CMU School of Drama


Friday, August 02, 2019

It's time to shine a spotlight on the taxes struggling performers pay

TheHill: Consider the actors and stage managers who work in live-professional theatre across America. Even while working, theatre professionals constantly travel to auditions for new roles to sustain employment. And once they find work, they are on the hook for another set of expenses, with agents’ and managers’ fees topping the list. In any given year, working class professional artists can spend between 20 and 30 percent of their gross income just to stay in the business.

1 comment:

Kaisa Lee said...

Legislation to support struggling artists is essential. While there has been bipartisan legislation in the past such as the Qualified Performing Artist tax deduction it is time for a modernized and updated bill to support artists. I think that it is particularly impactful that there is bipartisan support for this in such a politically divided time where it seems that arts are often overlooked. Arts are not only essential to culture but to economics as well so it makes sense that politicians would like to pass a bill to encourage art. I find it particularly impactful that the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers is included in this bill to keep it relevant and effective for those who qualify.
Kaisa