Table ladies wear beautiful hoop skirts that double as tables. The skirt encircles the performer displaying appetizers, desserts or promotional items.

Redmoon for Hire serves artistic and commercial needs at the same time.

In a city known for innovative theater, Chicago’s Redmoon Theater is one of the most innovative. It’s a highly visual company, which starts with images, rather than text, in telling its stories. The company creates theatrical events in nontraditional places, bringing spectacular performances and installations to Chicago’s streets, parks and public places. At home, their work runs the gamut and often includes puppetry, projections and stylized performance.

In recent years, Redmoon has started working with private and public clients in bringing their unique vision to private events. The theatre provides service items, atmosphere enhancers and specialty creations that “transform any party into a living work of art.” One popular item is the Table Lady. A performer stands inside a six-foot-wide table, which serves as a giant hoop skirt. The table is on wheels to allow the performer to roll through the event, serving guests from the plates on her skirt. Redmoon for Hire has become a growingly important income generator for the company. Recently, we spoke with Artistic Associate Vanessa Stalling about Redmoon for Hire and how it has grown.

Stage Directions: How did Redmoon for Hire begin?
Vanessa Stalling: The public got to know us through our large outdoor spectacles. A few years back, we were approached by people who were interested commissioning us to do similar performances for their special events. After we did a couple, we realized it was a great way to get supplemental income, so that we weren’t entirely dependent on donors, grants and sponsorships.

Vanessa Stalling

How has it changed?
We now have a formal department dedicated to developing the program: marketing it, branding it, working events. We have become more aggressive in seeking new clients and getting the word out to people who have no experience with Redmoon.

For example?
This year, we threw a large showcase event in our space. We invited event planners, party planners — the kind of people who normally hire us. The showcase gave them an opportunity to meet us, and it helped them visualize what we do.

How does Redmoon for Hire relate to the mission of the theatre?
We’re always looking for new and exciting ways to get artwork to the public. We like to create theatrical events in nontraditional places. Redmoon for Hire allows us to do that. We are always interested in forming relationships with local artists, and large events help us build relationships.

How does it fit into your overall funding plan?
Redmoon for Hire is an income-producing arm of theatre, the same as ticket sales or bar revenue. People hire us because we provide a unique service that no one else in the city can provide. As we dedicate more time to developing the department, the more it serves theatre at large.

What’s the best part of Redmoon for Hire?
It’s been a terrific opportunity to be able to participate in events at the civic and public level. We were part of the groundbreaking ceremony for the new wing at the Art Institute. It was an honor for the theatre to be part of such a great institution.

A Redmoon stilted server stands 10 feet tall and wears skirts made of sculpted steel that hold appetizers, desserts or small promotional items.

What lessons have you learned?
We had to train ourselves on all the aspects of the business world. Especially understanding the importance of contracts. When we started doing events, we would just show up. The event planners would keep us working for hours. We learned that we needed to price out art by the hour. “This is the rate associated with 90 minutes of performance.”

What would you tell a theatre looking for alternative ways to raise money?
Creating art in America without government support, in bad economic times, is a real challenge. I would ask them what their unique niche is. What is at the heart of that theatre, what special thing can they do? Then find out who needs that and let those people know you’re there to be of service. This is a question that artists eventually need to look at. “What can I offer corporate America so that I can pay for my work?” And understand whether or not that’s going to drain you. 

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