Task 1c - Audio Visual

This is the dreaded task. How is it that as a performer the thought of filming myself talking seems so terrifying?!

Youtube is such an amazing tool to be used for many purposes; Not only can you promote yourself on there but you can learn how to do almost anything (whether it is a useful skill to learn or not). After graduating from college I created a showreel out of various clips I filmed in my dance studio, showing different styles of dance. Throughout the years of sending the link of my showreel to a multitude of potential employers, I have adapted the content to make it more suitable and help to promote myself in the best way I could.

A few colleagues and I sat down one day to discuss how we could make our showreels as effective as possible. We came up with a list of must have moves: kicks; turns; leaps; walks; varying styles. We also realised from watching other performers showreels that the backing track was just as important to keep the viewers attention.

When I was at the start of my career I thought I had to fit as much material in as possible, as with most areas in life I learnt quality is more valuable than quantity. Here is the link to my most up to date showreel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZhQyTfz3Zg&t=2s

How Social Media Effects Our Employment.

Following the skype session earlier in the week, I have been playing around typing various things into Google (what would we do without this??) to see what might come up. I found a number of articles based on people who had lost their jobs through posts they had put on social media. Some of these are shocking and I am in no way surprised they lost their jobs if they were silly enough to publicly announce their actions. However, some I found shocked me as they just looked like normal people on a night out having fun, nothing illegal, nothing harmful or offensive in their posts at all.

Here are a few of the articles I found...

http://people.com/celebrity/employees-who-were-fired-because-of-social-media-posts/

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/a-brief-history-of-people-getting-fired-for-social-media-stupidity-20150713

http://www.businessinsider.com/17-people-who-were-fired-for-using-facebook-2014-7?IR=T

This particular article looks more at the reasons why employers may fire you or not hire you...

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/05/how-using-social-media-can-get-you-fired.html

Replacers Instead of Fixers - 1b continued

Sometimes I feel the technological world progresses at such a speed that what was already there hasn't had time to be appreciated yet. More often than not a new phone, for example, will come out with all these new features but half the time it doesn't work. Why are we in such a rush to get the newest shiniest model?? The tragic thing is, we are so used to being able to replace things that we are whimsical about it, no nostalgia, because secretly we like getting the newest model or the latest craze. We have now transferred this into other areas of our lives, the drive to make something work has gone.

I have a friend who has had 3 jobs in the past year, not because they were fired but because they either didn't like how the staff were treated or didn't get on with their colleagues. Now, I am not saying we should be in a situation where we don't feel valued. I am however saying there will never be a time in life where you like and agree with everyone, sometimes we have to grit our teeth put on a smile and let idiots be idiots. In the dance world I feel we would be forever unemployed if we were so choosy. Apparently, in the muggle world changing your job so frequently isn't ideal either. While I was attending interviews for Teaching Assistant jobs I found that they want to know about all gaps in your employment and reasons for leaving. Surely, you wouldn't admit to a potential future boss that you disliked your old boss as your reason for leaving? By the way, to clarify, this friend is actually a top guy: great morals; great ethic (in other areas). So why is it we feel entitled to everything being perfect without us working for it?

I won't even get started on relationships.....

We are a generation of replacers instead of fixers.

Task 1b - Initial Thoughts - Would the world be better off with just Web 1.0???

I haven't managed to get past the first page of the reader yet. As someone who had never heard of the term Web 2.0, I really thought I was going to spend a long time figuring out the meaning, but after the clarification of the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0, I feel I need to stop and mull over my thoughts.

The idea of there being a boundary between the creator and the reader gives more value to the information being read - in my opinion. It is so easy for people to comment now, that I'm not sure if people really believe what they are saying they are just writing to be heard. Don't get me wrong I am a strong supporter of freedom of speech but I also think a persons opinion is just as strong kept hidden. It is not always necessary to squander someones beliefs just to boost our own ego.

If we only used Web 1.0, we would have to put more effort into getting our views out there. Maybe this would rid our lives of a lot of pointless and negative information, that is so easy to get wrapped up in.

Task 1a: Professional Profile

Before starting this task, I had a look at a few others and realised I actually have profiles on more websites than I remembered (shows how effectively I have been using them). As a result, this task will mainly be spent improving my profiles. After clicking on Lauren Harper's StarNow link I was surprised to see I had one as well - I only actively used my dancerspro profile before. I think the main reason for this is that I worked for the same company for quite a few years and in effect abandoned these profiles. I would like to steal Lauren's use of screenshots to show how neglected my profiles have been.

Screenshot of my StarNow profile before update:

As you can see, I haven't even wrote anything about myself; the only photo I had was my headshot (the others I have added since the discovery of this profile).

Screenshot of my StarNow profile after update:

I have been astonished while looking through my profiles, I had clearly in my eager attempts to tick all the boxes I needed to do to help get a job in this competitive world of performers simply made a profile without any thought. It is as though I never looked back to check if I was giving myself the best chance at being noticed. I was merely satisfied at having created a profile, I have never been tech savvy so I can only presume I did what was necessary without risking breaking my computer!

One part of my profile I did indulge in - no surprise - was the skills list. Apparently, I am fantastic at many things... I'll leave that there.

When looking at different profiles there are so many variations and ways to present oneself, but who is to say what is right and wrong? Some people like to make this more personal and others strictly to the point, I guess this is a possible indicator to potential employers on performers personalities.

Stars Can't Shine Without Darkness

I never thought in a million years I would be writing a blog but for various reasons, here I am! Initially I thought my only reason was that I was told to do it to support the Middlesex University''s BAPP Arts course I am undertaking. 
I have been putting off this inevitable task as I have no idea what to write. Do I post for myself, as if writing a diary? Or do I try and think of witty fascinating subjects to talk about? However, recent events have caused me to rethink a lot of things and I now feel a mixture of the two will be most beneficial to me. So, I decided I could no longer procrastinate and needed to make a start... Often in times of stress and sadness we are told to let it out; free your heart of the burden; write it down.

Yesterday morning, I was on my way to work and whilst sat at some traffic lights I was debating some recent choices I have made. Although I am proud of many of these choices, I have been troubled by one in particular. Have you ever made a choice that afterwards you have been so disappointed in yourself you feel sick? Well, this was one of those moments. I have been going over and over this, wondering why I did the wrong thing, knowing someone would get hurt. I like to pride myself on treating people kindly and I can't fathom what happened this time. Everything happens for a reason, right? But surely not at the expense of others feelings. My week has been spent in this manner, but it gets to a point where you can't dwell on the past and you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again. Just as I had decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and move forward, a skip truck went straight into the back of my car.... Lying on a stretcher in the middle of the road made me realise how lucky I am in my life - also showed karma got me good.

Anyway, what I am trying to say is, whatever happens in our lives all we can do is strive to be the best we can be. Whether it is for academic development or simply to live a life we can be proud of.