The starving artist is a pervasive idea, and in reality lots of creative people struggle in self-employment because money is a constant battle. This isn’t...

Money is NOT a Dirty Word

Location:

Level 1
2010 NSW
Australia

Venue:
Creative Plus Business
Money is NOT a Dirty Word

Featuring

Monica Davidson

Monica Davidson

CEO of The Creative Plus Business Group Pty Ltd

Monica Davidson has never had a ‘proper’ job - she has been self-employed in the arts since she was a teenager, first as a journalist and later as a writer and filmmaker.

After freelancing for years Monica set up her own production company in the early 1990s, and learnt how to run a creative business the hard way. As her company grew, she started offering informal tutorials to help other creatives and is now a recognised expert in the field.

Monica regularly runs workshops and events about creativity and business, as well as mentoring individual practitioners and consulting to larger arts organisations. She is a regular guest lecturer on creative entrepreneurialism at institutions including AFTRS, NIDA, NAVA and Ausdance.

She is the author of the Australian version of Freelancing for Dummies, and is currently developing a series of books about creative business.

In 2013 Monica was appointed as the first Creative Industries Business Advisor by the NSW Small Business Commissioner, and the following year completed her Masters in Screen Arts and Business at AFTRS. Monica was recently named as one of the Westpac 100 Women of Influence for her work in the creative industries. Her company The Creative Plus Business Group was also awarded a Cool Company Award by Anthill Magazine in 2015.

In her down time Monica enjoys movies, spending time with her family, drinking pink champagne, and participating in the gentle art of pub karaoke.

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Access and Inclusion

  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.
  • Companion Card Acceptance - The Companion Card is for people with a significant permanent disability, who always need a companion to provide attendant care type support in order to participate at most available community venues and activities.

Event Details

The starving artist is a pervasive idea, and in reality lots of creative people struggle in self-employment because money is a constant battle. This isn’t always just due to lack of funds, however – creative practitioners sometimes just need the basics of business money and financial literacy explained in a way that makes sense.

This one-day workshop helps creative freelancers and arts businesses practitioners to answer some of the biggest financial questions they might have:

  • How do I weather the ups and downs of creative income?
  • How do I make more money?
  • Do I have to keep working for free?
  • What should I charge?
  • How do we manage our spending?
  • What’s the deal with tax anyway?
  • Where can I go for help?

Money is tailored specifically to creative people who are (or want to be) self-employed, and the activities are relevant no matter what your profession – filmmakers, writers, designers, visual artists, performers. Anyone can benefit from learning more about how to strategise to get what they want from creative business.

For more than a decade Monica Davidson has been helping creative people from all practices and professional stages figure out the basics of financial literacy, with the help of jokes, anecdotes and pictures. This surprisingly fun and informal workshop will leave participants feeling more confident about their financial situation, and provide an opportunity to ask all the questions they’ve always wanted to know.

All participants at the Money presentation receive a workbook stuffed full of extra resources and exercises in both printed and PDF form, a link to a bespoke website with links and notes, and a chance to network with other people just like them.

If you reside in NSW, you'll also get the chance to benefit from two free business advisory sessions with the team at Creative Plus Business. These sessions will be subsidised in full by the NSW Industry Business Connect program – no strings attached!

For more information visit Creative Plus Business.

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Access and Inclusion

  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.
  • Companion Card Acceptance - The Companion Card is for people with a significant permanent disability, who always need a companion to provide attendant care type support in order to participate at most available community venues and activities.