3D

3D - Critical Questions

I have read through these questions in the module handbook, and believe answering some of these will really get my head ready for writing my critical reflection! 

Here goes...

Do some very specific ideas emerge about your networking and sources? Does your engagement to date seem appropriate? Limited etc?

I didn’t realise until writing in my journal how unseparated my social and professional lives are. I check facebook (don’t judge me!) probably about 5 times a day (due to it being on my iPhone!) and constantly on there, there are jobs from ‘Dance Cast’, ‘Casting Now’ and ‘Debbie O’Brien’ advertising opportunities. Although, on one hand this is great, and before starting this course didn’t phase me at all, thinking about it now makes me ask the question; in this generation do we ever take time out from our busy professional lives? 

There are so many ways to access these sources with iPhones, Blackberry’s, computers etc that even though it is brilliant that I will never miss an opportunity, is it good for me to be constantly thinking about my career? 

I think to improve my professional network I should tweet and follow people in our industry a lot more, to gain a rapport with them and this will make me stand out and this would improve my engagement with people. I think I have quite a big network, however if I compared it to someone who has been in the industry for over ten years, it is tiny! However, this will only get bigger with experience!

To what extent do concepts and theories assist you in thinking about your professional networking in different ways? And do these different ways of thinking have some purpose for you?

The theory of affiliation has really made me think about the way I use my professional network. I thought for a while about O’Connor and Rosenblood’s concept of everyone having a preferred level of interaction, and thought about how I interact with various groups of people.

I came to the conclusion that I need to make more of an effort with my professional network. When it comes to my ‘downtime’ I use that time to spend with friends who aren’t really part of my preferred career choice, and maybe subconsciously, this is to get away from the stress of auditions etc! When maybe, to relieve that stress, I should talk about my worries to the people who will understand it. According to Crisp and Turner, I have this network to ‘provide me with a network of support that will help me when I am in need’ . This is definitely a way forward for me, as sometimes I can feel like I don’t spend enough time with my college friends, especially when they like to see each other very frequently, and this is probably down to my own desire to seek out affiliation. I am going to make a bigger effort to keep in contact with these people, most likely on my most important sources - facebook, twitter etc. 

Are you left thinking differently prior to this part of the module? And if so, how?

I didn’t realise how big my network would be until drawing a mind map of all the people I am connected with! It gave me a confidence boost knowing that I have all these professionals in my life, who I am in someway connected with. Be it a small connection, or large, it is still in some way part of how I am as a professional. I really took a lot of time over thinking about ‘Tit for Tat’ and cooperation by Axelrod, and it made me feel like I am a valued member of other peoples network. It is important to know the boundaries of helping someone and I am glad that this theory was part of the reader as I believe it is an important one. 

3C - sources of information

3C Sources of Information

My biggest sources of information are:

1. Google
2. Friends and word of mouth
3. Social sites
4. Notice Boards
5. Youtube

Google has changed the way that we research and learn in this day and age. I am lucky enough to remember (just!) life before the internet, and appreciate how easy it is to look something up now. When I was at primary school and had to create projects I had to take trips to the library to find the information I needed. It was time consuming and something that didn’t necessarily even come out with the desired knowledge. Now, I can look anything up, and even ask it questions! It’s great when you want to research directors and people who you are auditioning for, as you can get a feel for what they are looking for!

A real benefit to me on my iPhone and iPad is street view that google provides. It is amazing for finding buildings where auditions are, so no more worrying about if I’m going to get lost! 

Friends are an amazing source of information, as it gives you access to other peoples networks. A friend hears that another friend has an audition that would be perfect for you, and then you can take action when they tell you! Friends also have different experiences that they can share, and this is brilliant for learning. So, for example, a friend auditioned at college and said that they sang a Jason Robert-Brown song in front of our MD, which didn’t go down well. I was going to sing a JRB song too, and quickly changed my choice so that I didn’t make the same mistake. They can give you advice as they know you the best. It is a difficult source as well, as a lot can be gossip and isn’t 100% trustworthy!

I use facebook, casting call pro and other sites to keep up to date with auditions and whats is going on in the musical theatre industry. I particularly like ‘The Stage’ as not only has it got auditions, but it has advice and the latest news updates. It has everything that a performer needs, with access to blogs and even to ask a question for ‘John’ in his ‘Dear John’ section! In terms of networking, it now even has a dating section!! (Not something that appeals to me, but talk of being an extroverted networker!) On its forums, it even has links to other sites which may help you. 

On facebook and twitter I follow Debbie O’Brien, who casts Thriller, Starlight Express etc and she frequently posts when the lastest auditions are around. Unfortunately, at the moment, they only want male singers!!

When going to dance classes and the gym I check the notice board to see if there are any updates or opportunities. Often, there are model jobs, or cruise liner open calls, which is great to get audition experience! It makes my network completely open, and gives me the decision whether I want to go or not. It also gives me the opportunity to give back to my network. If I see something that would suit someone else, I am more than happy to pass on the details. This worked well for me and Nick, when he saw a panto audition for females, he passed on the audition times etc and when I saw a tap call for men, I put him forward!

Youtube is my last source of information which I believe changes how I work as a performer. It is hard to imagine what I would have done without it! I always check out the latest show online, and like to listen to soundtracks which I haven’t heard much about before. I think a good example of this is ‘Legally Blonde’. It was out on Broadway way before the West End, and when auditions came round for it, I had already watched pretty much the whole show, so knew a lot of the choreography! It also helped me so much at college with difficult, unknown music that we were expected to learn in a short amount of time. 

Some questions I would like to raise and would love to know your response, are; do you think youtube and the internet has affected our imagination and creativity? Having the tools to see someone else perform something, does it affect how we interpret our art form?

I will blog my opinion on this later, as I am interested to see how other people feel about this! 

To go back...

After speaking to Hannah on the phone, she directed me to Sarah Pearson's blog and told me to take the test that shows what kind of learner you are. Here is the link again:

which learner are you?

It turns out I am more of an audio learner! Which would make sense, as I am a very musical person. But I always just read the reader...and maybe I should try and listen to it! (It might save me reading it 5 times before I really understand it!)

It's something I would definitely recommend as you might be able to save yourself a lot of time!!

Thanks Hannah and Sarah!

3B, Networking Theories

Here is the link to google docs:

networking theories

This task look quite a while, but was very interesting to see how I fit in with all these theories!

3A, a networked professional

Networking, I believe is a key way to gain a good reputation and open doors to jobs which normally wouldn’t become available. Especially being a graduate it is vital I gain all the connections I can get as this will (hopefully!) give me a long lasting career.
I have been repeatedly told, whist training at Urdang, that it is vital you ‘‘network’’ with other performers, casting directors etc. We were told to always make an effort to socialise with those you are working with, be it at the pub or going to get a coffee in your rehearsal break.

A story that has stuck with me from training is about a visitor we had come to take us for a workshop. She was called Rosie and had done lots of performances with RSC. When we asked her how she got her audition she said she went to see a preview of one of their plays and hung around the pub after, where she knew they would celebrate the preview, and started a conversation with the director. The next day she sent a postcard to his contact details and he invited her to come along to a casting.
This for me is very brave, and I probably wouldn’t have the confidence to do this! I am an outgoing person, and love meeting new people, but I would be worried that they wouldn’t want to socialise with someone, who effectively is wanting a job!

I didn’t think I would have a big professional network, but thinking about it, I do! Just training at Urdang has made me have a huge network! Not only the students, but teachers and guests to the college. Friends who are starting to get high-end jobs are definitely people who are part of my professional network, even though they are just friends to me! I have friends who are in ‘Thriller’, ‘Ghost’ and other touring jobs and this is a good bonus, because if they need someone who matches my description, hopefully they would suggest me, or at least introduce me to the casting team.

The work from task 1 comes into this section alot, as web 2.0 has really influenced my professional network. ‘Casting Call Pro’,‘Spotlight’ and ‘The Stage’ are all platforms for networking. They each have forums which you can talk to others on, or look up various people you want to stay in contact with. These sites are purely professional and the image of you can stay that way!
Another way of creating a network is via social tools such as ‘facebook’. I have an account for facebook, but would like it to stay social and not professional as my profile has pictures from my day to day life which maybe a potential employer wouldn’t be too impressed with! (i.e night out on the town!) I think its important to have separate profiles as you can have the ‘downtime’ that is needed and can say what you want to your friends!

I also have a twitter account, which I use to follow directors and choreographers who I have worked with in the past, and ones I admire. I also follow ‘Debbie O’Brien’ who is a casting director to see where the latest auditions are. It is rare I tweet, and if I do, it is professionally, so I would say this is a tool I use to gain a stronger professional network. I tweeted ‘Nikolai Foster’ who directed ‘Songs for a New World’ at college when I was watching ‘Footloose’ which I knew he had directed. It turned out he was at the theatre so we met and caught up! This was a great way for him to remember me and get more links.

To conclude, I believe that web 2.0 has improved the way performers network but it never beats actually making those connections by face to face interactions!