Let’s Talk: Studio Talent Collective Blog

Small Business. Big Impact. 

Why supporting local theatre, creative businesses and the people behind the experiences matters. 💜

These school holidays, I brought the fam to see a show produced and created by Clint Salter, THE SEASON SQUAD.

Tickets were an accessible $30 a pop, and it was a show launch of sorts, with a new kids/family musical making its debut. And I am HERE for that! Seriously, I just HAD to support it and be a bum on one of those velvet theatre seats.

It was fun, colourful and creative, and it reminded me why smaller productions have such an important place in the musical theatre ecosystem. They give new ideas a chance, create opportunities for artists and bring fresh experiences to audiences.

And it got me thinking about the bigger picture.

Around the same time, I saw viral social posts being shared about producer Daniel Stoddart and a popular theatre company in Newcastle facing an estimated $490,000 loss from their production of Disney’s Frozen at the Civic Theatre.

The post was a candid call to arms, sharing the financial reality of the production and encouraging people to support local theatre by buying tickets. I’m not local to the region, but I shared it in good faith to support ticket sales, and because I believe this conversation matters well beyond Newcastle.

Because behind every production, studio, performance and creative experience are people and businesses taking a risk to make something happen. And when we talk about supporting small business, that’s exactly what we’re talking about.

Small business is bigger than you think.

And if you teach in the performing arts or have a child that dances, sings, acts or performs, you're already part of it.

October is Small Business Month, and it's got me thinking about the industry we work in and just how many small businesses make the performing arts possible.

Think about your local dance studio. From the outside, it might look like a place where your child goes to class each week. But behind those doors are teachers, choreographers, photographers, costume suppliers, technicians, performers and business owners. It's an entire ecosystem of people creating jobs, experiences and opportunities.

And many of those people are running small businesses of their own, often while raising families, paying mortgages and doing their best to keep everything moving.

Here's the thing about spending.

When household budgets are tight, it's completely understandable that families pull back. Maybe the extra workshop gets skipped, the photoshoot is put off, or the family decides to sit out a show this year. Sometimes those decisions are necessary, and there's absolutely no shame in that.

But every dollar we choose to spend (or not spend) has a ripple effect. That class fee helps pay a teacher. That photoshoot supports a photographer. That ticket helps fund a production. That workshop helps another business keep its doors open.

Money moves through communities, and the people behind those businesses feel the difference.

I'm not saying we should spend money we don't have, or that every business deserves our dollars regardless of the value it provides. I'm saying that when we do have a choice, it's worth thinking about where our money goes and who it supports.

Can you book the real photoshoot instead of defaulting to AI? Buy from the small supplier? Go to the independent show? Leave a review or share the work of a business you love?

And in an industry built on creativity, connection and human expression, there's another piece to consider: the experiences we create for our kids matter. Dance classes, live performances, workshops and opportunities to create - alongside others - give them things that can't simply be replicated on a screen.

Small business isn't just business. Its people, creativity, employment, opportunity and community.

So this Small Business Month, I'm giving a little shout-out to the studio owners, teachers, artists, photographers, suppliers and independent operators who make our industry what it is. I see the work that goes on behind the scenes, and I know it isn't always easy.

When we support the businesses creating the experiences, we help keep the whole ecosystem moving. 💜

✨Thanks for reading xx Josephine Lancuba