On this episode of the Artistic Finance podcast, lighting designer Ethan Steimel sat down with Broadway, Off-Broadway, and West End lighting designer Isabella Byrd for a frank conversation about the financial realities of theatrical lighting designers.
Byrd, whose Tony-nominated lighting design for Cabaret is currently running on Broadway, brought up several topics that often go unspoken: IRS dealings, passive income being a changemaker, and union benefits.
The IRS Error That Cost Thousands
One of the most shocking moments in the episode comes when Byrd recounts a $85,000 IRS error, likely entered by a payroll company or the IRS, that haunted her for seven years. The mistake, which erroneously inflated her income on tax reports, cost her not only time and mental stress but thousands of dollars in legal and accounting fees. “The part that infuriates me,” Steimel reflected, “is that Isabella had to pay thousands to fix a mistake the IRS never took responsibility for.”
Transparency, Passive Income, and Financial Relief
That story underscores a broader truth for designers: our industry needs pay transparency. That materializes through community–designers talking to each other and to GMs and producers. Byrd explained her personal financial evolution, from paycheck-to-paycheck stress to the relief of passive income through recent commercial projects. And she mentioned a modest investment that many people can access–Certificates of Deposit (CDs).
Union Benefits and How to Track Them
The pair dig into the value of union membership, specifically when it comes to healthcare and pensions. Byrd walks listeners through how to access the USA829 member ledger to track union earnings and vesting credits—something Ethan admits he didn’t even realize he was close to qualifying for until Byrd caused him to look. For a visual walkthrough, he points listeners to the video version on YouTube.
Design Fees vs. Reality
The conversation got practical with Byrd being blunt about how lighting designer fees in theatre often don’t reflect the hours worked—especially compared to IATSE crew rates with overtime protections. She advocates for rethinking how design fees are structured, perhaps tying them to time and location, as is not uncommon in the corporate and TV worlds.
Resources for Financial Wellness
There was a celebrated mention of educational resources like the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), which now offers accessible online financial wellness classes. Designers shouldn’t have to learn these lessons the hard way and Byrd benefited from one of these consultations years ago when it was offered by Playwrights Horizons on a show she designed.
A Voice for Honesty and Change
Most memorable during the broadcast was Byrd’s clarity and generosity in discussing numbers—how much she made, how much she lost, how much she needed to live throughout her career. Steimel thanked her: “It’s such a relief to have someone willing to talk about it, willing to share numbers, and someone who is dedicated to their art as well as the sustainable lives of those around them.”
Conclusion
By the end of the episode, one thing is clear: Isabella Byrd is not only a brilliant lighting designer—she’s also helping lead the industry with pay transparency by being candid, thoughtful, and incredibly honest.
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