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Arts & Numbers: A Financial Guide for Artists, Writers, Performers, and Other Members of the Creative Class

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The creative class—artists, actors, writers, musicians, freelancers, dancers, performers, and the like—are known for applying their passion for creative expression to everything they do. Perhaps the one thing that most fills this group with apprehension is the rigid world of numbers. This leads to problems arising from the unconventional financial and business situations of creative professionals, as well as the nonprofit organizations with which they're often affiliated. Finances, budgeting, and business matters can be dreaded, if not outright ignored, by creatives--to the detriment of their artistic pursuits.

Author, artist, and CPA Elaine Grogan Luttrull has written Arts & Numbers to help creative professionals find the same confidence in their financial dealings as in their chosen mode of expression. It is an engaging, accessible guide that covers a variety of must-know topics, such as budgeting, cash management, visual charting, taxes, employment, and business etiquette. In a simple, straightforward style, Luttrull draws examples from smooth-flowing narratives depicting common issues within the arts worlds, as well as from her own personal anecdotes. Unlike stuffy textbooks and patronizing business books, Arts & Numbers is a lively and artfully done ally in helping creative professionals plan their present financial situations and secure their futures.

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2013

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About the author

Elaine Grogan Luttrull

1 book2 followers
Elaine Grogan Luttrull, CPA, is the founding owner of Minerva Financial Arts, a company devoted to improving financial literacy among artists and arts organizations through tax services, budgeting support, business planning, and education. She teaches at the Columbus College of Art and Design and the Ohio State University, and she previously served as the Director of Financial Analysis for The Juilliard School and in the Transaction Advisory Services practice of Ernst & Young in New York. Her presentations have been featured nationally by the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center, Americans for the Arts, the Arts & Business Council of New York, the Ohio Art League, and the Foundation Center. She lives in Columbus, Ohio.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Amelia.
Author 8 books84 followers
January 5, 2015
This is the best basic money stuff book I've read so far for those of us in the so-called creative entrepreneur category. The whole category is somewhat too broad to be useful, as it lumps together well-paid professions like accounting with underpaid ones like dance. Still, it's hard to find basic financial advice that is framed for people with irregular incomes from a variety of sources, and this book fits the bill.

Although I sometimes found the book's jargon annoying, the concept of the "portfolio career" was quite helpful. The covers everything from basic personal budgeting and book keeping to writing a business plan. Although I think I'm pretty on top of things, it inspired me to put together a personal balance sheet and to try automating some of the bookkeeping that I've been doing manually for both myself and my husband.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an irregular income who wants to get a better handle on their finances, including artists, writers, etc. even if some of the people in the book's examples have an enviable ability to accurately forecast their financial lives.
Profile Image for Dan.
17 reviews27 followers
June 26, 2013
Solid beginner's book for artists who want to learn personal finance. It's rarely condescending and generally realistic without being harsh. A little too broad to be very helpful for any one arts profession, but that's hard to complain about.
Profile Image for Samer Chidiac.
Author 7 books11 followers
November 6, 2013
Beautiful & very useful book designed to be a financial guide to the members of the creative class. I certainly recommend any entrepreneur to take a look at it and start applying some of the easy tools and templates to start managing his or her personal finance.
Profile Image for Robert Bean.
21 reviews5 followers
August 23, 2021
Understanding the business side of being a practicing creative is often feels like trying to count raindrops in a thunderstorm. We're rarely given the education we need to understand the numbers, the marketing, the little things that help make a business hum smoothly. "Arts & Numbers: A Financial Guide for Artists, Writers, Performers, and Other Members of the Creative Class" is one of those rare books that achieves what it sets out to do - educate creatives. Elaine Grogan Luttrull has done a thorough job of breaking down what can be complicated into simple and easy to understand segments of information, building on each previous chapter in a way that allows the reader to attack the book at their own pace. I've worked as a practicing artist for a couple of decades and this book still had new information for me to absorb. One of the most dynamic features are the sample charts and breakdowns she includes, showing visually how this all works (which, as a visual artist, I truly appreciate).

Learning what happens in the business office instead of the studio isn't always what a creative wants to do, but it's a part of the job, and this book goes a long way to helping the creative understand better what needs to happen. Every creative I know is strapped for time, and this book, with a little investment up front of your time, will help you save a lot more time in the future. I highly recommend this book for any creative out there seeking to turn their passion into a profession.
Profile Image for Tash.
99 reviews2 followers
October 23, 2021
Extremely informative about the business and financial side of being a creative entrepreneur and having an arts business.

Explains key financial and money management concepts into easy to understand examples of creatives who use the tools and why.

Would recommend to any creative looking to learn more about how step up their creative business!
5 reviews
January 2, 2021
Great resource for aspiring creative professionals

I liked the examples and information provided of what to plan for as someone looking into how to monetize their artists skills & product.
131 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2023
A REAL EYE OPENER

For anyone who wants to choose being an artist, painter, musician or dancer as their career goals, they should read tis book first. This books makes you face the reality of what it takes to survive as an artist, painter, dancer, etc.
Profile Image for Susan.
185 reviews7 followers
February 16, 2014
This book does exactly what it says it will do. It starts the readers onto the road of financial literacy as it pertains to their creative endeavor. As a former banker and an MBA, this book did not offer much in the practical way of financial knowledge, but that isn't the point. This is a great primer for the particular task of understanding "numbers" and giving the creative professional the skills, vocab and knowledge to actually be financial literate.

The exercises are practical and instructive. This isn't going to make you a wall street wizard. This book is however going to make you able to hold your own during contract negotiations, make you able to speak with a banker or grant writing foundation and not seem flaky and financially illiterate.

If I were still working as a banker, I would recommend this book to clients, especially younger professionals, who were seeking to achieve financial literacy.

My only complaint and this is for the publisher-- on my kindle-- every chart, illustration and graph appeared on a separate page from the descriptive text. This is super annoying and made the illustrations, charts and graphs way less useful to me. Since the book is directed at creative professionals, many of who will be graphic artists, this seems sloppy and unprofessional on the part of the publisher. It is the 21st century-- your e-book needs to reflect that.
Profile Image for Jessica.
Author 1 book18 followers
June 2, 2016
Very helpful guide to looking at finance from a creative profession. The opening chapters were good for beginners to financial planning, but the later chapters were the most valuable to me.
Profile Image for Sue.
196 reviews
January 17, 2017
A solid financial primer for folks who work on their own.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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