Networking is definitely one of my downfalls. I am not the sort of person who will make friends with someone purely for personal gain, I'm just not comfortable with it. Of course sometimes I make friends and opportunities will arise from it without me wishing it to, but I can't set out to meet someone with the hope that it'll lead on to me letting someone else or a job coming from it. The only time I am comfortable with it is if I am part of a website where everyone is there for the same reason
What are the current and different ways (tools) that you have, or do, to engage your professional network?
I have a Facebook page, with which I can keep in contact with friends from college and friends I have made on jobs since leaving. Having worked on cruise ships for 5 years I have worked with lots of people and made friends all over the world. Facebook is great and bridging the gap between those places! I have been fortunate enough to work with some great choreographers and directors, my downfall however is then using these contacts. I am not good at sending a message or email to ask about auditions or jobs with these people as I think it's really cheeky. I know it's the only way to get anywhere in this business, after all 'if you don't ask, you don't get', but it makes me feel really uneasy.
I have a Twitter page, however I only really use this for one of my jobs. To be honest I've never really understood the whole Twitter thing, although I can see how beneficial it can be when I look at other Twitter pages, especially those of famous people. Again, it acts as a bridge between the personality and their fans and helps expand their fan base.
I am part of various dance job websites and pages, such as 'The Hustle', which is a Facebook page for dancers. On here people post a range of things, from auditions to flats available to rent to promotion of classes. I also have my own page on Dancerspro and other job sites where I can look for work, as well as companies/productions being able to look at my CV and profile.
I also of course network naturally when working on a job. Whether it be as a dancer, a teacher or in promotions (as you find in this field that most workers are often dancers/performers out of work). Talking with one another at auditions, backstage or in rehearsals and gaining advice from each other is a great way to network. You may be friends with someone who is of no professional benefit to you but would greatly benefit someone else and vice versa.
What are the established (and different) ways that others use their networks, especially if they are more established or experienced practitioners that you admire?
Linkedin is a website that I have never used but know that most people in the 'real world' do. It's a great site for networking and being able to look up people who are in the same field of work as you. Or if you're looking to change career you can look up people within that sector. I also know dance teachers who are on there. Having your CV on a site like that allows prospective employers to headhunt employees.
My boyfriend has his own business and has his own Facebook page for it. Through this he can upload pictures and keep his followers up to date with current news. People have often got in contact to buy from him through his Facebook page. The dance school I work for also has it's own page which is great for networking. Parents looking for a dance school for their children can get a great vibe of the school and it's ethics from the page and get in contact easily through it.
Although I have Instagram it is only for private use, however I know of other practitioners who use it to network. It is another site where clients/employers/general public can follow you. You can also connect it with your Facebook/Twitter pages so that your followers there see your posts too. As a dancer I don't really see how I can use it to network, but I think it's great for people who sell a product.
Blogs are also another great way to network and get your voice heard. I had never written a blog before starting this course but I can certainly see the benefits of it. If you have a lot to say (something that won't fit in a Facebook status or post!) blogging is ideal. Again you can gain followers who are like minded and can comment back on your posts. You can also, of course, network through commenting on other people's blogs who may feel the same way about something or be in the same field of work as you.
Are there methods, approaches and technologies that you use socially that might apply and help you develop your professional networking?
Twitter and Instagram are both examples of this, as I mentioned previously, however to improve my professional networking I think I just need to be more gutsy. I need to have the confidence to ask people outright for help otherwise they may not ever realise that you need it.
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?
In networks such as 'The Hustle', Dancerspro and the other dance job sites I know that everyone is there for the same reason; to network, find out about work and make contacts. Therefore I am happy to use it as I know where very one stands.
On Facebook, most people's pages are their private ones to socialise with which is why I wouldn't feel comfortable with messaging them for work/auditions/opportunities on there. Having said that, I have had people contact me for advice about the career on Facebook and I'm always more than willing to help in any way that I can. I just don't want to feel like a bother to other people as they may not be so willing.
On Twitter, I feel that people within this career are there for a mix of reasons; both to socialise and to network, therefore maybe I should make more of an effort to do the same.
At auditions and backstage at events etc, I think you can know within the first I've minutes as to whether people want to network or not. Sometimes they're concentrating on what is to come, other times they're more than happy to talk about the career and sometimes al people want to do is talk about something else that has nothing to do with it. Here I have to use my judgement each time. Plus in these situations there are always going to be people who you get along with better than others.
What would your ideal network look like and why?
My ideal network would be one like the dance job websites I mentioned earlier.. a dance version of LinkedIn if you will. Here you would have everything laid out on the table as to what skills and attributes you have and also a section for what sort of work you're looking for, as well as your location. Employers could also do the same, putting up auditions, having background information about their company with possible showreels and links for employees to look at. At least on a site like this people expect you to get in touch and to be gotten in touch with. I would feel far more comfortable getting in touch with someone on a site like this for this reason; Everyone here has the same goal.
What realistic things could you do to work towards developing your ideal network?
To develop this idea I would attend networking events, to get my face known as well as my idea. Once I'd set up the site I would then use social networking to advertise it, having realised in the first tasks how beneficial social networking can be. All such ideas, whether it be LinkedIn or Facebook, started small and then grew with their popularity. I would promote it within colleges to get graduate performers involved.
What tools and methods do you need to use? What do you know about your current, and intended, networks and importantly what don't you know?
I don't know how to actually set up a website so that would take some research. I would use all methods available to me to advertise it, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. I would contact everyone that I know to tell them about it, and ask them to use it and either blog about it or share it on their social media sites to help get the word out. I would also have to research the Data Protection Act 1988 and set up rules and regulations for users so that their information is protected.
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