Talk About the Industry

In this episode, Matt sits down with former dancer and director of the Harkness Dance Center, Taryn Kaschock Russell. We talk about her career as a dancer, our time together at Hubbard Street, and her journey into Artistic Leadership.   If you’d like to find out more information about Taryn and her work, you can find it at tarynkashcockrussel.com or on the website for the 92nd Street Y.   The Future Dance Festival runs digitally now through April 25th, 2021. Please check it out at 92y.org/dance   If you’d like to hear more episodes of Talk About the Industry, please visit https://talkabouttheindustry.podbean.com/   Or you can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.   Thanks for listening!  We’ll see you on the next episode of Talk About the Industry.

In this episode, Matt sits down with Arts Administrator extraordinaire Laura Sweet.  They talk about their shared connection to Nebraska, Laura’s work as a leader and mentor in the arts, as well as how COVID-19 is affecting her day to day decisions as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Des Moines Performing Arts. If you’d like to find out more about Laura and her work, you can find her professional profile on Linkedin or you can visit desmoinesperformingarts.orgPlease also visit wemakeevents.org or saveourstages.com for more information about helping the Live Events industry and its workers stay afloat.

In this episode Matt sits down with Lighting Designer Fabian Yeager.  We talk about the process of lighting corporate events for Microsoft, why it's people that are important, work-life balance, and examine why he made such a shitty assistant.    If you’d like to find out more about Fabian and his work, please visit:www.yeagerdesign.com.  Or you can find him on LinkedIn under Fabian Yeager of Yeager Design, LLC.Please also visit wemakeevents.org or saveourstages.com for more information about helping the Live Events industry and its workers stay afloat.

In this episode, Matt interviews Dancer, Choreographer, & all around wonderful human, Jonathan Fredrickson.  They talk about how the arts influenced his childhood, the balance between intention and choreographic movement, as well as how being biracial has affected Jonathan’s life and his perspective on the current social climate. If you’d like to find out more about Jonathan and his work, please visit his artist page on the Tanztheatre Wuppertal Pina Bausch website at:www.pina-bausch.deYou can also find him on Instagram where his handle is @jfredrickearl

In this episode, Matt sits down with dance writer, culture critic, and academician Lauren Warnecke.  We talk about her career in dance, applying the principles of sports science to dancer performance, how she approaches arts criticism, COVID-19’s effect on the industry, and much more! If you’d like to find out more about Lauren and her work please visit:www.artintercepts.orgor seechicagodance.com You can also find Lauren on Twitter @artintercepts And if you’re so inclined, don’t forget to pick up a copy of the e-book she co-authored entitled Discover Your Dance Career.

In this episode, Matt sits down with lighting designer Todd Clark.  We talk about his career as a lighting director, production manager, show caller, and Emmy Award winning lighting designer.  Todd shares his wisdom from years of touring dance companies, lighting for camera, and show calling corporate events.  If you’d like to find out more about Todd and his work, please visit:www.tlclight.com

In this episode Matt sits down with Garrett Anderson, the Artistic Director of Ballet Idaho.  We talk about his impressive career in dance, the balance he strikes curating both ballet and contemporary work, as well as how COVID-19 has affected the choices he's making in this tumultuous climate.If you’d like to find out more about Garrett, and Ballet Idaho, please visit their website at BalletIdaho.orgYou can also find them on Facebook or on Instagram, where their handle is @balletidahoYou can also listen to the company’s podcast Ballet Idaho: Out Loud on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at anchor.fm/ballet-idaho

In this episode, Matt sits down with Lighting Designer, Professor, and all around fantastic person Laurel Shoemaker.  They talk about what it takes to be a professional lighting designer, how Laurel built her multi-faceted career, and also the ever important subject of How Not to be the Shmoo. If you’d like to find out more about Laurel and her work, please visit:www.lshoemakerdesign.comOr you can find her faculty bio on the University of Nebraska’s Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film website.  Laurel Shoemaker, Associate Professor of Stage Lighting, Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film, UNL.

In episodes 4 & 5, Matt sits down with Michael Downs a career production and scenic designer of events, experiences, and environments.  In this two-part interview, Michael and Matt talk about how he went from being the “kid who never left the art hall” to becoming a veteran creative mind whose impressive, multi-disciplinary career includes over 900 productions and events to his credit. I’d also like to extend my personal thanks to Michael Downs for designing and executing the incredible logo for this podcast, Talk About the Industry. If you’d like to find out more about Michael and his work, please visit his website at www.downsart.net You can see video reels of his work here:Downsart Reel (General)Downsart Reel (TV & Animation) Or you can find him on LinkedIn, Facebook, or on Instagram, where his handle is @downsart

In episodes 4 & 5, Matt sits down with Michael Downs a career production and scenic designer of events, experiences, and environments.  In this two-part interview, Michael and Matt talk about how he went from being the “kid who never left the art hall” to becoming a veteran creative mind whose impressive, multi-disciplinary career includes over 900 productions and events to his credit. I’d also like to extend my personal thanks to Michael Downs for designing and executing the incredible logo for this podcast, Talk About the Industry. If you’d like to find out more about Michael and his work, please visit his website at www.downsart.net You can see video reels of his work here:Downsart Reel (General)Downsart Reel (TV & Animation) Or you can find him on LinkedIn, Facebook, or on Instagram, where his handle is @downsart

In this episode, Matt sits down with Choreographer Robyn Mineko Williams.  We talk about her career as a dancer and choreographer, her incredible taste in both music and artists, as well as her collaborative approach to creativity.If you’d like to find out more about Robyn and her work, please visit:RobynMinekoWilliams.com Or you can find her on Instagram:@rmineko, @rmw_artists, @undercoverepisodes You can also find her on Facebook at:Robyn Mineko Williams & on the facebook page for Undercover Episodes Next up for her is a co-production of Undercover Episode 018: Home Video with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago,  and the continuation of Echo Mine and Echo Mine v2 with Califone.

In this episode, Matt sits down with Lighting Designer, Author, and Contemporary Dance Touring Veteran Steve Shelley.  We talk about the wisdom of Tom Skelton, the process of writing his renowned textbook A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, and swap some stories about touring scenarios that “burned a lot of brain oil...”If you want to find out more about Steve Shelley and his work, please visit:fieldtemplate.com Or, you can reach out to Steve directly at shelley@fieldtemplate.com And if you’re interested in purchasing a copy of his book, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, it can be found on Amazon and wherever textbooks are soldhttps://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Stage-Lighting-dp-0415812674/dp/0415812674/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=

In this episode, Matt talks about why he started the podcast, how COVID-19 has affected his calendar, as well as how connecting with his network of colleagues and friends has helped him find value in this particular career.If you want to find out more about me and my work you can go tommiller-lighting.comWhere you can find the podcastWebsite is https://talkabouttheindustry.podbean.com/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcastsPlease feel free to give us a comment and a review.If you have any questions or want to reach out you cancontact us directly at talkabouttheindustrypodcast@gmail.com,or you can find us on Facebook atFacebook.com/talkabouttheindustrypodcastOr on instagram where our instagram handle is @tati_podcast

This is the trailer for my brand new podcast, Talk About the Industry.  Enjoy!