We recently connected with Aria Renee Curameng and have shared our conversation below.

Aria Renee, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

It is possible to earn a full-time living from creative work. It may not make you a millionaire over night, but the second you “know your worth and add tax”, that is when you start thriving.

I first heard this saying from, Jada Valenciaga (William Bailey). I went to their drag show often and we were properly introduced to each other after she found me singing at the piano bar. (I could go on about this story but a story for another time) Over the years, they became family to me, eventually my drag mother, and she always gave me advice. Just to back track a bit, this all started in 2021, so I wasn’t acting as much and most of the work I went back to doing were YouTube showcases, they weren’t paid gigs. I never thought much of it, I needed to built my resume! The only thing is schools don’t teach you when to stop trying to build your resume.

So here I am almost every Tuesday night, a well paid gig with Jada Valenciaga and the cast of “Curtains Up!”, but I took another gig that didn’t pay but “gave exposure”. Jada and I actually have a mother and child relationship, so she had a chat with me. To sum it all up, she was disappointed and surprised I had taken that job. “Know your worth and add tax” “always ask ‘What’s the pay?'”, because she made a great point… I had been invited back onto her show over and over again, tot he point I wasn’t a guest slot anymore, I was a cast member in her show. I had been offered other paid opportunities because of my skills. My artistry was worth value.

From that point, I had made sure every job I took was a paid gig. I even carried to saying for my self worth, and that led me to jobs that paid AND treated me with respect. You’d think 2024- that should be the bare minimum, but I still come across a few jobs that don’t always respect boundaries. All you can do is walk away and wish them well. “Know your worth and add tax” led me on a path that had me working as an artist full time, made me a bit more confident too. I sometimes think that boost is what helped me land my Off-Broadway contract.

“Lewberger and The Wizard of Friendship” helped me learn and grow in this industry. I was originally booked as a swing/F.O.H. Manager, but while in rehearsals and Lewberger seeing rehearsal videos, they decided to ask me to be an on-stage swing. Later, they asked me to help fix a few costumes. Luckily, they agreed that my extra work should be compensated. I’m very grateful for that time because I was able to quit my survival job and work full-time doing what I love.

With the people I have connected with during this journey, I can work on my craft every day. I can grow in this industry, be the best version of myself in my personal and work life, and still cover my bills. Now I have to be completely honest, this doesn’t mean I’ll never work a desk job or retail job. I still have a temp job when I’m not working on a show, but that temp job knows that the work I put into that job is just as great as the work I put into shows. They always wish me well when I leave for a contract, and welcome me back when I need work.

Aria Renee, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Aria Renee Curameng (They/Them) a Filipinx-American actor. Most recent credits include “Lewberger and the Wizard of Friendship” (Off-Broadway), “Lewberger in Concert” (Off-Broadway); “A Chorus Line” (Toby’s Dinner Theatre), “Earl Mosley Diversity of Dance” and “2023 Bessie Awards” (Lincoln Center). Currently performing at The Monster Bar’s “Curtains Up” starring Jada Valenciaga, Tuesdays at 9PM. Instagram: @arcurameng

My parents were both in the performing arts industry and it was only a matter of time until I found a love for the arts. I even used to do a lot in visual arts, but moved to NYC to study and grow as a musical theatre performer.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

We pay a lot of money for pop star concerts, designer bags, etc…. why is it different when an artist sells their art based on their labor and the cost of quality materials? If an artist is selling their print poster for a certain price, don’t haggle. If a friend is performing in a show, don’t ask for a free ticket. The price isn’t too expensive, it’s just out of your budget.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Trigger Warning- Since I started working in the industry (at 10 years old), at least 5 people have told me, “If you don’t loose weight, you won’t work.” “You have to have ________ to be a leading lady.” “No, you’re ethnically ambiguous.”I had to silence these voices because theatre is changing, the stories we are telling are changing. But before that I had body dysmorphia, wishing I was skinnier, taller, I even wished my skin was pale to be “white passing”. I’m grateful that I’m seeing and meeting other Filipino/a/x- American actors who look like me. I’m even starting to love my body and my qualities, and I’d rather be a happy actor in this way. A colleague of mine said to me, “It’s okay to tell these stories so we don’t ignore it, but we should stop saying, ‘That’s just the industry for ya.'”.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @arcurameng

Image Credits
Billy Bustamante Aria Renee Curameng