In this next episode of The Bellows, a conversation about contracts and fees. How do you negotiate to your advantage? What are the necessary parts of a contract and is it worth having an agent or being a member of the Associated Designers of Canada? Moderator Kevin Hutson talks to Kesta Graham, business agent at The Tarragon Theatre, designer Simon Rossiter, and the executive director at the ADC Shiela Skye. This was recorded on October 17th 2016 at The Central bar in Mirvish Village, Toronto, Ontario.
Bios
Kevin Hutson
Kevin is a scenic carpenter, former technician and occasional project manager. He comes from Scarborough and loves talking about work over beer.
Kesta Graham
Kesta is currently the Business Manager for Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. She has spent the last 10 years full time in arts management in a variety of positions including General Manager of Studio 180 Theatre (2008-2015), freelance producer/ consultant, and Treasurer for Common Boots (formerly Theatre Columbus). Experience in project management ranges from collective/ profit share, workshops, co-productions, full seasons, long run productions and large scale musicals. Prior to becoming a full time arts administrator, Kesta spent 10 years as an actor/producer and part time project coordinator for kitchen and bath renovations. .
Simon Rossiter
Simon is a Toronto-based lighting designer who occasionally designs scenery. He has created more than one hundred and fifty original lighting designs over the last ten years for a diversity of theatre and dance companies throughout Canada, and is the lighting director of the annual Fall for Dance North festival at the Sony Centre and the Next Stage Theatre Festival at the Factory Theatre. He has received two Dora Mavor Moore awards for outstanding lighting design, is a graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School, and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.
Sheila Sky
Sheila has been active in Toronto’s vibrant performing arts scene since the mid ‘80s. She has undertaken management, strategic and logistical planning, marketing, publicity, fundraising and producing in both the commercial and non-profit sectors. Her career has spanned Fringe to Broadway, and she has worked for clients in drama and musical theatre, dance, opera, devised theatre, puppetry, comedy and contemporary classical music. She is the Executive Director of Associate Designer of Canada and their fundraising arm, the ADCF; and is Treasurer of the inaugural Board of the Alliance of Women in Theatre. She is the owner of Sky Arts Management which provides management services for arts organizations and their projects, as well as a consulting practice.