We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Roger Hendricks Simon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Roger Hendricks below.

Roger Hendricks, 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 always loved acting, directing and teaching and somehow managed to get by combining the three. It helped that I grew up in an artistic family and married an artist. They all understood what it took to survive and they encouraged me to do my “thing”.
so living a life in the arts was always natural for me. And although we lived very well – raising three artistic children – we also lived modestly. Lets just say -“creative” economics.

Roger Hendricks, 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?

My family was in the business so I grew up in it and it was only natural for me. After Yale Drama School training, I was a founding member of Yale Rep in 1967 where I started my career and Then I went to London and directed and acted there (Royal Court Theatre, etc) and in Europe. Then back to NY Shakespeare Festival and regional/Off Bdway Theatre as a director.. I founded my Simon Studio in 1978 – now in its 47 th year as training/production center in NYC. Major film roles in LOVE IN KILNERRY (Best Supporting Actor award from Intl Independent Film Awards), LINOLEUM opposite Jim Gaffigan and Tony Shaloub),

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Struggling to survive as an artistic family with three kids meant constantly moving, buying numerous homes at low prices, fixing up and then selling high in the 1970’s/80’s. We had that knack to keep going when sometimes theatre work was limited. And we were able to live very well that way.

Non creative types have difficulty understanding why and how we choose to live with financial and emotional ups and downs to do work we truly love.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Struggling to survive as an artistic family with three kids meant constantly moving, buying numerous homes at low prices, fixing up and then selling high in the 1970’s/80’s. We had that knack to keep going when sometimes theatre work was limited. And we were able to live very well that way.

Non creative types have difficulty understanding why and how we choose to live with financial and emotional ups and downs to do work we truly love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thesimonstudio.com
• Instagram: Rogerh simon
• Facebook: Roger H Simon
• Linkedin: Roger H Simon
• Twitter: Roger H Simon
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/Rogerhendickssimon