Your life could be a write-off – Expert advice from a rock’n’roll accountant
The art of taxes!
Creative Commons licensed image by 401(K) 2012.
In the songwriting business, “reasonable expectation of profit” can be significantly different from other businesses. The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) admits that there’s often a longer ramp-up period before a songwriter starts making a profit. That’s why it’s important for artists to work with an accountant who knows the business.
An experienced entertainment accountant knows how to ensure that your losses are allowed by the CRA year after year until you make a profit, or until you stop trying. But let’s hope you keep trying! Jae Gold (rocknrollaccountant.com) has worked with many of the songwriters you hear on radio, and graciously offers his expertise by answering questions posed by S.A.C. members.
What are the most common mistakes made by artists when filing taxes? Missing filing deadlines; under-reporting income; not claiming allowable expenses; claiming expenses that are too personal in nature to…
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Artist Removes One Letter from Famous Movie Titles and Illustrates the Results
I love this kind of brilliance!
Well-thunk! 🙂
Writer and illustrator Austin Light recently shared a funny series of sketches from his notebook that reimagines movie titles with one letter removed. The idea started on reddit where users were asked to, “Pick a movie, remove one letter, give a brief description“.
As a daily art project, Light took the concept one step further, drawing a scene from the imaginary film. He also penned a brief synopsis for each. You can see the entire album on Imgur. For more from Austin, check him out at the links below.
Website | Twitter | Online store
1. Obocop
The story of how a police officer works through his PTSD and adjusts to his new robotic implants with the help of the sexy soothing sound of his oboe
Website | Twitter | Online store
2. Rave
One red-haired Scottish girl. One dance floor…
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Leslieville | Living in Torontos Best Neighbourhood
Leslieville | Living in Torontos Best Neighbourhood…
…and finding the hottest new designer there too, Jacqueline Peres of Maison Jacqueline! I have seen this girl in action, and she reveals beauty overlooked every time! And with such a generous wit and charm! For real! 🙂
41 Regrets You Don’t Want to Take to Your Grave. | Rebelle Society
41 Regrets You Don’t Want to Take to Your Grave. | Rebelle Society.
I wish everyone would read this and realize that reading it is not enough.
We must also take heed. 🙂
In the spirit of collaboration – A story from the S.A.C. Songwriting/Blogging Challenge 2014
A lesson in cooperation…. a sweet sound! 🙂
by Rosanne Baker ThornleyEvery song is a journey. At the middle of which is a compelling statement, an engaging story, an emotion. It’s your perception, your belief, what you struggle with, or towards, it’s your aspirations – set to a melody. And whether the song reveals your deepest corners or is a story captured and told through your eyes – whether it’s your song to sing or for someone else to sing – at the heart of the song, is you.
I began songwriting at the age of 8. Embedded in the folk scene at 14, I crossed the ocean at 16 to perform in Europe, spent many years as lead singer and songwriter / co-writer with various rock bands touring North America and then went on my own, focused on writing and releasing my album. I’ve written an extensive catalogue of songs over ‘a few’ decades – and…
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Entertaining, topsy-turvy romp of political shenanigans & scandal in Ubu Mayor
Astrid Van Wieren, Richard Harte & Michael Dufays – photo by Yuri Doje
One Little Goat Theatre Company opened its run of Adam Seelig’s Ubu Mayor at the Wychwood Theatre last night. Inspired by Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi – and the wacky antics and scandals of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his brother, Councillor Doug Ford – Seelig describes Ubu Mayor as “an all-out romp of asinine absurdity. With music.” This is One Little Goat’s first production with music, and Seelig is wearing several hats for this piece – also the composer and director – with music and live band direction by Tyler Emond.
Mayor Ubu (Richard Harte) is a well-meaning, but not too bright, bicycle riding guy with a vision who wants the best for his city. He also thinks his wife Huhu (Astrid Van Wieren) is cheating on him with his older brother Dudu (Michael Dufays). The audience…
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B-Side|Wonder Women-Los Angeles
Flip it to the B-Side! Thanks once again to The Harlton Empire for their tireless support of artists! Please add them to your Reader and follow along! They are always up to super shenanigans! 🙂 xoxox
We just don’t have the time to explore everything we love. So we give you ‘B-Side‘- a random collection of things we love that we think you should explore further. Today’s post is all about Wonder Women LA and empowering female artists. Check out their press release below:
FEMALE MUSICIANS RAISE FUNDS FOR LOCAL CHARITY
(Wonder Women Los Angeles Will Donate Funds to the Women Like Us Foundation)
September 7th at Arcadia Blues Club, female musicians, and artists will perform at “Wonder Women Los Angeles.” The movement aims to empower young women to use their artistic voices, while raising funds for the Hollywood chapter of the “Women Like Us” Foundation.
Wonder Women was created by singer-songwriter, Arlene Paculan, to showcase female artists while supporting female-driven charitable organizations. Paculan met artist and activist April Snow on a trip to California and the two began working together to…
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KATNIP: Life Tips by Kat!
Sometimes I get fan mail and advice requests. It warms my heart like a soft flame on the underside of a roasting marshmallow, turning it softer and sweeter by the succulent second. I am extremely flattered and motivated to help. So I strip down, tilt my glass(es), and get down to straight talk.
Here is a question I received this week.
QUESTION:
My daughter is going into high school and really interested in the arts. Do you have any advice for her?
KATNIP:
I think there are three important pieces of advice I would stress to anyone hoping to make art for a living:
1) DO YOUR ART and never stop, explore all kinds, be open and free. Say yes to many things until you learn what you absolutely want to say no to. Then say no to those things that don’t serve you so that you have the time and energy to spend on those things that do serve you best. Spend time with yourself so you are available to allow inspiration to come in and fill your well through “the channel”. Be aware of how your art affects others but do not do it merely to please others. Your art is a unique expression of you, and only your voice can hold the true tune. FAIL as often as you can because it strengthens your resolve, and many mistakes are gifts. Don’t overanalyze. Feel and do.
2) LEARN THE BUSINESS if you want to do art for a living. You must believe that art can be a lucrative career as much as accounting, law, medicine and most other dang thing can be. You must take it seriously and know the business side to either manage yourself or ensure that you’re not taken advantage of by someone managing you. Know how to make money in your field.
3) SHARE YOUR ART, your skills and inspiration with others, because art is above all an important form of communication and a calling not to be kept quiet. If you can inspire someone else to create art and encourage them to follow their own path, to shine their light upon the world, then the world becomes brighter, bolder, more beautifuller. That is in itself a form of art and a source of immeasurable pleasure!
Hope this helps!
Anyone have something to add?
🙂
P.S. Please send all requests for Katnip: Life Tips by Kat to me directly because my assssistant is a little off.
SummerWorks is coming!
It’s true! 🙂
Hey theatre fans! Toronto Fringe may be over, but there’s more provocative, exciting theatre to come. SummerWorks 2014 opens a week from today!
A juried festival, featuring theatre, dance, music and art works – often multi-media and multi-disciplinary in nature – SummerWorks is always an exciting arts/culture trip.
SummerWorks runs August 7 – 17; you can purchase advance tickets on the festival website.
Stay tuned for posts on my SummerWorks adventures, starting on August 5 with a preview performance of Yarn.
Wordspell Tonight!
I’m guesting at tonight’s extra-special edition of Wordspell!
From the Facebook invite:
Arianna Pozzuoli is back in Toronto for bit and just published a new poetry collection…Let’s Celebrate!!! Join us for an evening of words and music. Hosted by Vanessa McGowan with special appearance by Kat Leonard you don’t want to miss!
A little bit about Arianna:
You can always expect a variety of funny and heartfelt poems and stories with educator, spoken word poet and storyteller, Arianna Pozzuoli. Since 2006, Arianna has competed and featured at various poetry slams and festivals across Canada, the US, the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia. She is currently a Drama teacher at the Canadian International School of Singapore and will be sharing poems from her first poetry collection, Something for Everyone. Copies of her book can also be purchased online; redwheelbarrowbooks.com.
And a bit about Kat: Kat Leonard is a singer/songwriter/comedian and actor. A dare duel between Madonna and k.d. lang, madcap and profound, Kat is a feisty performance pop dynamo whose music oscillates unpredictably between heartfelt and hilarious, leaving you with the drunken joy of a sugar rush.
Tonight 8:00pm
$10 @ the door
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Free Times Cafe
320 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S3
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Hope to see you there! 🙂
KAT LEONARD (Kat & The MP3) 