Back in business with task 3c!

Over the past couple of weeks I have been so busy that I haven’t had time to write a blog post! As you can imagine I have been stressing about this and felt like I was slipping behind. However, I am now back in business and tackling task 3c!

After careful thought and consideration I have decided that my five main sources of information are:

1.   The internet

I really wanted to try and come up with something different but the fact of the matter is that the internet is such a valuable tool for almost everyone. I honestly cannot imagine life without the internet as a source of information. If my internet connection is down for even one day I feel lost and isolated. I use the internet to communicate with others. This in turn provides me with information, thoughts, ideas, events and jobs which are all shared on social networking sites. This relates back to the theory of connectivism which suggests that the expansion of web technologies has affected our networking and interaction.

Web 2.0 search engines such as Google are a tool that I use for research and finding out information. They can be used for anything from researching a director or choreographer to looking up maps and directions to get to an audition. Without this tool many things in my life would not be so simple and quick. I would have to spend a lot more time looking things up in books or searching for information which would mean I may miss out on important information and waste time which could be spent doing other things.

From reading other peoples blogs I have discovered LinkedIn. Stacey Wilson mentioned how a casting director used it to get in touch with her and since then I have joined it. I have to admit that I haven’t used it a lot yet as I haven’t actually had time to create a profile but it is something that I aim to do sooner rather than later. It sounds like an excellent tool for finding out about people and getting in touch and seems like it could be a beneficial source of information.

2.   The iPhone

I never realised how much I use my phone as a source of information until I actually had to think about and identify how I find things out. This is linked to the internet as I use the internet on my phone as well but it is so much more than that. I find it amazing that wherever I am I can access Google, e mail, facebook, maps, directions, the weather, the traffic....the list is endless! I often get e mails through on my phone where it has been essential that I reply straight away. If I had to wait until I got home to check them and reply I may have missed out on opportunities and communication would have been much slower. If I am about to go to an audition or an interview and have forgotten to research something or someone I can quickly look them up on Google on my way there.

Also, just by having my iPod and phone in one has made my life much easier. As a dancing teacher I have to take my music almost everywhere I go. I like to have a plentiful supply of music in case something unexpected happens i.e. having to teach an extra class that I have not prepared for due to another teacher being ill. By having my iPod on my phone it means I can never forget my music! It is easy to forget to put CDs or an iPod in your bag but I never leave the house without my phone. By having all my music on there it means I am much more prepared for unexpected situations.

3.   Talking to people

It is a fact that there is some information that you just can’t find on the internet which is why the skill of talking people can never be lost. Engaging in conversation with someone can often make them want to help you. People can put you in touch with someone else who could then help your career. I don’t think any form of social networking site could ever replace interaction on a face to face basis. I rely so much on talking to people to find out information. By talking to other teachers I am able to find out about new courses, syllabus changes or job opportunities. By talking to others I formulate ideas through discussion and bounce off the other person.

While web 2.0 can help you keep in touch after meeting someone, it cannot replace the initial meeting face to face. All of the people that have helped me most so far have only done so because I established a good personal relationship with them on first meeting. This includes teachers, friends and colleagues and many of these people have turned out to be influential in the industry and willing to help. Even though you can create a relationship with someone online, it doesn’t compare with the relationship you can create in person. When someone likes you they seem very willing to help! Obviously maintaining contact with these people is imperative and the internet and e mail is often the best way to go about this as people have busy lives and don’t have time to meet up all the time. However, it is important to establish the initial relationship face to face to create a personal connection.

4.   The television

After reading Joanna’s post on her sources of information I realised that TV is also an important source of information for me. It is something I never realised that I use to find things out but it turns that I do it without even thinking about it. I often look at the credits at the end of a program to see who the casting director is or who the presenter is and then use the internet to do further research on that person and possibly find out who their agent is and then contact them myself for advice. Even programs that I think I watch purely for entertainment such as the X factor can be of help. With the industry we are in it is always useful to see other people perform. You can see what works and what doesn’t work and even find out new songs which could be useful for auditions. Programs like this also spark debate and can often be a real talking point. Almost everyone has an opinion and if you can give an intelligent and informed opinion on something that everyone is talking about then you might gain someone’s respect.

It is also important to stay ‘In the loop’ (Joanna Adeyinka 2010). Virtually everyone watches television and you can usually find some common ground with someone through a television program. This can spark a conversation and lead to other things. It is also useful in this industry to know who is out there at the moment and you can gather what people are looking for by watching the people who have been successful. I have realised that even when I think I am watching something for entertainment I am actually continually researching and finding out new information.

5.   Publications and books

There are so many publications out there with information, advice and job opportunities and while these are sources which I turn to I think I could use them more. The stage newspaper is an obvious choice to turn to for job opportunities in the industry. However, for me I find reading the articles in the newspaper more beneficial than the auditions section. There is often some really useful information in the articles about directors, choreographers, events, up and coming people in the industry etc. I think that people often overlook the articles and go straight to the audition section which in my opinion is a bit of a stab in the dark.

There are other publications which are a good source of information. A magazine which I enjoy reading is the Dancing Times. It has interesting articles and often has biographies on new dancers to watch out for. All these things help to broaden your knowledge of the industry even if they don’t provide specific answers to a question that you may be able to find on the internet. It is important to be informed in your field and reading publications and books helps me stay up to date and informed about the industry and the people in it.

There is also the contacts book which provides listings and contact details for agents, dance companies, photographers etc. It is an invaluable source of information if you want to contact someone. The contacts book will often be my first port of call when wanting to find out someone’s name and details and then I will research them further on the internet.

After thinking about these sources of information I have realised that I can’t place more value on one in particular. They all provide different information in different ways and it is a combination of all of them which help to inform me about the industry, develop my networks and increase my job opportunities.