Isabella Byrd: Designer Pay & Transparency

In Episode 187 of the Artistic Finance podcast, lighting designer Isabella Byrd returns for an in-depth one-on-one conversation with host Ethan Steimel. Known for her outspoken advocacy on pay equity, sustainability, and union reform, Byrd reflects on her career journey from Off-Broadway to Broadway and the West End. The conversation weaves through financial triumphs and missteps, including navigating passive income from Cabaret, managing IRS errors, and advocating for assistants’ rights. Byrd’s honesty and humor make this one of the podcast’s most candid and enlightening episodes to date.

How did Isabella Byrd’s financial life change after working on the West End and Broadway productions of Cabaret?

Isabella Byrd credits Cabaret with transforming her financial stability. Initially offered a design fee of around £10,000–£16,000 on the West End, she began receiving weekly royalties of £300 plus occasional overages. One month, she received an unexpected £8,000 payout, a life-changing amount after years of scraping by. Later, when Cabaret opened on Broadway, Byrd earned around $20,000 in design fees and gained additional income through a tiered royalty structure, potentially making $4,000 a week if box office revenues were high. For the first time, she had passive income and began saving and investing with more confidence.

What financial mistake did Isabella make that still haunts her, and what did she learn from it?

A major financial misstep occurred in 2012 when the IRS mistakenly recorded her $850 freelance income as $85,000. Unaware of the error, Byrd ignored sporadic notices for nearly a decade while the IRS pursued her for $20,000 in unpaid taxes. The issue was eventually resolved in 2021, but the emotional toll and fear of confrontation caused long-lasting anxiety. The lesson? Always follow up on tax notices—even if they seem bureaucratic and overwhelming. She advises creatives to seek help from financial professionals and not let fear paralyze them.

How does Isabella Byrd advocate for fair pay and treatment of assistants and associates in theatrical design?

As a vocal member of the Off-Broadway Negotiating Committee for USA829, Byrd is passionate about pay equity for creative labor. She ensures her associates receive fair compensation, often referencing the pay scale of electricians and programmers to advocate for hourly parity. For instance, she fought to match her associate’s rate to a programmer’s $39/hour, even pushing back on producers who tried to cap pay. She also openly shares fee details and encourages assistants to copy or BCC her in negotiations, helping normalize transparency in labor advocacy.

What has Isabella learned about budgeting, savings, and managing money as a freelancer?

Isabella Byrd admits to being “neutral bad” with money for much of her career but has gradually improved. In recent years, she moved her savings into a high-yield account and opened Certificates of Deposit (CDs), securing 4.8%–5.3% interest rates. She says this passive return—though modest—gave her more financial security and peace of mind. She also emphasizes the importance of keeping living costs low; her decision to stay in the same apartment for over 15 years provided stability that allowed her to focus on art rather than survival.

What’s Isabella’s view on union membership and how has it impacted her career?

Isabella Byrd initially joined USA829 years before reaping its benefits, paying dues even when she wasn’t earning through union-covered contracts. Today, she strongly supports union transparency and utility—especially the healthcare, pension tracking, and the “Member Ledger” tool, which she recently discovered shows detailed earnings and contributions. Though frustrated at times with how little some Off-Broadway fees cover, she believes in the union’s role and encourages artists to call their reps, ask questions, and participate in negotiations. Her biggest takeaway: the union “starts with you.”

Key Takeaways from the Episode

• Passive income changes everything. Isabella’s royalties from Cabaret allowed her to stop living paycheck to paycheck and finally focus on savings and security.
• Ask questions and don’t pretend to understand. From taxes to pensions, Byrd urges transparency and curiosity over “faking it till you make it.”
• Creative labor deserves hourly parity. Designers and associates often earn less than technical workers; Byrd advocates for balancing that scale.
• Union tools are your friend.Isabella Byrd highlights the “Member Ledger” on USA829’s site as a game-changer for understanding annual income and pension eligibility.
• Financial therapy is real. Isabella Byrd encourages artists to take up offers for financial wellness resources—whether from Playwrights Horizons, the Entertainment Community Fund, or their union.

Listen to this Episode on:

Website / Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

This episode of the Artistic Finance podcast is hosted by Ethan Steimel.