EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Show Me The Money

Tell us a bit about Show Me The Money

A few years ago I felt like I hit a wall with my career as an artist. I had had a really good run of paid gigs, ending with a residency in Madrid, and suddenly I realised I had nothing lined up, no savings, a growing overdraft and no idea what do do next. Other than my arts practice my CV was mostly hospitality and retail, and I was about to turn 36. The breathless enthusiasm for keeping at it no matter what suddenly seemed less sustainable. How did I keep going as an artist? How did others do it?

I remembered that a while back Bryony Kimmings had started this brilliant conversation in the arts sector through a blog she posted and the subsequent #illshowyoumine hashtag.

I trawled through all these related articles and videos and blogs from conferences. But it seemed like conversation ended a year or so after. It didn't seem any easier to make a living as an artist, and the conversation about pay and fees and financial transparency still felt painfully relevant.

I decided that I wanted to interview other artists, at different career levels, ages and art forms around the country, to find out how they made a living from their practice or what other work they did to support it. I thought if I could take all these conversations and make them into a really fun entertaining show, I could engage with different people, and more people than if I wrote a paper or organised a conference. Show me the money is the result of all those conversations, of the journey I made to get a realistic picture of the financial reality of being an artist right now in Great Britain.

What prompted you to bring it to Edinburgh?

I think the fringe is a really interesting and relevant context for the show because it is the largest arts festival in the world, and the show primarily speaks to those who are interested in the arts or in the arts themselves. The timing of it is also very important. I feel we are in a darker time than we have been in recent years regarding the role of arts funding, and now more than ever I feel its important to have discussions about the value art has in our society and why it should be supported. This is a question at the heart of the show for sure.

But the other reason I think the show is so interesting to see at the fringe, is that the fringe, while a fantastic and rich festival of arts I deeply love, is also a place that puts many artists and companies at great financial risk each year. Many leave with debt. It has become something that has just become accepted as being part of it. But I find that really problematic, particularly as the artists are so financially vulnerable in general. What the show does is show the human cost behind the art we consume, and I think there is a value in edinburgh fringe audience members being made more aware of that, not to feel guilty about it, but maybe to value it even more.

What do you feel sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe?

The show has a really dynamic format. It sits somewhere between performance art, spoken word, documentary and ted talk. I am an artist that works across disciplines theatre, video and spoken word, and the show playfully jumps across these disciplines in a way that will keep you constantly engaged. Its also probably the only show that will tell you the stories behind all the art you will see at the festival. There's this thing about being an artist where you sometimes have to perform that things are better off than they seem, this show cuts through all that, and yet also manages to make that story entertaining and fun

Who would you recommend comes to see you?

Anyone who has ever had a dream to follow a career that seemed at times impossible. Anyone who has ever wondered what its like to make a living as an artist. Anyone who works in the arts and is wondering how other artists survive.

Anyone who works in any creative industry, or is close to anyone who does. All freelancers! Anyone who loves the arts!

Are there any other shows you're hoping to catch at the festival?

I saw it last year, but I am super excited to see Hot Brown Honey again. Last time I saw it, it left me empowered and excited for months! very excited to be returning to my favourite late night alt cabaret Pollyanna at Paradise Palms. It really has some of the most edgy and entertaining acts at the festival. I am really keen to see the new Liz Aggiss show Slap & Tickle. And there's a good chance I'll also see Courtney Act's show as I am a massive fan of Rupaul's Drag Race.

Timings and ticket information for Show Me The Money are available on the edfringe website.