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!