We recently connected with Michael Kushner and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, 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?

I’m a multi-hyphenate. According to my podcast and my book How to be a Multi-Hyphenate in the Theatre, a multi-hyphenate is an artist who has multiple proficiencies which cross pollinate to help flourish professional capabilities. I’m a photographer, performer, producer, podcaster, writer, and educator. In doing those things professionally, I am able to stay creative and earn an income based on my artistry. My photography business helps me as I write projects and audition. It all feeds into itself and helps my overall business and artistry grow.

Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been in the industry 23 years and started as a child actor. My first show was a community theatre production of Mary Poppins at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. The Artistic Director, Cynthia O’Brien, encouraged us to write the script, make our costumes, and create the show in many other ways other than performing. So, my introduction to the industry was that you can tell a story in so many different ways — not just performing. Have an idea? Write it. Paint it. Sew it. Make it come alive.

Shortly after that, my grandma saw an audition in the South Florida newspaper for a show called A Stoop on Orchard Street which had a successful Off Broadway run. They were bringing it to the South Florida regional theatre market. I auditioned and booked the role of Benny Lomansky in this musical that was basically Fiddler on Roof, part two and set in the Lower East Side of NYC at the turn of the century. I was being picked up from middle school for matinees and doing eight shows a week with a cast of 23 adults and myself. It was magical and I was hooked.

I then continued to work professionally, went to a performing arts high school on full scholarship, went to French Woods for sleepaway camp and continued training, and then Ithaca College where I got my BFA in Musical Theatre. When I was in high school, my teacher Elena Garcia introduced the core principals of multi-hyphenating for me. She would turn our drama class room into an active Equity theatre. I watched her create theatre simply because she wanted to. She was and still is a leading example for me — and she’s currently a four time Carbonell Award winning theatre creative in Miami.

In college, I had Cynthia Henderson who led with a multi-hyphenate example as a professor, actor, and leader in theatre for social change. All of these strong women in my life told me you can do it all. So senior year I was in the musicals, a teaching assistant, the host of Best of Broadway on WICB Radio, and on the guest artist committee. I love being immersed.

My senior year, I started taking headshots of other students for extra money. Okay, fine, for vodka. And everyone said I needed to continue to take headshots when I moved to the city. After booking some gigs, including the out of town tryout of the revival of On the Town, I moved to the city and started selling soap at a store in SoHo called Sabon. Eight months later, I was out of there and working just about full time as a photographer. It all happened so fast, but it happened because I knew what I wanted and I knew who I wanted to work with.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The pandemic. And not just because the world shut down, but because I got sick. After getting sick in March of 2020, three years later I am still a CoVid long hauler dealing with exhaustion, body pain, and more lingering effects. I could not work the same hours I was working before the pandemic. Late nights became early nights icing my legs on the couch. Early mornings became late mornings because my body needed more sleep. Free time became hospital visits for testing and procedures.

I had to take time and heal. I also had to take time and set boundaries to my schedule so I didn’t overwhelm myself. Three shoots and then dinner and drinks became one or two shoots and then dinner at home. I’m able to go out more these days, but I still have to limit myself. I now say ‘no’ a lot more and its been a lot better for my body and mental health. It’s also helped with who I work with and the projects I take on. If I don’t get a good vibe from the person or project, I pass. I owe it to my body and brain to do so.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I get to heal. I get to inspire. I don’t like to have a pessimistic view of the world, but the world — especially as of late — has been wearing many people down. I’m not sure if the world will ever get easier, but I think we can adapt to how we allow ourselves to handle stress, rejection, and tensions. For me, art is that answer and it’s okay to have hobbies and things you don’t get paid for to take your mind away from the tensions of day to day life.

You don’t just get to heal others, but yourself.

When I get to heal others, it’s amazing. And the work that I get to do, I genuinely see it happen in the moment. As a photographer, when a client sees there soul come through in a photo, it’s like watching a rainbow pop out of a baby kitten. The client gets so inspired and excited to use them for auditions. If I can be one small positive aspect of an artists’ journey like that — hey, I’ll take it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michaelkushnerphotography.com
• Instagram: @themichaelkushner
• Other: TikTok: @themichaelkushner

Image Credits
Michael Kushner Photography Michael Allen Russell Ryan Doyle