Burnout Season: How Three Tampa Bay Artists Keep the Fire Going Without Burning Out
by Avery Anderson
Normally, you’d find three stories in your Arts Passport inbox this week. Instead, you’re getting one—this one.
Since May, I’ve been cranking out at least three stories a week while also running the business side of this operation and working other jobs. This week, I’m doing something radical for—well, just about anyone: I’m taking a break. I’m in the mountains of North Carolina, remembering what rest feels like before diving headfirst into a fall lineup of new plays, festivals, and exhibitions.
The thing about burnout is it’s not just a desk job problem. Artists hit that wall hard—sometimes mid-project, sometimes mid-performance. So, I asked three local artists with shows on the horizon how they manage it. Their advice? Step away before you flame out.
John Perez, local actor, educator, and director of My Tree—a new play by Samara Siskind premiering at ThinkTank Theatre’s Playfest on Aug. 24—doesn’t wait for inspiration to return. He goes looking for it elsewhere.
“When I’m feeling burnt out, and for lack of a better word, uninspired, I find one thing has helped me more than anything: walk away from it for a while. Find something else to do. For me, I’ll play a video game, watch a comfort show, or go for a workout. When frustrated, I take that as my cue to give my brain a break. The work you’re passionate about won’t get done if you don’t take care of yourself.”
Jenna Jane, a playwright with a reading of her new work Bionic at the Sarasota Players New Play Festival on Aug. 19, doesn’t believe in “beating” burnout at all.
“To be honest, I find it's more about managing burnout than beating it. This will probably be so unsatisfying as an answer, but it's the truth: I make exercise a priority every single day. Even though it means stepping away from my work, it's the best way to recharge and clear my head. Daily, intense workouts have done wonders for my mental health and energy levels.”
For Julia Rifino, starring next month in freeFall Theatre’s Tell Me on a Sunday (opening Sept. 6), burnout comes with its own hidden message.
“Burnout is NOT fun and I’ve experienced it in both live performance and in creating visual art. But! It’s been an amazing reminder from my body to prioritize REST.”
Her recovery playbook includes two modes: the “bop around town” days, where she wanders without a goal and lets her mind reset, and the absolute rest—but keep your hands busy—days, with clay, doodling, or even a round of solitaire.
“As much as I’d like to be someone who can just melt on the couch and heal, having something to at least keep my hands moving is really therapeutic for my mental health and provides more healing overall!”
Maybe the real burnout cure is accepting that there isn’t one—only habits that keep you from hitting empty in the first place. This week, I took the artists’ advice and logged off. If you need me, I’ll be under the Carolina pines, on a deeply personal quest to sample every possible version of Nashville hot chicken I can find.