Creativity isn’t easy. It’s hard work and anyone who creates theatre, dance, music, or any form of art will tell you that good creative work takes time. It also takes money. Effort, time and money – that’s what good art needs. So what happens when one of these is missing?

When I decide to commit to a play, especially a big one, like say The Three Musketeers, or something of that scope, I know it’s going to take all three of these elements in order for the final product to be good – you know, something I’m willing to put my name on and share with the world. So, first of all, I know it’s going to take time and lots of it. For 3M, I started work a year in advance of the production. Now the beginning work was not as intense as the end, but still, in order to really be on top of everything, I knew I needed to start the thinking and planning. This amount of time, for me at least, really pays off. I like to know the subject area as well as I possibly can – even before the cast and some of the crew join the project, otherwise, how can I project the vision of the play to lead them to a product THEY will be proud of in the end? So, as much time as possible is what I like to have with a project.

Then I know I need a lot of support. Now support comes in many forms – in the shape of talented people who help to bring the project to life, but also in the form of dollars – and generally, more is better. But you don’t always have more. So you plan and you get creative. But as we all know, money can really help a production turn from a decent amateur show to something that looks worthy of much more than a $25 admission. Spending funds wisely, raising some extra, or finding those donations to help a project can make all the difference.

And then there’s that effort and skill. If you’ve got the expertise, then you can think creatively and save a few pennies or dollars, or precious minutes or hours in the process. If you’ve got the best people on your team and you trust them and empower them, you can save tons of funds and time. You may also get an even greater product because you gave them the chance to explore your initial idea and take it further. But if you are just starting out, and you are still learning the tools of the trade, you’d better have reserves of time and some extra pocket change.

So, what’s the point of this examination, you ask? Well, simply this – you don’t always get all three – Skill/Expertise, Time and Money. So, sometimes you have to choose because here’s what it boils down to… If you want your product to be good, then you need lots of time to get it there, OR you need lots and lots of money to buy a good product. Cause without the whole equation, your end product will likely suffer in one way or another. It’s a compromise. So on any project, you have to ask yourself, “Where am I willing to make that compromise? Is it with my time? Or is it with my money?”