1. Being a member of the Amsterdam Dance Centre which is where many professionals go to take class.
2. Focusing on dance, I have been signed up to websites such as audities.nl, dancerspro.com, thestage.co.uk and starnow.com for a long time. Also, I recently signed up for LinkedIn.com since starting this course.
3. Focusing on modelling, I am signed up to purestorm.co.uk and modelmayhem.com.
4. My show reel is on youtube.com and I have a link to it on my profiles on the websites above.
5. I promote myself to possible new employers by emailing them my C.V, photos and link to my show reel.
6. This blog, because by doing this course we are all networking with one another via our blogs.
b) A practitioner I admire because of the way they use their networks is a friend and former colleague of mine, Fiona Reed. Having worked as a dancer for over 10 years she networked so much and gained so many contacts and so much experience that she, along with her friend, set up her own agency for dancers. I admire her because she has been so confident in networking that she has worked constantly for most of her career and dance companies trust her so much that now she is finding them dancers via her agency. Whilst working with her she gave me so much help and advice and also helped my film my show reel, which I have used to secure work for myself.
c) I use facebook socially but it also helps me in professionally because I am 'friends' with past colleagues and we often tell one another about jobs, auditions and general information about the business. Furthermore, there are facebook groups which I often view that have information on auditions such as UK Dance Auditions.
d) There are many reasons people may use the various networks I have mentioned. For example, some people may use audition/casting websites to look for specific jobs. Personally I won't be using them, for example, to look for classical ballet jobs or jobs that require strong singers, however, other users of the websites will. Also, employers use these websites to look for potential employees and post jobs and casting calls.
When considering the dance school I am a member of, I attend classes firstly to work on my art but also in order to meet other dancers and network that way. However, some dancers go to follow a specific teacher's class because that teacher is affiliated with dance companies which the dancers themselves would like to work for.
e) My ideal network would be a casting website specifically geared towards show jazz dancers like myself. I am interested in work such as casino shows, cabaret shows and cruise ships. I am unlikely to audition for musicals as I am not a strong singer nor will I ever audition for say a contemporary company because it isn't a style I am very practised in. Therefore, for me a website which incorporates the type of work I'm interested in and less of the work I am not, would be ideal.
It would need to have a profile page for each member with a place for C.Vs, show reels, photos and personal information and easy access to casting advertisements. The website should be free for users because if you are looking for a job it is likely you are not currently working so why should you be made to pay? Another feature my ideal network would have would be the ability to write a review on a dancer you've worked with or has worked for you, if you are an employer, which would appear on their profile page. However, prior to the comments being displayed on the website they should be checked by admin staff and negative comments should not be allowed to be displayed. There should also be an anonymous forum where dancers can comment on their experiences working for dance companies. I have had bad experiences in the past which could have been avoided if I'd have read reviews about unprofessional companies. I have also had great experiences which I'd love to recommend to other performers.
f) To work towards my ideal network I could approach other dancers I already know and ask them if they would be interested in a website which incorporates my ideas. I could also write to existing casting websites with some of my ideas and see if they'd be interested in making some changes. I could create a group on facebook or a blog about my ideas to see if anyone else is interested and other performers could give their input too.
g) The most crucial tool I would need is the internet. This task would require a lot of research into existing casting websites and the needs of other dancers. I don't know if anybody else shares my feelings about a website like this. But I know that if I made a facebook group I could invite all my 'friends' to join who are dancers and ask for their feedback on my goals for the website. However, out of everyone I invite to this group not everyone will join and those who do may choose not to give their input. I also do not know how to actually create a website so if I were to take the project that far I would need help from someone who does.
No comments:
Post a Comment