The writer-filmmaker explains why he stays in Michigan, and how money shaped his childhood
Age: 35
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Why we care: You don't have to live in the big city to do big things. From his hometown of Ann Arbor, Davy Rothbart created FOUND Magazine after finding a note on his car meant for someone else. Three best-selling FOUND books and two David Letterman appearances later, Rothbart is working on his first full-length film, Overhaul, about a pizza delivery guy who has to make $3,400 on New Year's Eve or he'll lose his apartment and custody of his 5-year-old daughter.
What was it like growing up in Michigan?
It was tough in the '80s. My dad was unemployed for much of the time and money was really tight. We had a nice home and enough to eat, but money was definitely the root of tension in our house.
I'm guessing you didn't have an allowance.
As a little kid, I'd put my hands in the coin return slots of pay phones and vending machines to look for change. But I also helped my dad find supplemental income at the University of Michigan basketball games.
You guys worked at the games?
We scalped tickets outside of the stadium. We'd buy tickets from other scalpers and then sell them for more to other people. I was probably 7 or 8 years old and I would ask people for free tickets. People can't resist little kids. It was probably a little dishonest, but I thought my dad was being entrepreneurial.
Did you ever actually go to any of the games?
Definitely. We'd use some of the tickets to watch the games and buy peanuts and hot dogs and come home with some cash. Also, the state had a 10-cent bottle return law for cans of pop and beer. The stadium would be filled with cans and bottles so we'd collect them and take them to the store. We'd make $40 in two hours. That's a lot when you're 11.
How responsible are you with money?
My younger brother Peter is probably better. I don't really spend money on things. I still use my Discman from 10 years ago. I still use the same cellphone I've always had that looks like a walkie talkie. I use all my money for doing projects, putting it into FOUND, filmmaking and travel. I'm 35 and I live in a shared house with six people and it's cheap.
Do you ever want to get your own place?
I think it'd be nice to get a house one day. Maybe there will be a windfall down the road that would let me. It's possible.
Working as a freelancer, you juggle a lot of projects. Do you ever worry about not making rent?
In my early 20s I ate a lot of tacos and dug through my car for change. Now, if I want sushi, I get it. I guess "I've made it" in that way. I believe in making sacrifices to live the lifestyle that I lead. I get to work on whatever project I want. Living in New York or L.A. definitely appeals to me, but I'm glad to live in Michigan and be able to do what I'm doing. I don't think I'd have the same freedom in a more expensive city. My cash flow is around zero.
Including FOUND Magazine.
When I first started FOUND, I moved back in with my folks for a year and I was not thrilled. But it was free, which allowed me to work on FOUND and some of my other writing.
Do you have any favorite money-related FOUND items?
Yeah. One of them is a ransom note that someone found at an elementary school that read: "AJ, we have your binder, you will never see it again unless you leave a sum of $3.50 by the bathroom." I love that one.
I can see why! Besides living with your parents, how did you scrape together the money for FOUND?
Scalping tickets, again. I was in Chicago and would scalp tickets for Bulls games. This was during the height of Michael Jordan's career. I was really going hard at it for three years and saved up a good amount of money by the time Jordan retired.
So how is FOUND being funded now?
I got a book deal for the first FOUND book with a $60,000 advance. It sold more than 100,000 copies, so now I get royalties, and I put those back into the magazine. It only comes out once a year and we print about 50,000 copies. We don't really see a profit. Actually, we lose a little bit of money. I don't have any advertising, but not because I don't want it — It's just hard to seal the deal for advertising in an annual publication. If anyone reading this knows how to do this, let me know!
At least you don't have to scalp tickets anymore.
Actually, Obama spoke at the University of Michigan's graduation the other day and I wanted to go see him. I thought I'd get some tickets for me and my dad and I ended up doing a little scalping: "Who wants to see Obama!?" I was going at it for 15 minutes before I stopped. I wasn't there to make money, I really just wanted to see Obama, but I did make enough to go out to a bar afterwards.
Are you rich now? And other invasive questions for notable folks, in previous episodes of Other People's Money:
- How to go out when you're broke: Young adult novelist Lauren Oliver
- Turning down raises: Virginia Vitzthum, chronicler of dating
- How to start a business without any money: Handbag designer Lori Chalmers
- $1,000,000 spending spree: Barenaked Ladies' frontman Ed Robertson
- Learning how to shop: The Sound of Young America radio host Jesse Thorn
