Module 1, Part 1, Task 2b - Journal Writing Experience

I much preferred Math at school than English, so originally I would have thought I'd prefer to do my journal taking in the form of graphs and charts. They're a clear visual and good for making comparisons. I am also big on making lists. When thinking about so much it helps me to write it out and I often realise my workload is more manageable than first thought. However I found both of these forms of journals weren't in-depth enough for me to be able to reflect on.

Instead I enjoyed doing a description with my initial reflection and evaluation.  I often have a lot on and therefore a lot going on in my head so it was nice to just get it all out on paper. It may not necessarily make chronological sense, just writing thoughts as and when they come, but it felt like a relief to write it down and then make sense of it later.  I like to be able to go back to my journal after a day or two and expand on it, deepening my thought. I usually love writing things down with a pen and paper as it helps me to learn however for this exercise I felt it was more beneficial to write my journal on the computer. This meant I could write faster and didn't get hand cramp!

Module 1, Part 1, Task 2a

Today I'm going to start my journal. I'm actually really looking forward to it. It's one of those things that I used to do as a child and always meant to get back in to, one reason being because I have such a terrible memory (!) but also because I know I'll find it very therapeutic. I have a pretty hectic schedule and although this will add to it, it'll also make me take that time to reflect. My mum was big on reflection and use to take time out of every day so do it. I'm sure it'll help me as it helped her.

I searched for Jenny Moon in google and found a handout she'd done for a reflective learning workshop. It gave 4 examples of different journals all writing about the same event. This really helped me to understand what I can get from doing a journal if it's done well. The hardest part is starting it but once it's there you can develop it and delve deeper and deeper.

I'm going to be doing mine on my dance teaching. I started a teaching job this September because I was looking at changing my career and this seemed to be the most 'obvious route', however not one that I really felt I wanted to go down. Hopefully my journal will help me figure out how I really feel about teaching.

Module 1, Part 1, Task 1d. How important is the use of images and audio visual in today's social media?

The use of images and audio visual within our profession is extremely important. If you apply for a job the first thing you do is not only send your CV but also a headshot of yourself. I believe your headshot is as important as your CV if not more so! Companies know whether they want someone with brown hair or blonde hair, short or long, whether they want someone who's glamorous looking or a girl next door type. A good headshot should tell them a lot about you. This is why we have different headshots for different types of jobs too. If it's a serious play you're applying for you'd want a serious looking headshot that says I'm going to be able to portray this character. If it's a job as a children's entertainer you want, you're going to send a picture of you smiling or pulling a funny face, showing them your 'fun side'. For casting directors your headshot saves them a lot of time. If you didn't have one they may spend hours auditioning people that they know aren't right for the part as soon as they walk through the door. 

The negative of this of course is that casting directors may think they know everything about you by your headshot but of course they don't. You may have talents perfect for what they're looking for, however they'll never see them because they chose not to ask you in for that audition. A good headshot is very important!

Audio visual is just as important as everyone in the performing world should have a showreel or voicereel. This is a chance for you to showcase the best of your abilities and prove to a casting director that you're the person for the job, without even having to see them in person. Again they save both you and a casting director hours of audition time as they may cast a job right from your showreel. 

The problem here of course comes from copyright issues. Almost every production company won't allow any type of filming or photography of a production unless it's for promotional purposes. You can also lose your job if you put pictures of you in costume or of the sets on Facebook. After all, once you put any picture on Facebook you immediately lose the rights to it, as far as I'm aware. It also allows other companies to see them and steal ideas. For most performers though, getting these photos or videos is crucial for building your showreel. 

YouTube has had a major effect on our career as performers. By posting videos of yourself singing or dancing you can become an internet sensation overnight! Just look at Justin Beiber or Jessie J, both who were 'found' and became huge successes because of their YouTube sites. 

Although the positives of images and audio visual on social media are endless once you make that post how easy is it to keep ownership? I have a showreel on one of these sites and I just searched for it without being logged on as me. Worryingly, not only could I find it and watch it but I was able to download it, which means that anyone could have a copy of my showreel now! I have since been back to log on and change my privacy settings. 

Skype Session with Adesola

Last Wednesday night we had a great Skype session with Adesola. We spoke about task 1c and 1d in module 1 as well as talking about a task from module 3. It was interesting to hear about what we have to come and to know in which direction we’re heading. It was also great to hear from a 3rd module student that we are where she was, this time last year, and that we’re doing all the right things. With a distance learning course it’s easy to lose your way and feel like you’ve got the wrong idea (or no idea!) so it was great to have that support. 

Most beneficial for me was realising that in this course we’re not just writing about what we’ve learnt since the course began, more that the course is a facilitator to help us realise what we’ve learnt in our time in professional practise. This was something I hadn’t grasped until last night! 

The Skype conversations are a great way to see where you’re at in comparison to others and to learn how other have interpreted the tasks. 

Module 1, Part 1, Task 1c

I have chosen not to do task 1c. At the moment I work 6 jobs as well as doing both this degree course and a teacher training course so my time is limited. This means I want to use my time wisely doing the tasks that I feel I’m going to learn the most from. 

I feel the questions to be answered in task 1c; What are your initial thoughts on the programme and how will you use the programme to support your developing professional practice, can both be answered in my journal which I can reflect back on in time. 

I also feel that the task of making a video and uploading it wasn’t going to teach me any new skill. I made my own showreel and posted it on vimeo and that taught me a lot. I now realise that it was a skill that I’ve learnt through my professional practise. I don’t think I’d ever made a video before I started my professional training. 

I also wasn’t happy putting a video up of myself that others might find. After the skype conversation I realise I could go a different way around it and do a powerpoint presentation but again this is a skill I already have. 

An artist's impression of our web 2.0 world..

Module 1, Part 1, Task 1b - How do the principles and practise of web-based communication support or challenge professional (arts related) practise?

I personally hadn't even heard of the term 'web 2.0' before taking up this course. I now realise though that it is something that is part of my life almost daily!

Looking at my life as both a professional dancer and as a dance teacher I can see that there are multiple benefits and drawbacks of web based communication.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and alike are all great platforms for advertising and marketing a business. Just as the 'Pay it Forward' initiative starts with one person and helps many, the same thing can happen with a Facebook 'like and share' campaign. It's a must for any new business starting up. It would also work to promote yourself by liking and sharing your showreel for example. Hundreds of people could have watched it within minutes. Easier for 'the right' person to view it if it's readily available to them.

A negative of this, like one of the groups said in their video is that this can make us lazy. After posting said video do we then leave it at that and think we've done enough? Leave 2.0 to do it's magic? Does it mean we shouldn't make the effort to do marketing in person? If I were to go around local cafe's/place's of interest with flyers to promote my new dance school, people might take more notice having met me in person than just another post on their newsfeed. And is it possible to get the full impression of someone from their CV or showreel anyway?

If you are lucky enough to get people 'following' your page it is an easy and fast way to get information out to them. If a class time or venue has changed it could notify them when you post on your page. This saves you ringing round each parent/student and is far more efficient.

Using web 2.0 can also help you generate interest for that days classes, for example. Let your followers know how excited you are to teach that lesson, or even what you will be teaching, and it will help prepare your students and get them geared up well before the lesson even starts. You can also give credit to a good class or particular student afterwards. Doing it publicly like this will help build your students confidence and act as an incentive to work hard within the lesson.

Having a public profile on web 2.0 communications gives prospective employers a sense of you who are, whether this is the 'real' you or not. This can act as both a positive and a negative. Sometimes it's hard to separate your personal and professional life unless you have two completely different names or accounts. Information that you might put on a website for a prospective employer might not be what you want your 'best friends boyfriend's sister' knowing about you. I recently realised that having posted my details on a dance job website, the whole world can now find out what size feet I have as well as what size chest!! I thought that my details on that website would only be available to people who log on to the site, but apparently not. The same goes for seeing my showreel and dance portfolio pictures I have put on there.

Before having to do this assignment I had never thought about the negatives of web 2.0, only the positives. There are many positives and with the instant world that we live in, you or your business would be left behind without these communications. But are they really helping us as much as it seems on the face of things?

Module 1, Part 1, Task 1a - Profile

After dancing all the way through my childhood, I was lucky enough to attend Laine Theatre Arts.  During my training I played parts such as the 'Giraffe' in 'Just So' and 'Cassie' in 'A Chorus Line'. I also had the opportunity to perform at The London Palladium, which was a particular highlight. I graduated with a Level 6 Trinity Diploma in Dance and it is something of which I am very proud. During my time there not only did I learn a huge amount in dance and musical theatre, but also self discipline and personal presentation.

After graduating in 2008 I joined Carnival Cruise Lines. Originally for only one 7 month contract, however it wasn't until 5 years later that I finally left the seven seas. On my second contract I was very privileged to be picked as past of the Carnival Dream's inaugural cast. After staying on that ship for 14 months I was then lucky enough to be picked as part of the inaugural cast for the Carnival Magic. During my time with Carnival I travelled the world and felt extremely blessed to have the experiences that I did. It taught me a substantial amount about customer service and patience as well as safety and crowd control.

Since leaving the cruise industry I have been working in the UK. I ventured into TV, doing numerous programmes for the BBC, both dancing and acting. I really enjoyed this and appreciated seeing a different side of performance; not being live and on a stage.

I'm now doing a few jobs while I'm in a transition period in my life. I work in a shop, which I manage while on duty, and help with the business which is connected to it. I have set them up with an online diary and a website. I am incredibly organised, a list maker, and so enjoy this part of the job as well as managing the diary and setting up surveys and appointments.

I also work in promotions as a brand ambassador. A good brand ambassador must be personable, out going and confident in approaching members of the public, engaging them in the product. I thoroughly enjoy this work and the responsibility it gives me, as I can often be representing a well known brand solely, within a department store or similar.

I have recently taken up a dance teaching position too. I love working with children and seeing them improve is extremely rewarding. It is a huge responsibility, not only guiding them as a teacher but acting as a positive role model. It also takes an incredible amount of organisation and planning. Along side this I am doing a dance teacher training course with the ISTD.

As well as all these things I really enjoy cooking and baking, however I'm not quite 'Bake Off' material yet! I enjoy travelling, reading and exercising, if I ever get the time to do it.

During the 15 months of the Professional Practise course, I hope that the next chapter of my life will become clearer. I'm still unsure what turn I want to take in my career so I hope that this course will give me more options and help me grow both personally and professionally.