Meet Cristina Fisher, Event & Content Manager of Space24Twenty

Photos by Briana Purser; Location courtesy of Jessie Katz

As the Events and Content Manager for Urban Outfitter’s Space 24 Twenty, an event venue housed within the retailer’s shared space on Guadalupe, Cristina Fisher steers the ship. Programming, event production, blog features, social media, and photography — Fisher runs it all for the space, allowing for a kind of creative control that lets her tailor the space to the Austin scene and to morph the venue into a place reflecting the artistic interests of the community at large. At the same time, Fisher operates in that arts community herself, indulging a creative passion for photography that both fulfills her need for a creative outlet and gives her an authentic understanding of the kind of events will connect with Austin audiences.

Since opening in December 2015, Space 24 Twenty has hosted yoga practice, a dance party, an indigo dye workshop, a craft fair, a vintage fair, and, of course, multiple live music showcases. Recently, Fisher introduced several pop-up food events to the space to tap into the Austin’s other prized sensory experience (the first being auditory).  

Below, Fisher talks programming for the space, the Austin creative community, and how she balances her creative job with her creative passion.

Follow Cristina on Instagram here and catch the space at our 2-Year Anniversary Fundraiser this Friday.

On getting connected in the Austin creative community:

It's worked out pretty organically. Many times, I'll host an event with someone who introduces me to someone else who ends up being a great candidate to work with. I've been building on a lot of a lot of introductions for these events in addition to reaching out to artists that I've always wanted to have the opportunity to work with. Space 24 Twenty in general feels like a great platform for creatives to host to a larger audience.

On the platform a space like Space 24 Twenty can give artists:

It's a good space for the community to learn about other local creatives that they might not have come across already. For me, it's important to really think about that reach when working with these super talented individuals — that is, to give them the opportunity to access a new audience. 

On the creative control she has running the space:

As a whole, it's been really fun having ownership on something. I've been lucky to have a ton of creative freedom on the events and content that I'm curating here, so it feels like the Space is not only a reflection of the community, but a reflection of me as a person. Running the space from a 360 view has challenged me to explore new skills that I wasn't as comfortable doing previously. 

On balancing her creative job with her creative side hustle:

I've had a hard time balancing the two because I am now doing something as my full time job that I was previously just doing as creative outlet [photography.] It takes time management to know that it's okay to take a day completely off to focus on myself and my own creative endeavors.

With that said, having photography as a hobby has been essential in helping me with ideas for the Space and vice versa. At the end of the day, personal and work life influence each other a lot in this role. 

On what she appreciates about the Austin creative community:

Austin is unique to me in that it doesn't feel completely intimidating or competitive to do something creative. It's in this really cool sweet spot right now where it's growing in size, but still small enough to allow for your own niche idea or skill (i.e. Bossbabes ATX) to turn into something super recognizable. It seems like creatives in Austin don't feel the need to conform, and aren't afraid to embrace their own style or aesthetic. Keep Austin Weird, right? 

Recap: SOCIAL GRRL Spring '17

About SOCIAL GRRL:

SOCIAL GRRL is a biannual meet-up produced by #bossbabesATX for self-identifying women in marketing. With curated conversation, the mixer aims to prioritize both professional and personal connections.

On May 11, 2017 at Infinite Monkey Theorem, we hosted our Spring '17 edition of SOCIAL GRRL, kicking it with mingling, wine and industry-focused networking prompts.

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The night's discussions were led by:

Meredith Gonsalves is a social media guru and content strategist with experience working on digital content strategies for Fortune 500 brands such as Wells Fargo, Western Union and Morningstar Inc. She's currently a Social Strategist at Deloitte and Digital Marketing Instructor at General Assembly.

Kreasha (Kay) Williams is a teen advocate, transformational speaker, and full time creative. In 2016 she co-founded, The Wantabes, a Creative Agency that puts together perspective changing campaigns, projects, and initiatives for girl-centric companies all over the world.

Claire Winslow is the President and Senior Strategist at Best Practice Media, a boutique social media marketing agency in downtown Austin.

Alexa is the Communications and Policy Initiatives Director at NARAL Pro-Choice Texas. She also served as a communications associate for the Center for Public Policy Priorities.

Leslie Lozano is a freelance stylist, social media and marketing coordinator at NaturallyCurly.com and performer. Originally from Rio Hondo, Texas (a tiny town in the Rio Grande Valley), Lozano moved to Austin in the summer of 2014 to pursue styling, after becoming very restless during her college years. Leslie is one of the co-founding members and sits on the Board of Directors at #bossbabesATX.

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Other details:

Peep the discussion Qs, and check out the photo recap here.

Want in on the next one? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop on events. Tickets for SOCIAL GRRL Fall' 17 will be released in September.

Safe Spaces: The Mall

When Lindsay Eyth, design brain behind The Mall, a trailer-cum-boutique parked behind the Museum of Human Achievement, set out to brand the space, she hoped to capture the spirit of hope and wonder those giant shopping centers inspired in us as tweens.

Originally conceived of as “The Mall of Human Achievement,” Eyth immediately connected with the idea of ‘the mall’ when she and Zach Traeger of the Museum of Human Achievement first began considering a collaboration between the museum and Eyth’s own brand, Eythink.

Inspired by archival photos of dead malls, she designed the interior, and the brand, to give off those loud, colorful vibes so recognizable to anybody who remembers when malls were still popping (RIP). Inside The Mall is a carefully curated — pointedly cute, she says — aesthetic only aided by a deliberate selection of merchandise that wouldn’t quite fit anywhere else. It’s whimsical and fun and a little bit irreverent, as any mall should be.

“I wanted it to be really extra,” she says of the space that she says is like a tween sister to her own brand, Eythink — a tween sister who’s “wilding out.”  

Like MOHA, its collaborative partner, The Mall — as Eyth and Traeger see it — really nails in its unique voice and follows through, down to the kitsch color block tiles on the trailer floor and to the nostalgia-inducing cafeteria tables located nearby. There’s really no other place like it in Austin, and that’s *like totally* by design.

“It’s not really like other spaces in Austin, so it could be off putting,” says Eyth. “I think there’s a volume level that people are comfortable with in Austin and it’s hard to crank past that once that precedent is set. Anything more than that feels so loud.”

With The Mall, she hopes to challenge that comfort level and to perhaps make people consider why certain aesthetics are deemed more respectable or appropriate than others.

The space also gives Eyth and many other local artists the platform to be loud, where previously they had trouble stocking more than a few products in stores around the city. The Mall now stocks more than 40 different artists and brands.

Customers have noticed the space’s singularity, as well, stopping in to pick up gifts or specific items unique to The Mall.
“It’s really cool to see people identify this place as a place with something specific that they can’t get elsewhere,” says Eyth. “It makes me feel proud.”

Long Live the Babes: craftHER Market Spring '17 Recap

Last weekend, we hosted craftHER Market Spring '17, our second-ever pop-up space for self-identified women to sell their goods. With a full day of panels, a killer venue and 💥kickass attendees💥, more than 2600 folks attended. Didn't make it out? No worries—we've got you.

This year, we showcased more than 100 vendors (!!!), featuring a wide variety of makes, from furniture to wall hangings to leather works. You can check out our full lineup here.

Our market's also a little different than most. We offer tables to other markets and community resources, so makers have the opportunity to connect with organizers beyond our market. We also produce industry-specific panels, each centering on issues and important topics within the maker community. Take a peek at this spring's panels and learn more about the speakers we featured.

See that wall hanging on the stage? That's a screen-printed, 5x5 reproduction of a piece made by our featured artist this month and one of the market's speakers, Xochi Solis.

Speaking about the stage—we've got woman-owned Party at the Moontower Rentals to thank. Both the stage design and the market's lounge were sponsored by Moontower. You can learn more about them here.

Last but not least, we have to recognize the talented and dedicated team at Fair Market. Without their support, we would not be able to produce this market with low-cost booth rental fees for all of our vendors. (Thank you!)

PS: Our vendors set up in a storm. The weather cleared when we opened, but they were real troupers, proving once again that come hell or high water women are tough AF.

Interested in vending at the next craftHER Market? Applications reopen in late August. Sign up for email updates here. Would you like to become a craftHER Market sponsor? Shoot an email to thebabes@bossbabes.org, and we'll send along information on fall market opportunities.

Meet April's URL Resident Artist: Xochi Solis

“I am continually researching and making work to find the voice that was never taught to me. I believe there is an authentic message that lies deep within my DNA that I hope to infuse my work with.”

— Xochi Solis

We were meant to be side by side, 2016

Xochi Solis' paintings emote.

By layering color and texture, paint and imagery, the native Austin artist's complex works are pure expression of "mood and vibration" — obscured renderings of the everyday source material from which Solis derives inspiration and raw material. 

Lately, the referenced shapes of her pieces have given way to actual imagery taken from books and magazines that focus on the Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicanx, or Latinx experience. Just like the other materials used in her work, these images (of "a snippet of an arm outreached picking flowers in Xochimilco, a dense ball of corn masa, the brown weathered skin of a campesino") are buried in each piece, giving them a larger meaning as part of a finished whole than they might have had as an individual piece. 

It's a similar process to the one used to form an identity, or an authentic, cultural voice — what she describes as the constant theme of her work as an artist.

Below, she tells us more about that process, plus gives us a playlist peek at the music that pairs best with her creative moods. 

I sing the praise of never change, 2017

How do you know you’re an artist? (Besides the obvious!)

I am the daughter of an artist and an educator, a child of the 80s brought up with the Sesame Street mantra that my unique creative ideas were something to be valued and respected. I always had a deep awareness of my surroundings, both physically and emotionally, and my natural response to these observations was to make something. The belief in both my vision and the need to express that vision is at the root of my identity as an artist.

Will you describe your process?

Whether working small on illustration board or large scale with site specific installations, each work is a construction beginning with paint. Paint is either directly applied on my work surface or on clear plastic. This is followed by a collection of materials including: hand-dyed paper, vinyl, plastic, cork and images from books and magazines. First, I recall observations made of organic forms found in the everyday — an unusual pebble, plant leaves outside of my studio or found on a walk, funny clouds or even curves of my own body.  In reference to these observations I begin pulling materials together that fit that shape or forms a mood and vibration. Once a healthy stack of paper and painted plastic swatches are gathered I establish a stacking order. Each layer is contingent on the previous and each additional layer increases the complexity of information. Through my technique, I am able to provide a textural experience beyond the flat painted surface. Over the last two or three years I have been incorporating more and more found imagery into my work. So much so that the designation of being a collage artist has sprung up in conversations with critics and curators. However, because of my training as a painter and the fact that no work is ever complete without paint I still think of my works as paintings.

The artist at work 

From where are you sourcing the materials that you use in your work — which books and magazines? Are those books and magazines important to the work or just raw material?

Found images entered into my compositions as I began exploring how the shapes in photographic images could substitute the gestural shapes and expressive surfaces found in nature and artistic mark making. At first I became interested in the speed that these surfaces could lend to the process of making my work but as of late, I have been increasingly drawn to images that are connected to storytelling and identity.

For a recent project for the Denver Art Museum, the curators prompted me to consider the weight of the images I use as cultural signifiers. This led me to seek out books and magazines which referenced aspects of Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicanx or the broader Latinx experience. Like my previous works, these found images are often buried or abstract in the final composition but nevertheless they are there. A snippet of an arm outreached picking flowers in Xochimilco, a dense ball of corn masa, the brown weathered skin of a campesino, these images have started entering my work as I further explore my latinidad. What started out as cheap, raw materials are now far more complex and hold more meaning. I look forward to seeing how far I can push the medium.

Madness from the quiet jungle, 2016

Where do you find inspiration? From what artists or other works?

Color wise, my first loves are found among natural objects like pecans, fresh mangos, succulents, crystals, algae on the surfaces of pools, etc. I get excited about shapes and colors found within the pages of books and magazines, but also the internet and social media feeds full of images of fur and leather and high fashion makeup. I am continuously thinking of color, both in my work, my home and as ornament. It is such a constant that I have developed a real intuitive sense of what sort of combinations will work. Above any other activity, travel has had the greatest effect on my practice. It is my greatest source of inspiration. Being set on edge by a new place and environment makes my surroundings that much more vivid. Travel leaves an indelible mark on my mind that leaps out when I return to my studio to channel it. The real undertaking is to push beyond my trained sense of color and be open to chance occurrences and experimentation that take the inspiration many steps further!

Looking at other artist’s work is also informative, especially those that focus primarily on color and shape like Ellsworth Kelly or Monique Prieto. Longtime loves have been: Hans Arp and his wife Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Cy Twombly, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington, Remedios Varo, Lygia Clark, Hélio Oiticica, Joan Jonas, Yvonne Rainer, Bas Jan Ader, Imi Knoebel, Eva Hesse, Robert Motherwell, Lynda Benglis, Helen Frankenthaler. New and recent loves: Jaime Carrejo, Elena Damiani, Johanna Tagada, Lydia Hardwick, Stacy Fisher, Fiona Curran, Kaarina Haka, Cyprien Gaillard, and Christine Sun Kim.

Here where the tree leaves have prisms, 2017

You share your time between Austin and Mexico? Do either or both locations inform your work?

I am a native Austinite with many many generations of my family living in this land we call Texas today. I have seen many changes during my 36 years. Through family members, I have learned even further how the city has taken shape into the metropolis that we recognize today. As I grow and I am nurtured by this city artistically, I recognize that its identity is more than the outside perspective of the “Live Music Capital” or home of SXSW. Now more than ever, with communities of color being further marginalized, I believe it is important to be visible as a female artist of color and to further activate my role as a visual arts leader in my Austin community.

While I am very busy with studio projects and work in Austin, I do act as a visual arts leader in my role as a member and board president of the collectively run art space MASS Gallery. I also spend my time spinning records with the Chulita Vinyl Club and managing the Austin chapter.

In Mexico, my use of time is the exact opposite. In Mexico, I am a quiet stranger, a curious visitor and I give myself the space to meditate on my surroundings in a deep and open way. I have built it into my practice that at least once a year I set up a small mobile studio to work for a few weeks in Mexico. These annual self-guided residencies have really informed my work in remarkable ways. For example, my colorways are more vibrant and the resulting compositions have become more nuanced and intense.

In a way, my whole cultural existence and that of my family has been between the United States and Mexico. Now that I have committed myself to working in this liminal space with intent, I feel very energized about what it will reveal in my work.

How long does it usually take you to finish a single piece?  

I don’t enjoy belaboring over one work and prefer to make lots of works in a quick period of time, automatically and naturally responding to the materials at hand. Some weeks I reserve for research and material collecting and other weeks I’ll spend days religiously going to the studio and end up making 10-15 works in the span of 4-6 days.

The artist, Xochi Solis

From looking at your blog, it seems like music is an important component to your work. What is the connection for you?

As a member of the Chulita Vinyl Club DJ collective, I have been spinning records live with them for about a year. As a practice and as a member of a community of Latinx women DJs, the CVC gives me so much life. But my love for music began long before that. My father came from a very musical family and he played in side bands throughout his career as a teacher/school administrator through most of my childhood. There was hardly ever a moment in my household when there wasn’t music playing. I dug through his records curiously since the moment I could walk and began my own music collection in my teen years.  At this point I have a little of everything and always hunger for more. I have the same drives and passions for collecting music as I have for collecting books and magazines. Ironically, I began collecting books from thrift stores because they just happened to be in the same place that all the vinyl records and cassette tapes were!

Do you listen to music while working? What kind? What is your studio space like?

ALWAYS! Though lately I also listen to podcasts, too, but that is only when I have a crazy deadline or something. Most of the time, it’s upbeat or nostalgic jammers, but I go through phases. For the longest time all I wanted to hear was Indian Ragas, which I still really love. Listening to music while you are so intently concentrating gives any tune new meaning. All of a sudden you hear timbales you never heard or a track of soft whispering that ebbs in the background giving the song depth. Environmentally, my space is cozy and full. I have tabletops covered with colored papers and my walls have cutouts of big washy paint gestures on paper and plastics. I have stacks and stacks and stacks of books and magazines neatly piled under tables and on benches. In the center of it all is a work table—an inherited table from my maternal grandfather where I complete most of my compositions while teetering on top of a tall stool. I have been in my current studio for almost 12 years and really think of it as home.

A potent shadow and a legend, 2017

Does the type of music you listen to affect the work you’re creating? Perhaps the colors or even shapes?

My work is inherently about color and mood and music plays to those moods, so yep, there’s a song for that.

• For frenzied T.C.B kind of deadline work: 100% Pure Love by Crystal Waters
• For slowly moving paint around: Feeling the Space by Yoko Ono
• For concentrated composition making: Chancha Via Circuito’s album Río Arriba
• For picking out bright colors like tangerine and magenta: Rrrr by Matias Aguayo
• For packing work to ship to my gallery: My Autumn’s Done Come by Lee Hazlewood

How has your work evolved from when you first began to present day? How do you foresee it evolving in the next few years? Do you keep constant themes?

Early on in my assemblage making, I slowly began moving away from the constraints of rectangular canvases and began messing around with shaped paintings. At that time, I was really excited about Dadaist painters like Jean Arp and his wife Sophie Taeuber-Arp, who were mixing a lot of non-traditional materials into their painting process.

I was also really drawn to the candy colors and forms of LA-based contemporary artist Monique Prieto. From these inspiration points, I began 'painting' with shaped wood panels and paper. From there my style developed into incorporating found images and a variety of paper sources and eventually I stopped working with wood and focused on light two dimensional materials. In the beginning, like many art students, I was very concerned with making work that was in the vein of what was being taught to me. These examples presented to you by instructors as being examples of work that is “quality” or just “good work.”  

A cultural voice is always present in these exemplary works, but for the most part art instructors tend to only talk of “good work” eschewing any political or social implications. It is a constant journey to find and keep your own authentic voice and even more so as an artist of color. As the Cuban American performance artist Ana Mendieta said “It is always about a search for origins” and that is very true in my practice. Instead of imitating work that I have no connection to, I am continually researching and making work to find the voice that was never taught to me. I believe there is an authentic message that lies deep within my DNA that I hope to infuse my work with. Through a process of thinking through my work I hope to transgress against my routine and push my work to places beyond where it is today.

Reminiscing on EMPRESS: A Playlist

On Tuesday, March 14, we hosted EMPRESS, with Girlfriend, a showcase featuring all-women artists, DJs, collectives and zines on March 14 at Cheer Up Charlie's from noon to 6 PM.

And we're missing it hard! Listen to this playlist, featuring a selection of EMPRESS' artists, and relive the magic with us.

PS: You can review the lineup here.

Curated by Leslie Lozano

One of the Babes: Davonna Corzine

From a young age, Davonna Corzine has been interested in the metaphysical realm, learning the practice of tarot card reading — what she likens metaphysical therapy — in high school. She now shares that tradition with other babes throughout the city, helping them to find closure or to put their mind at ease, and reminding them to always reinvent themselves.

Learn more about Davonna's passion for her craft below. 

What inspired you to start working in the field/Industry? Did you have any role models or learn from someone, in particular?

Coming from a Creole background I've always been intrigued by the metaphysical realm and practices. My uncle introduced me to palm reading at a very young age. Throughout high school I began to further my research in tarot/palm reading and different forms of holistic healing.

Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passions, in general?

Be fearless and stay open-minded and innovative. Always reinvent yourself and remember your greatest attributes can always be improved upon.

What have been your favorite moments of creativity (possibly a time when a burst of creative energy produced something you could have never expected, etc.)?

When I can give someone a sense of closure or put their mind at ease with a simple pull of a card.

What have been your most challenging moments in your career, thus far?

Trying to get people to understand the true meaning, purpose and history of tarot reading. Getting people to understand that it isn't “black magic” or “witchcraft” — more like metaphysical therapy.

What's your day job (if this business isn't your day job)?

Teacher.

When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?

I run away from social media. Being able to see the whole world in my hands makes it easy to compare and create unrealistic expectations based on others reality.

Your favorite band at the moment:

Beyoncé.

Your favorite book at the moment:

Kama Sutra.

Your local Austin gem (can be a product, place, etc.):

Nature's Treasures.

Your social media handles:

Instagram: @womanifesto

Online store: solarisHolistics.bigcartel.com

Email: solarisreadstarot@gmail.com

Sarah Eckett of Daisy Natives Talks Feminism, Commerce

Even if you're not familiar with Austin-based brand "Daisy Natives," a line of simple, but adorable, quip-heavy shirts, you'd probably recognize some of its designs from across your Instagram feed — specifically the "Girls Support Girls" tee likely sported by your favorite girls. Available in a wide array of colors, the shirt could be seen across women's marches in January, worn as a sign of solidarity for all women. 

Sarah Eckett, the brand's owner, says the tee was never meant to be political, but became so in the wake of the marches and the current political climate.  

"It became a statement that says: I’ll march with you, I’ll cry with you, I’ll protest with you, I’ll get angry with you, I’ll help you fight the patriarchy."

Likewise, politicizing brands has become en vogue, with more girls supporting girl-owned businesses and opting out of purchases from businesses they don't believe in.

Below, Eckett discusses merging commerce with her beliefs, plus tells us where she finds the inspiration for all of shirts' delightful sayings. 

The Daisy Natives brand seems fun and playful, but it also has a commitment to creating products for “the ones who have too many revolutionary ideas keeping them up at night.”  How do you feel that’s incorporated into the brand? Has it always been a part of the brand or is it a recent addition?

“Dreamers Never Sleep” was actually my first tee shirt idea and I think that has sculpted the mindset I have in everything I do. “What’s my next bestseller?”, “How about this color scheme?”, “I wonder if she’d be down to collaborate?” are questions that constantly keep me up at night. I’m always trying to better myself and my brand and the future of this world because why not?

How do you approach the intersection of commerce (obviously, Daisy Natives is a business) and your belief set (from your blog, it seems like you also want Daisy Natives to stand for freak flag-flying and something more than just retail)?

It’s always been incredibly important to me to be my unapologetic, colorful, silly, weird self. I think that’s helped grow my brand organically. People find comfort in weirdness and imperfectness.

In the past few years, and especially since the election, it seems that people are more cognizant about where they spend their dollars (people boycotting Uber following the travel ban, businesses dropping Ivanka Trump’s clothing line, etc. ). As a business owner, how do you feel about this shift and do you feel a responsibility to let your viewpoint/your brand’s viewpoint be known?

I absolutely agree. Thankfully it’s becoming more normalized for brands to be so open about political standpoints (Teen Vogue is killin’ it) and I think that’s really important. It’s a breath of fresh air to know that there are actual people with beliefs behind these brands and businesses.

How do you choose which phrases to use on your tees? What’s the process like?

I find inspiration everywhere (late night phone dates with long distance friends, weird things my husband says, boutiques around Austin, of course Instagram and Pinterest, and yes, even food). There’s an ongoing list of ideas in my phone, but don’t get me wrong, there are A LOT that I look at today and think “What the hell?!”. Designing is definitely my favorite part, though.

We saw a lot of your shirts across women’s marches in January. Why do you think your particular brand became so popular?

That weekend was the craziest thing. I think it just comes down to solidarity. After the women’s march, “Girls Support Girls” evolved into something more. It became a statement that says: I’ll march with you, I’ll cry with you, I’ll protest with you, I’ll get angry with you, I’ll help you fight the patriarchy. Although I never intended this shirt to be political, I am thankful that it has found its voice.  

One common critique of the current feminist movement is that it prioritizes a kind of aesthetic over real action. (In some ways, I think this has changed since the election). What are your thoughts on that critique? Do you think it’s valid/invalid?

Feminism has always been about action over aesthetic, but due to recent political events it has turned into a necessity. Seeing so many women take action through protesting and donating and vocalizing their beliefs through social media just goes to show you that feminism is not just “cool”, it’s a movement that is here to stay.

2016 Babe of the Year: Adrienne Dawes

In the first few months of the new year, we're celebrating the babes who helped buoy our community in 2016 with their inspiring ambition, work and success. 

As Adrienne Dawes tells it, 2016 was a super crazy year for the multi-hyphenate playwright, director, producer, and all around creative force. In addition to writing and/or producing three sold out productions last year — Denim Doves, Love Me Tinder, and Doper than Dope — Dawes also ran the show at Heckle Her, an Austin-based production company committed to original comedies featuring people of color. 

Though Dawes is currently in Oklahoma as part of the 2017 class of the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, she hopes that 2016 won't be the last that Austin sees of her and her production company — we hope so as well. 

Where does the drive to do what you do — even when the struggle bus pulls up — come from? 

I think a lot of what drives my hustle is that I've had an opportunity to meet and work with so many incredible performers. I love watching them work and I love watching an audience watch them perform. So even though my job requires me to do some really unpleasant, uncomfortable, and often tedious things, it's all about that magic moment when I can see the audience fall a little bit in love with a performer or a performance for the first time. It is a pretty powerful moment of connection that hits me really hard, whether I'm the writer, director or producer. I hustle for those moments.

What have been your favorite moments of creative energy this past year?

This year has been super crazy for me . . . I think each and every month had a favorite moment (or two) of creative energy. I was very full — my plate overfloweth. I think my absolute favorite moment happened very early on in February when I had 2 sold out performances of 2 totally different shows (Denim Doves; Love Me Tinder) that I worked on in 2 totally different capacities (playwright; director-producer) play in the same venue at the same time (Salvage Vanguard mainstage and studio theater). I stood in the lobby in a specific place so I could hear both audiences' reactions during the shows. It was so crazy to be able to hear the laughter of one room crossfade into the laughter of another room. That's my happy place. You can bury me right there. 

What have been the most challenging moments throughout your career and perhaps in this year in particular?

I repeat: This year has been super crazy for me . . .  every happy creative moment this year was matched with some sort of personal tragedy or loss. Usually those feelings have some distance or time between them . . . so to feel that overlap or overlay of big emotions all the time felt really, really weird. 

I think that with my career overall, it will always be a challenge for me to keep focused on making the work and not let myself get too distracted by responses to the work. I say that about both rejection/failure AND recognition/success. While the latter is WAY friendlier than the former (yes I will take a trophy over a template rejection letter ANY DAY), I want to keep focused on what is most important to me: making new and interesting work with the people I love.

What's the one thing you're most proud of accomplishing this past year? 

Hopefully 2016 is not my final year of creating work under Heckle Her here in Austin . . . but if it is, I will definitely look back and feel extremely proud of what we created. Our shows were made and received with so much love. I continue to feel really grateful that I got to have these experiences and the great company I got to share it with.

Ask a Babe: How Do I Save for Retirement As An Entrepreneur?

Introducing "Ask A Babe," the #bossbabesATX advice column. We're kicking this off with valuable wisdom from investment advisor Sara Glakas on retirement savings for entrepreneurs and the self-employed. For those seeking future advice or for those looking to dispense it, please email blog@bossbabes.org. 

Dear Babe,

One of the biggest hurdles to finally taking the plunge and starting that business or going full-time freelance is an uncertain future—specifically an uncertain financial future.

The common wisdom is to save, save, save to both get through the lean times and to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise.

But if we’re tucking away dollar bills for some future rainy day, how are we supposed to save enough for retirement, as well?

And while we’re on the subject, what should we be doing about retirement? Is there an option that’s ideal for entrepreneurs and the self-employed?

With gratitude,

#bossbabesATX

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Dear #bossbabesATX,

One of the best retirement options for entrepreneurs and self-employed freelancers is the Roth IRA.

From my experience, entrepreneurs tend to prioritize their emergency fund over their retirement account, especially when they are just starting out. Makes sense, right? If your business hits a slow patch, you need money available to ride it out.

But in finance, time is very valuable. If you put a dollar in the stock market today, it could be worth over $4 in fifteen years and it could be worth over $17 in thirty years. You need to start as many dollars as possible on their thirty-year journey.

For me, the Roth IRA is a great way to save for retirement while maintaining access to funds. The Roth has a special feature that allows you to put money aside for retirement, but with additional flexibility to withdraw your contributions if you really need to.

If you need to dip into your Roth before the official IRS retirement age of 59 ½ -- whether for an emergency, to pay expenses or to expand your business -- you have the option to take out your contributions (the money you put into the account) with no penalties or taxes. If you don’t ever need the money, you can keep it invested for retirement.

Individuals with annual income of less than $118,000 and married couples with annual income of less than $184,000 qualify to put up to $5,500 a year into a Roth IRA. If you’re over age 50, congrats, you can put in $6,500 a year.

It only takes about 15 minutes to open a Roth IRA and pick your investments. I recommend Vanguard as a great place to start. They do not charge account opening fees and their mutual funds have very low expenses. They’ll also pick up the phone if you need to call them.

If you don’t want to do it yourself, you need to hire an investment advisor to do it for you, just like you outsource other professional services for your business. Look for an advisor who is a fiduciary (someone who has the legal obligation to put your interests in front of their own).

The absolute, number one most important thing is to start. Don’t put it off another year. Every year that you lose is gone forever, and your future self could end up with much less money in retirement. Whether you DIY or outsource it to a professional, start your retirement preparation today.

Sincerely,

Sara Glakas, of Black Barn Financial

[P.S. A Note from the #bossbabesATX: In addition to being a Registered Investment Advisor and fiduciary, Sara also runs Austin Women’s Investing Group, a Meet-up group for women who want to learn more about investing, stocks, and financial literacy. You can find her practice at blackbarnfinancial.com, or learn more about Austin Women’s Investing Group here.]