Aja M Jackson: Lighting the Numbers
Lighting designer Aja M Jackson gets candid about living modestly, building a cash cushion in a high-yield savings account, and using spreadsheets to push back on underpaid offers. She demystifies agents and unions for designers, shares how corporate work stabilizes an artistic career, and offers clear, actionable habits any creative can adopt today. Below is an insight into some of the topics covered in this Podcast.
How does Aja M Jackson approach money as a freelance lighting designer, and what habits keep her stress low?
Aja describes herself as “financially neutral”—organized, steady, and rarely flashy. She routes every paycheck into tidy buckets: bills, savings, and modest spending. She keeps an ample cash cushion in a high-yield savings account, which she likens to a comforter that lets her think about money regularly without worrying daily. Budgeting became essential during the pandemic, when a full slate of work evaporated overnight. Now she reverse-engineers her year: list monthly expenses, set income targets, and decide whether to accept a small passion project, stack two medium jobs, or hold out for a larger contract. She avoids drama with credit cards by paying in full each month, protecting her credit score for apartments and car loans. Overall, the system is really simple: live modestly, automate savings, and make money decisions match the life she wants—like keeping a car in New York because it supports family and freedom.
What early experiences shaped her financial mindset, and how did she navigate the leap to New York?
Aja grew up in Nebraska, where money realities were discussed plainly at home. Periods of welfare and frequent moves between parents taught her that stability is precious and budgets must be honest. That upbringing made her grateful for educators and mentors who opened doors, and later for teaching roles she took on herself. After undergrad she moved to New York with about $4–5K saved, repaid student loans immediately, and stretched cash by couch-surfing and finding rooms through artist housing groups. A tuition scholarship had covered school but not housing, food, or fees, so she learned to juggle partial aid with part-time work. New York was tight but manageable because she earmarked every dollar and resisted lifestyle creep. Those early constraints hardened habits she still uses: track spending, plan for irregular income, and acknowledge trade-offs so that art and solvency can coexist without constant anxiety.
How does Aja evaluate gigs, negotiate pay, and think about unions and agents?
She blends data with advocacy. Right out of grad school, a Boston offer felt low, so she sent a spreadsheet tallying only the scheduled hours; the math exposed an effective rate near $1.12/hour. She declined, suggested solutions (partner with a university, find a donor to fund labor), and learned that specific numbers change minds faster than “that’s too low.” She urges donors to earmark gifts for people, not scenery, because restricted funds can immediately raise wages and access. On representation, Aja rejects the myth that agents never bring designers work. Her agent, a dramaturg by training, listens to goals, pitches her proactively, and has sent multiple projects this year; the partnership works because incentives align and expectations are clear. On the union, she argues: if you’re doing the work, join. Exams and regional differences exist, but membership is about craft, protections, and equity—so participate early rather than waiting for a “readiness” stamp.
What does building a sustainable career look like for her—creatively and financially?
Creatively, Aja thrills at intentional spectacle (Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour) and participatory worlds that invite exploration without putting audiences on the spot. Professionally, she mixes assisting and lead design, which compounds relationships and readiness. A current highlight is adapting Bradley King’s Hadestown lighting for a second national tour—preserving Broadway “magic” while re-engineering for legs, scenery, crew sizes, load-ins, and schedules so more cities can experience the show. Financially, she diversifies with corporate gigs (e.g., tech events) that pay day-rates far above theater, then uses those surpluses to stabilize artistic choices. She keeps debt minimal on purpose: mostly student loans and a small remaining car balance held at favorable terms so cash can keep compounding in savings. The throughline is intentionality—design the art, design the calendar, and design the cash flow so each supports the other.
What practical takeaways does Aja want creatives to apply immediately?
First, open a high-yield savings account; if cash is parked anyway, let it earn with no market risk. Second, build a buffer before investing—security beats FOMO, and a concrete target (even $10K you won’t touch) can focus the habit. Third, never carry credit-card balances; interest around 25% is a “poor tax” that inflates the price of everything and erodes options. Fourth, live modestly and within your means; lower fixed costs increase bargaining power, reduce panic decisions, and buy time to choose the right projects. Fifth, use spreadsheets to make labor visible to producers, and invite donors to fund people directly. Finally, consider joining the union sooner and cultivating an agent who advocates actively—relationships, transparency, and clear math improve pay, access, and sustainability. Aja closes by welcoming inquiries from emerging artists, stressing that organized habits, kindness, and community make a resilient creative life possible.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
Live modestly and stay within your means to create financial stability.
Budget backwards: calculate expenses first, then target projects that meet those needs.
Build a financial cushion in a high-yield savings account before investing.
Use transparency and data (like hourly breakdowns) to push back on unfair pay.
Agents can open doors, and joining the union early provides protection and equity.
Pay off credit cards in full to build strong credit and avoid costly interest.
Leverage higher-paying corporate gigs to support your artistic career.
Listen to this Episode on:
Website / Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube
This episode of the Artistic Finance podcast is hosted by Ethan Steimel.
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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