during my time working in a professional company I compiled information about what to do and what not to do in a company in my Journal as part of BAPP. Although some may seem obvious people still manage to miss some key points or happen to put their foot right in it with a director so in order to pass on my knowledge I condensed it into a list.
Auditioning-
Do- Wear something that will make you stand out be tidy
Don't- Wear all black you look like a student, wear messy 'company chic' this makes it seem like you don't care and are unorganised and messy.
Duties in the company-
Do- Attend every class possible, try your best to be seen working to your maximum (or else why bother), learn other people's work (injuries happen and could get you a shot at the lead), do as your told (just because you don't agree, it's the directors name on the programme, not yours), attend every rehearsal/ blocking (do not leave the theatre to meet your friends during a rehearsal, it sounds stupid but i watched it happen), Be early (it shows you're keen)
Don't- do the bare minimum number of classes and also in class (laziness is not often tolerated), do the bare minimum (be a team player everybody gets injured help out your company by being an unofficial understudy), change choreography that you don't like (it's insubordination and is likely to get you fired, yes i've seen it happen), be late (it is sure to make you very unpopular when the company has less time to prepare because your rehearsal had to run late)
As a company member socially-
Do- try your best to be friendly with everybody (you can't like everybody in life but if you've got to work together be professional), include everybody with anything you do as a group (you would hate to be left out too), be a team player (when it comes to doing extra stuff to make the get out go faster for example)
Don't- start unnesccesary grief with otherrs just because you don't always see eye to eye, leavve people out of anything, sit in the foyer when other dancers are helping with the get out for example (do something useful at least!)
Friday, 8 April 2011
Monday, 4 April 2011
Critical Questions and issues that emerge
So far in the course I have been constantly stimulated into learning new theories, to look at a different spin on a subject that I may know about already and to think in depth about processes in my profession that I just did on auto pilot and now I have truly learned the importance of networking and Critical reflection. With my new found knowledge of theories that make up why these processes are so vital to succeeding I cannot wait to see what other people's thoughts bring up in my mind! Let the issues emerge!
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Sources of information
These are my most frequently used sources of information:
Web 2.0-
Social networking and Job sites-Social networking sites such as ‘network dance’ are great especially when they are purpose built. They allow us to manage all of our job hunting/networking tasks in one place.
· Dance Europe – Jobs and Auditions
· Networkdance.net- allows you to have all your media in one place as well as links to your CV, and youtube videos if you have them
· Ballet Companies.Com – Auditions
· Dancers international – Auditions
· Dance.net – Auditions
Email/Blackberry- Allows us to send pictures, videos, files on the move especially with my Blackberry. It also allows me to keep in touch with any contacts on the move via the blackberry instant messenger (BBM)
Written Word Ads
· The Stage news paper
· Dance Europe Magazine
· Dancing Times Magazine
· Point Magazine
· Pineapple Studios Bulletin boards
· Dance Studio Bulletin boards
A lot of companies still prefer the traditional approach of job hunting by putting their ads on paper. Just because it’s not on the internet certainly doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time.
Word of Mouth
· Go to Open classes and be noticed by other dancers, choreographers, guest teachers, etc.
· Meet with friends in the business (who work where you want to work)
If you have friends in the business it is important to meet with them and socialise with them in person, this can get you valuable information about jobs or auditions.
Teachers and Choreographers
It is important to keep in touch with any choreographer you meet along the way and it is also a good idea to return to your college roots and ask your teachers about work, they all have contacts (and probably a bit of influence) themselves and it is in their best interest to try and pull some strings for you!
I think if I had to go without one of these sources I would probably be lost as they all seem to work off of each other. But these days the source that I use the most is definitely the social networking sites especially Networkdance.net. The reason for this is it makes it easier for you to keep track of all your info and media but it is more convenient for the employers too and you can make a point of telling them that to make you sound more considerate to them!
Theories relating to networking
The Course Reader on Professional Networks talks about many very interesting theories regarding networks.
Altman’s ‘Privacy Regulation’ Theory, I believe, helps us understand further why some individuals are interested in Professional Networking and others maybe are not so interested. This kind of thinking links well with the theory of ‘Affiliation’. Each individual possesses a different degree of desired contact at any one point in time “If we have too little contact, we feel isolated, but if we have too much contact, we feel crowded” extract from Crisp, J & Turner, R(2007 pp266- 268). For example; you meet a person for the first time who has been in a busy, crowded environment all day (has had their affiliation levels met), they may not be in the right frame of mind to help/get to know you. Their sub conscious need for private time will have begun to take effect they will probably find anything you do or say to be an annoyance or a barrier stopping them from having some time to themselves. In a scenario like this you should note that if you meet the same person again under different circumstances (this time they’ve been doing paperwork on their own in an office all day) their attitude towards you may be completely different. It is for this very reason that I now know it is vital to chase up your leads and really beat their door down till they respond. Say for example you have been given the email address of a contact to try and get you an audition. If you don’t get a reply at first it may simply be because the person is not in the mood to talk to you. Obviously you don’t want to keep sending them emails but maybe another a few days later just to remind them that you’re still interested could work to your advantage.
Obviously social networking is all about people co-operating in a community to achieve maximum benefit, the reader suggests ‘a work related community held together by either close working affiliation or more distant but common work interests or needs’. This reminds me of Game Theory which is mentioned in the reader. Axelrod realised the importance of cooperation, especially the benefits of cooperating fully with others, until you reach a point of maximum benefit, then a choice emerges. This is exactly where the Prisoner’s Dilemma comes into play.
A classic example of the prisoner's dilemma (PD) is presented as follows:
Two suspects are arrested by the police. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and, having separated the prisoners, visit each of them to offer the same deal. If one testifies for the prosecution against the other (defects) and the other remains silent (cooperates), the defector goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full 10-year sentence. If both remain silent, both prisoners are sentenced to only six months in jail for a minor charge. If each betrays the other, each receives a five-year sentence. Each prisoner must choose to betray the other or to remain silent. Each one is assured that the other would not know about the betrayal before the end of the investigation. How should the prisoners act? The dilemma is that the Nash equilibrium for the prisoner’s dilemma – that is the stable, rational solution – is that both should defect, but this results in a much worse outcome than if both were to cooperate.’ (Internet wikipedia)
A lot of these theories have opened my eyes to the inner workings of social networking, what I mean is getting in the head of the person you’re trying to connect with. A particularly poignant case is with ‘affiliation’ and ‘privacy regulation’. These theories delve into the minds of the human beings we need to network such as busy company managers or directors who spend longer in their office than actually directing as they like.
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