3a. The current networks

I have decided to approach this task by blogging under the questions asked in the reader. This is a good way for me to clearly research and reflect, as well as think about my current network from a lot of different angels.

What are the current and different ways (tools) that you have/do/engage with your professional network?

I started to think about this question by creating two lists; one with my current networks, and one with how I engage with them. However, I realised that a lot of elements linked together, and questions quickly started arising. To make my thoughts clearer I have created two spider diagrams.

When reflecting upon these diagrams I noticed a couple of things. Firstly that a lot of my networks link up to 'friends'. I think this is largely to do with my personality. Although I have a professional attitude when it comes to work, I like to have a personal relationship with people were appropriate as I believe it can only enhance the quality of your collaboration.  I am highly aware though that the point in which your professional and personal relationship blurring is sensitive and you should always be careful how far you let your colleges into your personal life. Crisp and Turner talk say that a strong network will provide support that will help us when needed*, and I believe that by having a friendship with people in your professional practice will enhance this support. I also noticed that 'family' is the only one not connected to another network. I use my family as part of my network in a very different way to any of the others. They provide me with advice and help where needed and listen to my ideas, as well as help my draft important e-mails to professionals and help me think of ways to constantly enhance my professional network. 

When reflecting on how I engage with my networks, I noticed several things. Firstly I noticed how many of my tools are linked to a computer. Although I rely on the computer daily for my career, I am someone who likes to interact with people face to face where possible, as I believe that I give a better impression and am able to elaborate and explain things clearer. I then took this thinking further and realised that I actually have begun to network with people face to face more and more now that I am slightly more established. Although I still have a long way to go, I now feel more confident to ask people personally for their details once I know them, rather than find out their agents details on the internet. I am given the opportunity to meet them through having a larger network of contacts that I am working with. The rectangular boxes with the questions in are a way to encourage me to think about how I acquire these contacts, so I can track how this may change over the course of my career.

I also noticed how a lot of these methods of engaging mean you can contact the person directly and very quickly. Personal numbers, e-mails, Facebook and Twitter accounts are an amazing way to directly get in contact with the relevant person in that exact moment, rather than a letter which may take several days to be delivered. Again, a lot of these 'direct methods' are because a computer, and more specifically the internet. This demonstrates to me how prominent Web 2.0 has become in our networking and professional lives.

What are the established (and different) ways that others use their networks, especially if they are more established or experienced practioners that you admire?

The main distinction I can see between me and experienced professionals is that they use their network to maintain their reputation and contacts rather than create them. For example, a lot of big choreographers that I admire have their own website with contact details on, allowing people to get into contact with them, rather than the other way around. In addition to this, they are able to use their social network to inform people of projects they are working on, and to advertise castings, jobs and opportunities. The internship I recently got was advertised on Twitter and because the person who posted it was a very well established performer, I was confident that the job opportunity would be amazing. This opened my eyes to the fact that at the moment I can't use my network in a way that promotes myself as such a confident polished package, as I have not yet had enough experience or built up such a strong reputation.

Another way a practioner could use their network is through working somewhere and then hiring the students. While I was training at Urdang, a lot of people from the industry came in and taught us. Occasionally they would then ask certain students to audition or work for them once they had graduated. In reader 3, Alan Durrant explains that your professional network is a highly important part of your current and professional life. This idea of creating contacts in college that might help your career in the future is a clear demonstration of this.

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?

I found this question quite difficult to answer, so in order help me think I have given three clear examples of people in my network focusing on how we both benefit and the purpose and value they have.

Since January I have been doing a work placement at the Chickenshed Theatre under the direction of Chris Niering, head of dance. My relationship with Chris is very much geared towards my experiences and career as she is very conscious that I get the most out of my time at Chickenshed. However, it is also beneficial for Chris to have me there as I am a regular volunteer who is working for her for free and has good relevant experience. I would like to think that we both value each other equally as we have a great working relationship. Because of the thesis of Chickenshed, my network here is linked directly to the communities of practice theory talked about in reader 3, as I am constantly learning in the process of engagement through social relationships. I am so grateful for the opportunities that Chris is giving me, and would love the opportunity to work for Chris in the future. 

Dale Rooks, director of education for the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre is someone who I have known and worked with for many years. Dale has taken great interest in my career and has provided me with opportunities, even when she could have given the job to someone more qualified. I believe over the past few years Dale and I have build a good level of trust between us, and have a fantastic relationship. Dale always expects everything to be delivered to the highest possible standard and so through allowing me to have a mixture of learning and doing, she has influenced me to work to a standard similar to hers.  When reflecting on our relationship, I believe it is fairly well balanced, however there is still so much I can learn from Dale. Whenever we work together the level of respect is mutual, but I will always look up to Dale and seek advice from her.

Finally, the relationship I had with Andree Bernard for the 42nd Street Gala I helped with was extremely different. I met Andree through Twitter and so for the first week of us relationship we hadn't even met! It was quickly established that we were working together solely for the purpose of the Gala, and so spent many unsociable hours speaking on the phone, e-mailing and texting to make sure the job was done. However, when I finally met Andree in person, she realised how passionate I was about choreography and so went out of her way to given me extra opportunities. Andree had never had an assistant before, so she was keen for us to get on well, and has kindly asked me to work for her again in the future. When thinking back on our relationship, it was a great way for me to gain experience in something I have never done before, but also beneficial for Andree, as without me she wouldn't have had enough time to do all the tasks required of her to get the Gala ready in time.

What would you ideal network look like and why?

My ideal network would be well balanced between people I learn from and people who learn from me. This is because I think in order to get better at my craft I must constantly be learning. It would have a wide pool of choreographers, directors, producers and teachers, as well as assistants and interns. I would also like to build up my pupil network and depending on their age, have a good relationship with their parents. The reason for this, is because I believe the parents always express to you their outcomes and desires, and so you are able to plan your lessons in the right way.

What realistic things could you do to work towards developing your ideal network?

I am currently feeling quite happy with the way I am developing my network. However, when reflecting on what I currently do, I think the area I could improve on is promoting myself as a choreographer and teacher. I sometimes don't have enough self confidence and so sell myself as an 'aspiring choreographer and teacher', but when I look at my jobs I am actually doing it!

In order to make my ideal network closer to the one I described in the previous question, I think I would need to get in contact with more directors as well as choreographers so that I open up to a wider spectrum of people. In addition to this, I think I could do some feedback forms for my students at the end of term so that I find out their opinions of the class and what they would like to do. By doing this, their opinion of the class would go up and hopefully their word of mouth would increase my students and therefore my network.

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?

To sell myself as a product I need to improve my social media skills. I need to use my Twitter account a lot more, as I am quickly learning how popular it is amoungst the Musical Theatre industry. In addition to this, as my career progresses I could create a website for myself as this would be a great way for people to see my CV, photos and appropriate details. However this is something that I know nothing about so would have to research into how to create it.

I have quite a good knowledge on various choreographers,but my knowledge of other people in the industry is not as good. I feel it would be beneficial to me to spend some time on this research as it would help to improve that spectrum of professionals that I want to achieve. I could also maybe write to some explaining my interests and see whether work experience may be an option. Work experience has always been a fantastic way for me to broaden my network as it gives people a chance to meet me and see me at work.

And so...

As I take my research into my network further, I already feel a lot more confident on this area of my career. Through reflecting on this task I can clearly see where I could implement simple ideas in order to improve my network. In addition to this, it has been good for me to see the areas that are working well. It has also given me a clearer sense of what specific areas of my career have a stronger network and I am beginning to question why this is. I believe my teaching network is slightly stronger because I have regular teaching work  and my network is incredibly strong. Combining both the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre and the Chickenshed Theatre allows me to develop my teaching skills on a daily basis. Although I am also given choreographic opportunities in both places, my network is slightly weaker when it comes from other sources, and this is something I want to focus on improving.




* Crisp, J & Turner, R (2007) Essential social psychology