Task 4B: Special Interest Groups

This week I was contacted by Eleanor through one of my blog posts and she invited me to join a SIG that she had set up. The SIG is regarding Performing Arts in Education. As I currently teach drama to children for 2 different companies 3 days a week, this is one area that I am very interested in researching for my inquiry. 

In my previous blogs, I have explained my views on the importance of teaching performing arts in schools. By joining this SIG, I hope to discuss this further and hear views from the other members.

This evening I have also joined another SIG that was created by Gonzalo which is regarding How to Develop Your Creativity. This SIG will be great for me to explore other ideas for my inquiry which are not related to education and this will allow me to keep my thinking quite open at this early stage.

Being part of a SIG will allow me to raise questions and issues that are relevant to my practise, reflect and discuss with others who are like-minded. Although it is still early days, SIGs seem like an extremely good idea and I'm sure it will be vital to my learning in this module. 

I have had quite a few other ideas for my inquiry but not all of them link to performing arts in education. Discussing my ideas with the members of both of the SIGs I am part of will help me to narrow down my options and decide which route I would like to take for my inquiry from the choices I stated in my previous blog for Task 4A.

I was unable to make the most recent Skype session with Paula due to work but I have read through the slides from the session on her blog. These have prevented me from getting bogged down with too many ideas. By writing down what I know and what I want to know has helped me so far and when discussing ideas with the other members of the SIGs I will be able to refer back to this to ensure I stay on track!

Task 4A: My Questions

After studying Reader 4, it is safe to say that I am very excited to see what Module 2 will have in store for me. It is clear that I have a wide range of interests and I think this shows how far I have come in my profession since starting the BAPP course. I am keen to see what thoughts will develop from my research to lead me to the area of my inquiry.

Module 1 allowed me to think about areas that probably wouldn't have crossed my mind if I hadn't reflected on my professional practice. Blogging forced me to really see where my interests are at the moment and also what path I might like to follow in the future and also how my studies on the BAPP Arts course may affect this. Towards the end of Module 1 I started to produce some ideas about what I thought about studying for my area of inquiry, however after studying Reader 4 and trying to put my ideas down on paper, this is proving more difficult than I thought.

My initial areas of interest are:

The Industry
- Politics within the industry and how this may affect an individual
- Vocational training: Pros & Cons
- It's not what you know, it's who you know: how your network may have an effect on your success within the industry
- Is theatre important in our society?
- What makes an actor successful?

The Education System & Performing Arts
- Why are drama and arts subjects under valued in schools?
- Does the age you start studying drama have an effect on your success/talent?

Mental Health & Performing Arts
- How does studying drama and arts subjects affect individuals with mental health issues?
- What is drama therapy? How does it help those affected by mental health issues? Is there a link between performing arts and positive mental health?
- The importance of relaxed performances
- How the industry could affect your mental health and your way of thinking

These are just a few ideas to get me started and that I would like to explore before choosing my final area of inquiry. If you have any thoughts or comments on my questions then please comment below or get in touch - I would love to hear from you!

Pantoland 2016

I have been very quiet on the blogging front recently, having just completed a 5 week panto run of Dick Whittington in Liverpool.

Having completed my panto contract I now believe that what they say is true - you never really learn about the industry until you start working! I have learnt a lot from this contract, which no amount of training could have ever prepared me for and which I will take with me into further work.

My favourite experience of my time in 'Pantoland' was the relaxed performance that we presented. This performance was designed to welcome individuals of any age who have Autism, Asperger's Syndrome or learning difficulties, as these people would benefit from a more relaxed performance, meaning that the music is quieter, the house lights are left on and it is a generally all round less daunting environment and experience. This performance was incredibly rewarding as we were told by their parents that these children and young adults would not have been able to attend a performance otherwise and to see their reactions and receive their appreciation was amazing. We did a meet & greet (in costume as our characters) for some of the younger children after the performance to be told that it was the "best show they had ever seen". This made the long hours of rehearsals, early mornings and late nights all seem worthwhile.

I feel like I have grown so much as a performer over the last few weeks. I have never been cast as the comedy lead before (and a boy at that!) and this allowed me to discover another set of skills that I never knew I had. My confidence has improved both a performer and as an individual and I have made friends and contacts within the industry who I will definitely keep in touch with.

This experience allowed me to put the first pieces of my learning from the BAPP course into practise and it was interesting to hear the view of other professional actors (who are not studying on the BAPP course) about some of the topics we have covered in the first module. I have already improved my networking skills since working at Panto, as a friend in the cast suggested I contact a theatre company that she has worked for previously, and this has allowed me to make a further contact in the industry. Performing to large groups of children also gave me a lot to think about in regards to my upcoming inquiry and modules as I am really interested in exploring the teaching of drama in schools and how this affects children from a young age. For a lot of children this was the first time they had ever been to the theatre or seen a show and this could have a massive impact on their life. I remember being taken to the theatre as a child and I knew from a very young age that performing was the career path I wanted to take. I will definitely explore this further in the upcoming modules and tasks.

Task 3D: Critical Questions & Issues That Emerge

Do some very specific ideas emerge about your networking and sources? Does your engagement to date seem appropriate? Limited? Focused? Planned? Unplanned?
Being a 'networked professional' in my industry is vital. I feel like I need to keep on top of my networking in order for me to always be developing my skills in this area. Most of my sources have been taken from ideas that I found on the internet and looking back at this now I think that I could make a bigger effort in future to use other resources such as the library. When I begin my teaching job in the new year I am going to try and include references in my blogs to myself as both a performer and a teacher as this will help me develop my learning in all areas of my professional practice. I feel that my engagement with the BAPP course so far has been focused and I have tried to devote any spare time that I have had to my studies in order to achieve the highest possible outcome. I did not make a plan of when I was going to complete each task and this is something that I could look into changing in my studies in the future, however I have not fallen behind at all and I think that my self motivation and determination to succeed has helped this a lot. I have also been able to attend a few of the Skype sessions with Paula when I have not been working and these discussions have really helped me when completing the tasks for my blog.

Are your ideas, position or concerns shared by others within and/or beyond your professional area of work?
Definitely! It has been helpful for me to read a few blogs from other BAPP course members who have now progressed onto Modules 2 and 3 or who have even completed the course in full. It is very interesting to read different view points on the same tasks and seeing what each individuals take on each task is like. Writing a blog is very personal and as I have mentioned previously, when I begin my teaching job I am going to try my best to apply some of the theories that were discussed in Reader 3 into my own personal professional practice.

Does sharing ideas and communicating with others shift your thinking, planning or practice?
Sharing my ideas with others who are also like-minded does shift my thinking as it allows me to compare and contrast my ideas. Being well connected to others in my network will only improve my professional practice. I haven't changed my planning at all but the way in which I am being conscious of time management shows that I do not need to share these ideas with others as my method is working in a positive way for me.

Does critical reflection help you decide what really matters and the actions to take?
Critical reflection has been a very useful tool for me to use throughout this module because I am a perfectionist. So rather than reading back my work and only having negative thoughts about it, I am now in a position where I can critically reflect on my work and not feel discouraged by it, looking into the positive areas of my work and what actions I can take to improve it, rather than just seeing the negative points which doesn't allow me to develop my reflection skills at all. As I said in a previous blog, I used reflection a lot in my training and this module has shown me the importance of using reflection in my professional practice too. Reflecting on my work so far on my BAPP journey, I would love to start blogging more about other subjects and not just focusing on the tasks set in the module. I think this would give me more confidence when blogging and I could use my blog as an extension to my Twitter page which I referred to in my previous blog as a platform for venting. A tweet can be a maximum of 140 characters in length and that is nowhere near enough to discuss a topical news story in the arts!

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?
Theories assist me in thinking about my professional networking in different ways as they have forced me to research my ideas about each theory and back up my opinion. The theories go hand in hand with my networking and make me really think about my current networks. I had never thought about networking in any other industry before studying this part of the module, but by reading the example about the Prisoner's Dilemma game I was able to widen my knowledge to a subject that is not directly related with the arts. The different ways of thinking have definitely challenged me to think deeper into my networking and give my networking purpose.

Are you left thinking differently prior to this part of the module? And if so, how?
I am definitely thinking differently prior to this part of the module as it has made me really think about and understand the importance of developing my networking skills in my industry. It has made me aware of my current networking but also given me room to think about how I would like to improve my networking and the end goal I would like to achieve in this area.

There are ethical issues that arise when communicating with others and these include being respectful towards the other individual and understanding the difference between constructive criticism and verbal abuse or bullying. The other individual has obviously made the comments that they have because they believe strongly about what they have said and it would be demoralising to put them down and may result in them doubting themselves. This negativity might also stop them from developing their networking or professional practice if they have lost all hope after a comment that has been made.

Task 3C: Sources of Information

By using the Connectivism theory I have created a list of my top 5 most important sources of information. Obviously Web 2.0 plays a massive part in my choices as it provides us with information that we need at the click of a button. The world would be a very different and less advanced place without Web 2.0...

1. My Phone
So as much as it pains me to put this top of my list, I absolutely could not live without my phone. It gives me access to everything I need from day to day and I have anything I need at the touch of a button, or even better, by asking Siri for help! My phone book keeps all of the contacts in my network in one place with their details safe and stored. Receiving emails straight to my phone makes my life so much easier. If I had to reply to emails by using my laptop I probably wouldn't reply until quite a few hours later but I can reply to emails using my phone within minutes of viewing it. This is very helpful if my agent emails me details of a casting and needs a quick response in order to advise the casting director if I am able to attend. Facetime is one of the best apps on my phone. Living away from home can sometimes be challenging and knowing that I am able to both see and speak to my family (not forgetting my Westie dog) with such ease is amazing. I can connect with them at all times of the day and I love the interchangeable cameras (front facing or front of phone). I must also mention the apps that I have chosen to download to my phone. I think this is a great side to my phone as it makes it more personal to me. I have apps that will allow me to access anything from live travel updates so that I can keep updated and safe on the move to The Stage app where I can view upcoming auditions without signing into my account online.

2. Google
I cannot remember what we all did before Google existed. When people used to say that the internet was going to take over the world they definitely weren't lying. The amount of times I have asked a question and have been told to 'Google it' are just too many to keep track of! Google is a global search engine so allows me to search about anything that is going on around the world and I will have an immediate answer. "Google's mission is to organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful" (Google, About Us). Google has played a huge part in my BAPP journey so far as it has allowed me to search for sources online rather than having to spend time that I don't always have in a library.

3, YouTube
YouTube provides me with videos which I can use in my work and professional practice. When learning a new song I normally like to 'note-bash' (work out the melody of the song) on a piano but unfortunately I do not own a piano in my house in London. If I am unable to gain access to a keyboard or piano then I can go onto YouTube and listen to the original cast recording of the song with ease. YouTube is also very useful for finding backing tracks to songs and this is helpful when I do not have time to visit my singing teacher if I get told about an audition at short notice. I also enjoy learning visually so if I need to learn how to do something a bit more practical then I could watch a video online and this would probably help me solve the problem.

4. Theatre/Cinema
I try to visit the theatre or cinema as much as I can. I enjoy going to see new material and writing, (including low budget films or shorts) that I am unfamiliar with as well as classic musicals and plays that are well known and loved. Sometimes when you are having a 'quiet spell' in between auditions and work, it is important to go and see performances. This allows you to see what is currently popular and can help with picking audition material or even helping you to learn about the show and everything that it is made up of, such as the writers and composers. I often find myself sitting in the audience at shows asking myself which roles I might be suited to and which were in my casting bracket as it helps to keep my mind stimulated.

5. Twitter
This social media site is becoming increasingly important in my professional practice. By following both upcoming and established casting directors, tweeting directors about their work that I have seen or connecting with new and upcoming theatre companies, I am able to expand my network of professional contacts and get my profile into the public eye. Twitter is easily accessible on an app on my phone so I can use it on the move too. Twitter also acts as a platform for venting opinions for actors and other industry professionals who might want to respond immediately to news stories associated to the arts.

There are many other sources of information that I also use on a daily basis but these are the top 5 that I use at present. I look forward to seeing others blog about this to see how their sources of information compare to mine!


Reference List

https://www.google.com/about/

Task 3B: Theories Relating to Networking

A professional network is "a work related community held together by either close working affiliation or more distant but common work interests or needs" (Reader 3, BAPP). Reader 3 is based on 'The Networked Professional' and the different ideas we can use to network. It discusses five theories of the professional network. It has taken a few days for each of the theories to sink in properly but I now feel that I fully understand each theory and how I could perhaps use each one in my professional practice. The five theories that create 'The Networked Professional' are Cooperation, Affiliation, Social Constructionism, Connectivism and Communities of Practice.

Cooperation
In order to make any progress when working with others or as part of a team, cooperation is essential. Reader 3 discusses how this theory is linked closely with the Game Theory, where one player succeeds at another player's expense. Robert Axelrod, who comes from the discipline of political science is one of the most significant researchers in this theory, "when should a person cooperate, and when should a person be selfish, in an ongoing interaction with another person?" (Axelrod, 1984). He discusses the importance of cooperation in a game theory and, in particular, the game Prisoner's Dilemma. It is a simplistic example which clearly shows the type of situation in which these problems become apparent. Axelrod continued to carry out investigations comparing theories submitted by game theorists such as psychologists, economists and mathematicians. The theory of 'TIT FOR TAT' was the easiest and also the most desirable. "TIT FOR TAT is merely the strategy of starting with cooperation, and thereafter doing what the other player did on the previous move" (Axelrod, 1984). In my professional work I could never ignore people after they had helped me with my career in any way. I find this behaviour very inconsiderate and out of order as it means using someone to get to where you want to be. I was brought up to always treat others the way you would want to be treated yourself, however, as I have grown older I have realised and seen first hand that sometimes others will take advantage of you if you are 'too nice', and that sticking up for yourself can make others respect you more as long as you go the right way about it and are not completely rude. I am going to make sure that I have the right balance between the two in my professional networking because for example I would not go to an open audition and let everyone go ahead of me in the queue, but I would respect people who were in line before me and wait my turn.

Affiliation
Affiliation is a social process, in the field of social psychology that gives us "a network of support that will help us when we are in need" (Crisp & Turner, 2007). Affiliation is an important theory in the performing industry and one that I try to use often. I have many contacts who have helped me in my professional life, no matter how small or large their input was and it is comforting to know that people are there for you if you need them and that they can rely on you too. Crisp & Turner explain the benefits and the need to "seek out others and form close relationships" (Crisp & Turner, 2007). I think that I use affiliation more than I realise because making friends along my career path is definitely a bonus. It is a tough industry to be in and knowing that I have friends and family who support me in all I do really helps. The main difference with affiliation and cooperation is that cooperation is definitely more professional and doesn't allow the networking to get too personal. Affiliation is an ongoing relationship which develops over time.

Social Constructionism
"Social constructionism is a one of a set of related explanations about how meanings about the world are made" (Reader 3, BAPP). This theory is based on social relationships, and by interacting with others and the world around us, we are able to construct our own opinions on certain situations depending on our experiences. We believe everything we are told as young children by our parents because we don't know any better, but as we grow older, we are able to make informed decisions and understand for ourselves because we are having to deal with these things on a daily basis. For example, on the first day of a big event like a course or a new job, we are always incredibly nervous (no matter how hard we try not to be) because you find yourself in surroundings that are completely new and alien to you. But after attending the job or course for a few weeks you will have adapted and feel like you belong to this network and group of people a bit more. This theory will be useful in my industry as I think a lot of my work is about making a decision or forming an opinion on something for yourself and not just believing or agreeing with someone else because you are too scared to be different.

Connectivism
When first studying Reader 3 and reading about the theory of Connectivism, I instantly thought about what I had learnt throughout the tasks at the beginning of the Module which were related to Web 2.0. This theory believes that Web 2.0 is altering our brains and that traditional ideas about learning, for example, a teacher transferring their knowledge to a student, needs to be changed. The theory discusses how we interact through networks and suggests that Web 2.0 contains all of the information we need. I am currently using this theory throughout the BAPP course as we have to write a blog to supplement our learning. Writing this blog has helped my learning in a way that I would never have thought of before starting the course. Web 2.0 is always expanding and this theory provides a clear explanation about how networks give individuals a chance to connect with others and learn within that particular network. This theory allows me to improve my skills within Web 2.0 and my networking overall because learning is "a persisting change in human performance or performance potential" (Driscoll, 2000).

Communities of Practise
This theory explains how we learn by engaging in social relationships. We all have our own circles of contacts within our professional practice and each of these groups "produce learning realised in different forms" (Reader 3, BAPP). The relationships in this type of network stay strong because they are created and developed through social interaction, life communities and mutual interests such as performing groups. Whilst training at college I made friends who may in future turn into work colleagues. In all of these groups, members share a similar passion and love for their art. "The social structure of this practice, its power relations, and its conditions for legitimacy define possibilities for learning" (Lave & Wenger, 1991). I think this theory is relevant to my professional practice because the industry is a very social place and in turn this theory has a huge social aspect, allowing us to form circles of contacts within our networks. This is much different to the Connectivism theory where all of the networking is done online and by using Web 2.0 which does not allow for any face to face networking. Most of my networking at present is done by using Web 2.0, but after studying this theory I now understand the importance of exploring my circles of contacts and communities of practice.

Having read through Reader 3 again you need to, with theories such as Connectivism, ensure that you do not merge personal and professional work when using Web 2.0 to network. You must ensure that you consider exactly what you are writing online and how writing or making comments which are slanderous towards a person or company could affect your image in the future. Social media can be great for networking if used in the correct way.

The theories in Reader 3 allow me to think about how the theories could help or affect my networking in the future. The theories have made me more aware about how I currently network within the industry and what steps or theories I could take to improve my networking skills and become a better networking professional within the arts. I now have more understanding of all of the theories and this will definitely help me to develop my success within networking.


Reference List

• Reader 3 - BAPP, Middlesex University
• "The Evolution of Cooperation"; R, Axelrod; 1984.
• "Essential Social Psychology"; R J Crisp & R N Turner; 2007.
• "Connectivisim: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age"; G Siemens; 2004.
• "Legitimate Peripheral Participation in Communities in Practise"; J Lave & E Wenger; 1991.

Task 3A: Current Networks

Networking within the arts is vital. The industry is extremely tough and making contacts can make it a bit easier if you have a supportive pool of contacts who can give you a helping hand.

What are the current and different ways (tools) that you have, or do, engage your professional network?
After graduating college I realised that I wasn't networking as much as I should have been. I have tried to develop my networking skills but I definitely think that I could still be networking more within the industry. Social media is a great way of networking within the performing industry. I mostly use Twitter to network by following creatives within the industry, for example, casting directors, producers and writers of new material that may be looking for actors that are within my casting bracket. A lot of casting is based on your look and sometimes this can be enough to be seen for an audition. If directors or theatre companies publicly announce that they are holding auditions for a show that I think I am suitable for I will contact my agent and ask to be submitted for an audition. I have also gained a few contacts by 'tweeting' directors or writers if I have been to see their work and have enjoyed it.

What are the established (and different) ways that others use their networks, especially if they are more established or experienced practitioners that you admire?
More established actors network by creating their own websites and fan club pages which allows them to send out monthly/weekly newsletters to keep their fans and followers posted on what work and jobs they have recently done or if they are appearing in any upcoming productions. Anyone can sign up to their newsletters and they are able to self-promote very easily by doing this. Other sites such as IMDB are also useful for actors as this will give a full list of their credits which can be viewed in one area online. This is also helpful for members of production eg if an actor had an audition with a film director they would be able to view which films the director had also worked on and gain a bit more background about them before meeting them at audition, for example. Casting Call Pro allows actors to put themselves forward for auditions and this site also allows you to contact others within the industry including agents, casting directors and other actors.

Are there methods, approaches and technologies that you use socially that might apply and help you develop your professional networking?
I use Facebook socially but it is also great for networking. I am a part of a few groups on Facebook which allow actors, casting directors and producers etc to post auditions and helpful information for working in the arts. YouTube can also be used for professional networking as it allows you to easily post media online which you can then share with others. If an industry professional like a casting director viewed a video I had posted on YouTube of myself acting or singing and enjoyed it, they would be able to get in contact with me without the extra hassle of going through my agent, and this may lead to future auditions or work with this company or casting director. This would also save the time for a face-to-face audition and in turn, saves room rental costs. As I mentioned above, having a personal website can help an actor a lot. Media such as videos, voice links, showreels and even headshots can be posted online and this allows more industry professionals to see your talents in the comfort of their own home!

When you reflect upon current networks, can you think about the motives of others to be in the network and what values and purpose they have in mind?
The motives of others to network is mainly to make contacts. By making contacts you are putting yourself out in the industry as an actor and this can get you noticed. Actors network to better themselves and by being active on social media sites such as Twitter, for example, actors have a higher chance of getting their profile into the public eye, hopefully securing auditions then jobs and working their way up the industry job ladder.

What would your ideal network look like and why?
My ideal network would include a wide variety of people who are in all different aspects of the industry such as directors, writers, producers and other performers. Even having professionals from different areas of the arts such as musicians, artists could make the process even more interesting. These contacts would be able to work together to create art.

What realistic things could you do to work towards developing your ideal network?
To work towards developing my ideal network I could definitely be more active on social media. I think that creating a LinkedIn profile might be the next step in developing my networking. I feel like LinkedIn is a very popular website so creating a profile would be a very worthwhile thing to do. The article below explains why this site is so helpful for actors.

http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/why-all-actors-should-be-linkedin/

What tools and methods do you need to use? What do you know about your current, and intended networks, and importantly, what do you not know?
After going through Reader 3 and completing this task I am going to work very hard to improve and increase my networking skills. In the future, I think that a website for my acting work would definitely be worthwhile and I could use this to promote myself by adding media such as video clips.