What I'm learning trying to build a dance theater piece like a startup

Hi HN,

I run a small Pilates studio in NYC, but before that I spent most of my life as a dancer. Recently I decided to do something that feels slightly irrational and produce an evening-length dance theater piece independently.

Normally projects like this rely on grants, institutions, or large arts organizations. Those systems can work well, but they also move slowly and can make it difficult for smaller experimental work to happen.

So I started wondering: what would it look like to approach producing a piece of performance art more like building a small startup?

The “product” is the performance itself. The budget mostly goes toward rehearsal space in NYC, paying the second performer, building a small set, costumes, and renting a venue.

Instead of waiting on grants, I’ve been experimenting with more direct community support — a mix of small donations, personal outreach, and sharing the process publicly.

A few things I’ve already learned:

• People respond much more to the story behind the work than to the work itself. • Direct personal messages raise far more support than public posts. • Funding creative work is strangely similar to early-stage startup fundraising — it’s mostly momentum and belief.

What’s been interesting is realizing that artists are rarely taught to think about funding this way. Most training focuses on the craft itself, not on building the systems that allow the work to exist.

I’m curious if anyone here has experimented with unconventional funding models for creative work or small projects.

Would love to hear any thoughts or experiences.