Thriving Artist

The old cliché about the "starving" artist may have a basis in reality, but it isn’t set in stone! The Thriving Artist provides valuable advice for the performing artist, whether you’re an actor, dancer, lighting guru, costumer, or stagehand, on investing, saving, and building a diversified and stable financial portfolio. Written specifically for artists who have fluctuating, uncertain, and sometimes limited streams of income, this book promotes an understanding of finances and the investment world for the artist by offering clear, basic explanations of how finances work and instruction on how to participate in them as an investor. It also provides unique strategies for integrating financial awareness and planning into your life as an artist, and how that can help to provide a better sense of financial security. With The Thriving Artist, author David Maurice Sharp guides you with unflappable good humor through the tricky financial waters that come with following your passion.

'This is a book about money. All actors need some, elusive as it often is in an overcrowded profession, so a book about how to get it and manage could be very useful...Although Sharp is an American with a foot in both performing arts and finance camps, almost everything he says is equally valid in Britain. The principles are universal.' - Susan Elkin, The Stage'Sharp has provided an accessible and easily readable text for smart beginners... The tone is casual and also comprehensible without becoming too dry or pedantic...I plan to return to it in pieces as I continue to evaluate my own financial life as an artist.' - Natalie Robin, Stage-Directions"Sharp’s dual understanding of both the fields of finance and performance is a benefit to the entertainment professional looking for an entry into the financial markets. He cleanly weaves the worlds of theatrical artistry and monetary sustainability by providing helpful analogies and inspiring anecdotes….The Thriving Artist is likely to stay on my bookshelf, close within reach, for many more years to come. It is a text that will continue to be a practical reference as I navigate through my career and my fiscal explorations." -Krystal Kennel, TDT Fall 2015

David Maurice Sharp is a Lecturer at HB Studio, one of the original acting conservatories in New York City, holding financial planning and investment workshops. As a financial professional, he was the Director of the Public Securities Group for KCC LLC New York branch and a Vice President of Epiq Systems – Financial Balloting Group LLC. He is also an actor, dancer, and choreographer, having guest taught classes at universities including NYU’s Tisch Graduate Film School.