4b Arts Management SIG

I have started a new SIG on the Professional Practice Facebook Page titled "Arts Management". I am really interested in looking into all elements of what makes a good manager and all the skills I may need to acquire. I think by using interdisciplinary knowledge in dance and business will help me have a successful career in whatever I choose to go onto do- set up a dance school, agency, artistic director etc. If any of you have knowledge or interest in arts management or may also want to expand your knowledge in business please join this discussion.

Research for Inquiry

I found this US site Career Transition for Dancers. It provides videos of talks and discussions from professionals about a range of issues from career options, how to better market yourself, health and fitness and much more. You can connect with professionals by sending them a message with questions and it provides relevant links that might help you. No matter what your inquiry I think anyone interested in dance can find their topic on here that interests them and get advice and information from professionals. If like me you want to find out more about the transition dancers/performers need to go through it has some good stuff on there.

Arts Psychology- Dancers In Transition

Arts Psychology

I came across this really interesting report on the psychological profiling of dancers in transition. I think it was Mina that was interested in the psychology of dancers and it might help you as research. I was surprised to find we are highly intelligent- typically in the top 15% of the population. It also gives insight to what career paths we may wish to pursue:

"Practical dancers, on the one hand, may want to continue with something physical e.g. in sport and leisure or physiotherapy, or material e.g. in business and administration. Creatives, on the other hand, will want to express their creativity in choreography, directing their own dance groups, or outside dance in the arts and media or in creative tasks within other disciplines like running one’s own company. "

(Andrew Evans, Director of Arts Psychology Consultants, London © 1995)

I think I am more practical than creative. Studying at Elmhurst I found choreography a but of a challenge and although I enjoyed it, it did not necessarily come so naturally like other dancers. I find I am practical in that even when I am not dancing I have to do some form of exercise everyday finding myself at the gym everyday when in between contracts. This is why I feel I may be suited to a future career in personal training and/or fitness. I also think I can find that same physical pleasure by directing a production as I also enjoy organising, managing and seeing work in progress.

"All this amounts to a potential to do very well. Studies of the academic progress of dancers have revealed several to be high achievers in the top flight of their courses, and a number of later careers reveal similar determination and personal effectiveness. Where the psychological problems of Transition have been sympathetically and positively dealt with, including support, warmth and encouragement from friends, partners and those assisting transition, the considerable talents of the dancer may be liberated to work - if not with the same passion as dance can gave - with a new set of goals and hopefully a new and different passion which may result in rewards other than the ecstasy of the dance, the feeling one is special and the constant feedback of applause."

(Andrew Evans, Director of Arts Psychology Consultants, London © 1995)

I found the section on "Motivation" true in the list of important values:

"5 Most important values: Challenge, Communication, Artistic work, Creativity, Variety"

(Andrew Evans, Director of Arts Psychology Consultants, London © 1995)

I definitely like to be challenged in my work, which I currently get from dancing as I am constantly learning new shows. My artistic work is very important to me in that I do it to the best of my ability. I like variety hence why I have never taken the same contract twice.

"A structured Careers Analysis is an effective part of transition".

(Andrew Evans, Director of Arts Psychology Consultants, London © 1995)

I feel this is what I am currently trying to do for this module. I need to analyse my current career in order to figure out what I need to gain to effectively transition from being a dancer. I have to establish what I know, what I don't know and what I need to know in order to get to the next stage of my career. This will be an evolving process that will continue through the transition period into my next career.



WBS3002: Do web based technologies enhance professional practice?

Going back to WBS3002 and the question: Do web based technologies enhance professional practice? In my current situation: YES! I am currently waiting on my visa to take a dance contract in the USA. Here professional networking came into play as the Director knew me from seeing me dance in a previous contract. At the time he was working in the wardrobe department. When someone pulled out, he asked me to step in. We used Skype for about 2hrs to prepare my Visa. I managed to send all the relevant paper work by scanning important documents into the computer and instantly sending them by E-mail. I have connected with the Director, the Choreographer and all the dancers through Facebook feeling like I know them already. Initially I suggested uploading the choreography to YouTube, but this proved to take too long so I am now learning the choreography through my Facebook page while I wait. Without the use of these web tools it would make International contracts very difficult to achieve and when used correctly can definitely expand your professional career!

Social Media and the end of Gender

I came across this really interesting talk on TED by Johanna Blakley that argues the old demographics to understand audiences are becoming harder to track online. I found it a surprise to see that women actually dominate social media. Johanna points out it is important to know what people like to do in their free time for entertainment as it can tell a lot about people- political beliefs, health etc. I think it can be vital to new businesses starting out to see what people are interested in rather than categorising them into boxes such as age, sex, martial status as it can tell you so much more.  

Knowledge and Skills in the Workplace

Identifying Knowledge and Skills in the Workplace

Knowledge

Disciplinary Knowledge

This tends to be knowledge that is categorized for example what we learn at school; maths, science, English etc. The problem with this outlook on knowledge is that life and our workplace does not fit into neat little categories. When faced with problems we don’t say “how would a scientist solve this?” Or “how would a mathematician solve this problem?” Instead we use a more creative way to address everyday situations as they come.

Sector Based Knowledge/Inter-disciplinary Knowledge

This is where “more than one discipline is being used to contextualize the knowledge”. I am a freelance dancer but I also work as a self-employed promotional model in-between contracts. For this I also need to understand certain aspects of business.

Trans-disciplinary Knowledge

In order to get on in the world of work we need an understanding of how other disciplines function. Carolin Kreyber argues that in an ever-changing world problems do not arise as different subjects but within trans-disciplinary knowledge.

I would say I work in a trans-disciplinary workplace. As said above I am not always just a dancer, but I do a number of different jobs when not in a contract. Even when I am working in a contract feel that I use more than the “dance” discipline. An example of this would be when I was Dance Captain. My role included scheduling rehearsals,  giving notes to the cast on the show, teaching the choreography to new dancers and being on-hand for all eventualities, such as when a cast member was injured and I stepped in and did her part as well as mine. I used concepts of business and education as well as my “dance” knowledge. The workplace can be very unpredictable as you never know what may be thrown at you. I think it is important to have a good understanding of other disciplines.

My current capabilities and competencies are:

-          I can learn a number of different dancers places

-          I am able to teach dance routines to other dancers as well as all different parts

-          I can critique a show well and give constructive notes to the cast

-          I can arrange rehearsals, meeting with managers

-          I am able to sell a wide range of products given the brief

The above I only know how to do due to learning on the job and not because I was taught this at school. I think for the future I am going to need a better understanding of the management and business side of entertainment. I would also like to gain more knowledge in nutrition, health and fitness for my future career.

Developing Lines of Professional Inquiry

In order to develop a set of questions I first need to establish my current professional practice is and where I would like to go after. Currently I am a professional dancer. I go from contract to contract and when I am not dancing I work as a promotional model for various clients and brands. This is fine for now, but my reasoning behind taking this course was to establish what field I would like to go into after my life in dance. I have been dancing for almost 6 years now professionally and I am getting married this September. Although I plan to continue dancing for many more years, I took this course to help my confidence when I finally stop so I have something to fall back on and the knowledge to pursue it.

I have been thinking more and more over the past few months what I would like to pursue after dance and I have come up with the following:
1) Artistic Director, Producer or Casting Director
2) Personal Trainer/Aerobics and Dance Instructor

With that being said I would like to develop a set of questions that will help me in my future professional practice, which I may find links to my current pracice as well. I am excited about starting my new job in the States as I am going to be a part of a brand new show and development of a new theatre family. I think this will help in my understanding of setting up new businesses.

1) Artistic Director, Producer or Casting Director?
- What are the roles of the each and what other skills or qualifications would I need to acquire such position?
- How can I transition from Dancer to this role?
- Running a successful business.

2) Personal Trainer/Aerobics and Dance Instructor
- What is the role of a personal trainer and what skills and other qualifications would I need?
- What workouts are there that have been a success? Why were they successful?
- How could I incorporate dance and aerobics to make a unique workout?
- Why is dance such a good way to keep fit?
- Health and Nutrition
- Could look into the dancers and non-dancers idea presented in Task 2d (eating habits, personality traits, bodies, difference in genetics, difference in jobs)

I feel both these sets of questions will raise issues that I am currently facing in my professional practice. I noticed many of the blogs up so far raise the question of castings and whether it is all based on how you look over your ability. This is something I too could explore looking at the role of casting directors and what they look for.

New Term... new thoughts!!

Hello BAPP Network!!
After a busy time I am finally back and ready to continue this course. I have recently done a contract in Holland and I am currently waiting on a Visa for another contract in the States. I wanted to quickly blog about how important my current network has become to me in this process.
For the type of Visa I am getting I must not only send off any certificates in dance, records of high achievement and published materials I have been in, but also references. My network has proven to be of most value here. I managed to contact past managers, co-workers, teachers and friends who all sent me some fantastic references. And you guessed it all through contacting them on facebook! This social network tool has proven to be of great use to my dance practice when it comes to finding work overseas and staying in contact with people from the past. It also has helped to contact people who I will be working with soon on contract.
Also, I blogged about last term about how you never know who you might meet. Turns out a guy that worked in the wardrobe department in my previous job in the States is now the Artistic Director of this new show. He had seen me dance before and when a girl from New York pulled out and couldn't do it, I got the job. Strange how things work out, but proved my point of you never know who is watching you and how that may help in the future.
So with those thoughts out there, I am going to tackle this Course Reader 4 and Develop some lines of Professional Inquiry. I have just scanned through the blogs so far and there are some good thoughts emerging that interest me also.