space for your show? Maybe there’s a theater that’s been trying to host more new work but hasn’t been able to connect with up-and-coming creators. Just hired a great new costume designer? How can you help really get their name out there so this gig can be a jumping-off point for them? And hopefully, they will do the same for you. When everyone is excited about a venture you can build each other up in an organic, supportive way. Be kind, be honest, and always prioritize the needs of others - that’s what builds relationships that last (and makes you the kind of artistic director people want to keep working with.) Above all, be respectful of people’s time and resources no matter how far along you are with your company. A lot of times folks who start out together with limited resources end up continuing as wonderful collaborators once they’re both at the top of their game - provided respect, support and honesty have been there from the start.