Why being unemployed is worse for a dancer than it is for you (a normal person)

A few light bulbs went off in my head after reading this article.

http://www.tightsandtiaras.com/2011/05/unemployed/

'Being a dancer, there is another aspect unemployment you don’t see with office-workers. Dancing professionally is a hard physical activity. It requires you to be on your best shape, something we achieve by training hours every day. Once you don’t have a job, you don’t have a place to do that training, either. No ballet class. And for a professional dancer, no class equals disaster. Yes, you might train at home to a certain degree, and you might be able to find open classes in private studios if you live in the right area. But those classes are not meant for professionals (not to mention expensive), and just simply don’t provide you with the exercises you need to keep in shape. And if you’re not in shape, no one is going to hire you either. The excuse “I’m better than this, but I’ve been unemployed, and couldn’t find a normal place to take class” just doesn’t work in a dance audition. It’s a vicious circle'

I feel i can relate strongly to Henricks article and i believe most other professionals in this industry would feel the same. I'm not certain non performers would neccessarily agree with the phrase 'why being unemployed is worse for a dancer than it is for you (a normal person)' but you would have to admit that many challanging issues occur for us. Maybe if they put themselves in our shoes for a while and see how they managed?

The unemployed dancer...How do we cope being out of work? 

How do we sustain technical abilities we spent so long trying to perfect when we are not dancing? How do we afford to keep it up? class is expensive, gym is expensive, traveling to auditions is expensive (sometimes to another county!!)

Good nutrition....good food costs good money!

Profit share productions- wage dependent on profit made. How do people cope? Not a guaranteed good wage but priceless experience!

A comment i made to Mimi Whitney

Sorry and just one last point...some of your questions ask about performers wages and how they can differ... from march i am going to be part of profit share show ( wage depends on the amount of profit made) so until the very end i wont actually know how much i will be earning. It took me a while to decide if i could actually afford to do it or not! It will offer me a great experience as well as being able to perform alongside a prestigious cast for a month...not only that, it will will be a great credit to my cv and and something that could lead on to other things! So i decided to accept it....but even though i am doing what i want to do, i still am going to be juggling a normal job as well because i have bills to pay! It will be interesting to see how others in the cast are coping...we all love to perform but at the end of the day, we all have to live as well! I thought you might find this interesting!

What is your opinion on profit shares/low paid jobs? 
http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/newsblog/2011/07/low-pay-no-pay-david-grewcock/

SQUEEZING ALL THIS IN WHILST HAVING AN ACTUAL NORMAL JOB TO GET US BY!

Any thoughts?

Task 4a

A set of questions/ideas that relate to my every day professional practice

Keeping fit and healthy both physically and mentally in an industry that is very unstable

Injury prevention being a dancer

How to deal with rejection

Preparation to ensure you are audition ready

Juggling a normal (mortal) job being a dancer/ flexible enough for auditions

So many ideas are coming in to my head....already what i love about this module is that its giving you the freedom to choose a subject/question that you are interested in and that relates to your daily life. At first i sat thinking really hard about ideas that i should be using, but then i just sat back and realised that all i needed to do was think about my daily practice and the things that occur....because then thats my life and interests and so the information is there right in front of me and gives me the tools to explore further beyond myself and question other peoples attitudes. Whether they be in the same situation as myself or completely different....all opinions and circumstance will contribute to my inquiry and thats what will make it so interesting and exciting!

At the moment a question that i am swaying towards more:

In an industry that is very unstable, where work is sometimes sparse, how is it you keep yourself fit and healthy, both physically and mentally?

Themes:

In and out of work- Very few people are lucky enough to go from job to job....so how do we cope in between the dance work (if you are lucky enough to get work at all)? Because at the end of the day we have to work to be able to live...so how do we juggle everything to make sure we can still pay our rent as well as be fit physically and mentally...because only then do we have a chance of getting that dream job!

Keeping fit and audition ready- Going the gym/taking class

Healthy eating- Good nutrition to keep strong/ sensible eating so we look are best
Motivation- Both fitness and healthy eating can help boost motivation because you feel more confident in yourself

I will keep adding more ideas as they come! Feedback would be greatly appreciated! :)

3c- 5 Most Important Sources Of Information

So what are my 5 most important sources of information? I've had a good think and managed to narrow it down to my top 5! I found it interesting reading other people's blogs and was intrigued to see how similar all our thoughts are. I noticed how there are a few sources that keep cropping up amongst us!

1. Friends

Like i said in blog 3a, communicating through friends is definitely my favourite and most efficient way of networking and gathering information. I love socialising, so meeting for a coffee or having a quick chat over the phone is the perfect and most enjoyable combination for me. Not only can it result in finding about an audition or casting, but you also get to develop relationships with your friends and gain support and advice. Of course it works both ways. It's a great feeling knowing you have helped out a friend or been a shoulder to cry on. A friendship group is a circle with each person Inputting information they have gained from various other sources. This provides us all with so much knowledge that we maybe couldn't have gained on our own.

2. The Internet (web 2.0)

In my previous blog I spoke about the amount I rely on Internet sources. Websites such as Spotlight, The Stage as well as email and social networking like Facebook and Twitter. These are all branches which help us pick up information and widen our networking community. I am constantly receiving updates from my Spotlight account about new jobs and castings that have been posted. I am forever using email as a way of communicating professionally with my networks, enquiring about jobs, submitting c.vs etc. This even links in with friends and keeping tight circles with them. Twitter and Facebook are a quick and easy way of checking in on friends whether near or far. The Internet offers us so many platforms to help us develop as professionals. We can receive information as well as promote and advertise ourselves on the likes of YouTube or flickir.

3. iPhone/ laptop

Without my iPhone I can honestly say i would not know how to survive (how bad) As I mentioned above, I am constantly receiving updates regarding auditions and valuable information circling around about our industry. I feel like my left arm has been cut off if I happen to leave my phone at home or my battery dies...this is because I'm worried I will miss something important. I have agents who ring once and if you don't answer then they will just move on to the next person and offer them the job instead. Everything is so fast paced this day in age and I feel that my iPhone provides me with the tools to allow me to keep up with this. If a cv and head shot needs sending then it can be done instantly from my iPhone....I receive my regular updates from Spotlight...through my iPhone. If I need to find out where an audition is held or what train route I need to take, I simply pick up my iPhone and I can receive this information pronto! It's amazing! It does everything. It brings with it a sense of security because it makes me feel like I am never on my own! This source allows me to keep on track of my other important sources and keeps me in the loop wherever I am in the world! I love my iPhone :)....I'm actually blogging on my iPhone right now....iPhone is the way forward :)!!!

4. Agents

Having an agent in this industry is a very important thing. Using their knowledge and contacts they provide us with valuable information. Whether it be to do with auditions and castings, or even using their experience to advise us on cvs or head shots we should use. Whilst I am doing my own research, I know that they too are hard at work trying to help me be successful. Agents can help retrieve feedback for us after an audition and I find this very useful as it helps me think of improvements for next time around. Agents are an important source of information because they are able to access certain information that we may not necessarily be able to get ourselves. As I said in blog 3a, I believe it is essential that every performer maintains a good relationship with their agent in order to help develop and become more successful.

5. Class

For me class is a perfect time to pick people's brains and find out about new and exciting things coming up! I am always so relaxed and around people who have the same love as me so it's a positive atmosphere to be in. I can use this time to observe others and learn from them. I can see what techniques and approaches work for them and apply this to my own skills which will help me in auditions. I mentioned in my blog 3A that I could improve my networking in class by reviewing other peoples techniques. I have already put this in to practice by being aware to catch the teachers eye; which has gained me an audition with their agency.

These are my top 5 sources of information that I feel I use on a daily basis. Each of the sources offers me the relevant information I need to push me in the right direction. In this industry, a combination of networking and information sources, along with hard work and determination can help us become the best we can be!

Task 3b- The Networked Professional

Cooperation
 
When I think of cooperation, I think of a group of people working together, inputting ideas and thoughts to help tackle problems, each giving and taking. Reader 3 relates cooperation with Game Theory and how people work strategically to succeed but with this being at another's expense. Axelrod (1984) explains the importance of cooperating fully with others until you reach a maximum point of benefit, and then to 'defect', finding ways to predict how certain people will respond. Playing the 'Prisoners Dilemma' really helped me understand how people use cooperation to further their careers at the expense of others.

This made me relate this to my own experiences and realise that this is definitely something I have witnessed in the past. Creating alliances with someone and gaining a certain amount of trust, extracting everything you need, to then just 'defect' definitely does not go down well. You do not want to create enemy's in this industry and do not want people to think they have been used. I personally would not play this game, in fear it would go wrong and I would give myself a bad reputation in this small industry. I believe cooperation is all about give and take with the benefits being mutual. How successfull the results depends on whether you decide to cooperate or not. This part of the reader has made me realise that some people think strategically instead of emotionally, doing anything they can to get ahead in the game and this is something i will be more aware of in the future.

Affiliation

Affiliation- a social process that provides us with a network of support that will help us when we need it (crisp & turner 2007 pp266). It is human nature to want to be able to connect and associate with others. We feel the need to affiliate in all walks of life, both professionally and personally. This of course may differ in each person but we each seek to balance our interactions with others to a preferred level (O'Connor & Rosenblood, 1996).

Having affiliations both in the industry and outside helps me keep a good balance. It keeps me grounded and helps put things in to perspective. It makes you see that being cut from that audition isnt actually the end of the world! Affiliations provide a sense of security and are your wall of support. Speaking with friends in the same boat makes me realise that i am not doing this alone and so i find this really comforting. Having interactions with people who share the same experiences as I do is something I appreciate and highly value. From reading this theory i have come to understand that affiliations is something I have relied strongly on for as long as I can remember. It reiterates the importance of the circles you have around you and how they can help develop you as a professional and also as a person. I am aim to keep these strong because i know without them i would be lost!

Social Constructionism

Reader 3 states that social constructionism is a one of a set of related explanations about how meanings about the world are made. We interact with each other to help make sense of things. Interaction helps with both existing and future networks we are part of. It gives us the chance to construct are own meanings and create new and exciting networks that work for us. Before coming across this theory, I can honestly say I had never thought about what social constructionism meant. I like the fact it points out that we as human beings need each other to help create meaning for ourselves regarding are experiences and the world itself. It is now more apparent to me that social constructionism is something I do in my every day life, I just didn't realise it. I can now reflect on my past experiences and bring meaning to them, realising that many were actually created using social constructionism.

Connectivism

Reader 3 explains to us that in relation to professional networks , connectivism shows how networks both learn and provide tools for people to connect and develop their own knowledge. It is linked to 'network theory's' and helps us understand how people communicate and interact via the web. Web 2.0 lends to us the tools to help better educate ourselves and widen our networks virtually. Connectivism auggests the traditional ways of learning should be altered and maybe even cast aside completely. I do not agree with this 100%. Don't get me wrong, I have learnt that without web 2.0 we would be greatly restricted in our learning, but in my opinion, I believe new virtual methods combined with traditional ways is the best way to learn and expand networks.

Communities Of Practice

'A community of practice is a set of relations among persons, activity, and world, over time and in relation with other tangential and overlapping communities of practice'(Lave & Wegner, 1991). This is my favourite theory and one I feel relates to my personal practice. Being part of a community where you are surrounded by those of similar interests is when are you are most relaxed and at ease; therefore more comfortable when making contacts. This also develops social learning and allows us engage within our communities. I can think of occasions when communities I am part of have come together and this has helped me make more sense of situations and problems I am trying to break down. It enables me become more confident in my abilities because i am working closely with those in a similar position who understand and relate to me. We all have a connection and are striving for success. Being part of of a 'community of practice' is something I love and a time when I am at my happiest. Not only am I doing something I enjoy, but I'm also getting to experience it with others who share the same feelings as i do.My communities of practice are a part of my daily routine and so I am constantly surrounded by like minded people and friends. Some of these practices include class, auditions, jobs and generally just socializing with friends.

Conclusion

I have always been aware that networking is something that is crucial in our industry. This part of the module has reiterated this to me even more so and made me realise that a lot of the theories mentioned, I had already been putting in to practice. Some I do not agree with completely but I am able to pick the relivent parts and relate it back to my own personal experiences. I now feel more in the know about the types of networking in the professional circle and will take the time to observe others and learn from their ideas, even if I don't feel they would necessarily work for me.

Task 3a: Networks

So networking....I used to always dread this word. It has been drummed in to my head since the beginning of college; teachers explaining its importance and how it is a crucial part of our industry. Soon enough, I came to realise that how successful you are sometimes can come down to who you know. It can work in your favour...and then sometimes make you feel like why did I bother training at all if there not going to even look at me? It is sometimes hard to digest but we all have to accept that it is always going to be this way. We may feel like we start at the bottom and don't know a soul, but through ways of our own we can help control this by developing our networks so that one day we are that person who walks in the room and knows you've already got the job.

I am going to talk about my existing networks and how they work well for me. I will also look in to further ideas and observe others to see how I could improve my current networks and so therefore become a better practitioner.

Friends
I am going to start this off with friends. Personally this is my favourite way of networking. As I said earlier, I used to dread the word networking as it seemed so forced. I feel that networking through friends is the most natural, and beneficial way of extracting information. You are relaxed and without even realising your doing it you are networking. You don't feel under pressure to pretend to be someone your not or feel like your sucking up to someone. You can be honest with each other and maybe ask questions you wouldn't feel comfortable asking a teacher or an agent for example. It works both ways, you can receive information as well as give it. This can help a friendship group become more aware of important events, such as auditions, workshops, job opportunities. I can't even begin to start with how many opportunities have been thrown my way because of the communication between my friendship group. Whether it be a casting, someone giving me a number of a great photographer, information about a promotional agency...the list goes on. With friends you feel the need to help in any way possible.

Socialising
This then brings me on to 'socialising'. this is something I do regulary with my friends and feel that this can always lead to great things. Your on a night out, the drinks are flowing and your chatting away to all these new people you've been introduced to. Without even being aware of it, your making contacts, no matter how big or small! You never know who you could meet...(secretly we hope it's the next big casting director who just loves you to pieces and offers you a job right there and then!!) haha we wish!!

Jobs
I've spoke about networking outside the work place but of course working on a job is an important time when you can get to know people and make contacts. It is important to always work to your full potential because you are always being watched. This is a chance for professionals to see how you work and get to know your personality. This is your chance to remind them why they picked you in the first place, and show how amazing you are so that there's a chance they might consider you for other jobs! I know this has definitely worked for me in the past and I plan for this to be my aim on every other job in the future. An example of this is when I was doing a photo shoot with a photographer and he was telling me about people he had worked with. He mentioned an agency that I had been trying to get an auditon with but couldnt because they were fully booked. Within seconds he was on his phone txting the director of the agency telling him he had to see me! Before I knew it I was stood there a few days later in the audition room, giving it all I could! Something I had been pushing for, for so long and not managed to achieve, was done in the click of a button all because he was good friends with the agency! I know that because I had worked hard for the photographer in the session and showed my potential that he felt confident enough to recommend me to someone important! It just shows, its not always what you know but who you know!

Auditions
Auditions are a great way of networking and getting your face out there. It is your time to showcase yourself. Even if you don't land the job you are auditioning for, there's a chance someone could still spot you and think you are more suited for anther job! They can lead to bigger and better opportunities so we must always deliver and look our best. At auditions there can be a lot of waiting around so it's the perfect chance to chat to other audition-ees and pick their brains! It's refreshing meeting new faces and hearing about important things that may be coming up.

Agents
Of course an obvious way of networking in this industry is through your agent. I take full advantage of their knowledge and make it an aim of mine to speak to them at least two times a week. I have created a good relationship with my agent and so I feel they have a better understanding of my personality and what I am about. This works well for me and I feel is beneficial when they are choosing who to put forward for certain auditions. I constantly touch base to make sure they don't forget about me. This is why I believe you must create a stable relationship with your agent in order to reap the benefits and further your networking community.

Class
Class is somewhere I feel I could develop my networking skills. I usually just stand to the back of the class, with my head down, minding my own business with my focus on the exercises and routines laid before me. This is my time to Improve my fitness and perfect my technique, however, after watching others I have learnt that a dance class can also be used as a way of networking. Catching a teachers eye could lead to bigger opportunities than I realised! You never know who they know and they could even recommend you to someone important. They could even invite you to an agency they are part of! Like auditions, you can build relationships with your peers and widen your contact base. After observing others I can identify new ways of networking and apply it to my own practice.

Social Networking
So lets talk about the virtual side of networking...social networking!! It wasn't until I started this course that I came to realise the amount I rely on the Internet and the tools provided to us by Web 2.0. Email is one thing I can honestly say I'd be lost without. I use this tool daily as a way of contacting employers, agents, casting directors and friends. Whether it be to email over a c.v or to simply check in with a friend. It is something we all have and a reliable and quick way of getting information across.

A website I use to help develop my networking community is Spotlight. Spotlight enables casting directors to see our c.vs as well as view portfolios and in some cases even watch us in action by watching a show reel! This is a very valuable source of networking and something I would advise all performers to be a part of.

I use social networking sites such as twitter and Facebook as a way of connecting with friends and family. Some agencies work over facebook, constantly keeping you in the loop regarding interviews, workshops and auditions and sometimes even asking people to fill in on a last minute job. This is very helpful, however i would never use these sources as a way of contacting important people in the business because I feel it would look unprofessional. I believe you should keep your professional network and social network separate.

Networking is a very important part of our industry and as I said earlier, it can even sometimes help you get the job! Personally I prefer networking face to face because the person can get a feel for who you are. However you must keep on top of all networks because in most cases you are not able to meet in person. Already I can see myself learning from others around me and watching what works for them. I can then relate these ideas to my own networks to help develop me in the future.

Task 2c

A Critical Reflection on Reflective Practice

Apologies for making my document private when first posted....didn't realise I had done this! I have changed the settings so you should be able to access it now :)!

Second campus session- 30/10/12

Really looking forward to the second campus session tomorrow. The first one really helped me understand things in more depth and I felt I absorbed so much from you all. Hoping for the same tomorrow :)!

Will add more after the session to give those who couldn't make it an idea of what was discussed. Wouldn't want you feeling left out now!

See you guys tomorrow! :) x

So yesterdays campus session was taken by Adesola. It was great to finally meet her and put a face to a name :). I will give a brief summary of some of the important topics I felt stood out for me. I will also give you links to other peoples blogs as some people were asked by Adesola to blog about certain things we discussed in more detail.

We started off the session by each introducing ourselves to one another. We then got in to partners and had to each write a word down that we felt summed us up. For example I wrote down 'performer' and my partner Sarah Robinson wrote 'teacher'. We then wrote a list of things we felt related to our partners word. I found this really interesting because at first I found myself writing down the obvious things I felt related to being a teacher, but then as time went on I started to think outside the box a bit. As I myself have not had much experience in teaching, I found that what worked for me, was relating Sarah to a teacher I have had myself. This helped me create a clearer picture. This task was also useful in making you realise what it is you actually do. Sometimes we actually forget because we are too busy rushing about our days and don't give ourselves time to think!

We spoke about Kolb's learning cycle and if we feel it works for us or not. We did an exercise using sticks and in pairs had to keep the sticks afloat by using just ore finger tips. This for me showed a great example of 'Concrete Experience' as I was actually doing it. I then found myself watching others to see what worked for them which was 'Reflective Observation'. Second time around once we changed partners, I would say I entered the cycle at a different point. In my head I had evaluated what I had learnt from doing it the first time 'Abstract Conceptualisation' and so I now was trying out the new ideas with my new partner 'Active Experimentation'. The exercise with the sticks really helped me break down each of the stages and I feel Kolb's learning cycle is a great tool for me when using reflection.

An Important Point!!
An important thing that stood out for me was when Adesola said about the theories being someone else's view and that it doesn't necessarily have to be true in your mind as you may feel it doesn't work for you. You should take out who you are and take things from other people you feel relate to you.

For example. I was finding keeping a written journal very time consuming but found that recording Facetime and Skype conversations of me explaining my day to others was a quicker and more effective method for me. After a day of shows, vocalising experiences allows me to open up and be very honest with my experiences and feelings. (Tharp and Reiter, 2006)
More in depth links to follow :)

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