Task 3A: Current Networks

I  first began thinking about my Professional and Personal Networks after the Skype session with Paula on Reader 3. It didn't take me long to realise that in some cases they interlinked. In the Performance industry I believe that it is vital that we explore different paths as there are such a vast range of opportunities for performers and who knows, one path may lead you to another and open new doors. I believe that the best way to explore new options is by; 1. Networking and 2. Giving it a go. However, it is difficult to dive in to something if we aren't in contact with the right people. This is why networking is vital in my professional practice.
I loved Eleanor's idea to use a brainstorming session so that she could clearly see on paper all of her current networks so I decided to use this idea also.

I found this way of discovering all of my current networks useful. As it made me realise how some of my networks overlap with professional and personal but are still very important networks to me. Personally, networking is something I need to work on as I tend to sit back and hope that the right audition will come along as opposed to getting my name out there.
Since returning to London in January I try to get to at least one class at Pineapple Dance Studios but really to improve on my current networks I need to get to a few more different classes. This is a great way to network both professionally and personally as you get to meet other performers who take class and a lot of the teachers at Pineapple are Industry Professionals who are still working or involved some way in the industry, getting to go to these classes means that I am getting myself out into the industry and who knows what opportunities may develop from this.
To further develop my teaching networks in the UK and Ireland, it is in my plans in the near future to begin my teaching exams with the ISTD. This will get me in contact with more teachers and also teachers in training. This is a very useful community of practice to be involved in as teaching is something I really enjoy and a great part time job to have while auditioning.
Professionally I think it would be useful for me to try and improve my professional networks in Ireland. Dublin is where majority of the big theatre work happens in Ireland and as I live nowhere near the county I have never built up a good network here. I decided to join a Commercial Modelling Agency in Dublin after graduating. After attending a few Commercial castings it made me realise what a small community of practice there is in Dublin. Everybody knows one another and it is definitely about "who you know" I feel like living in London immediately takes you outside the bubble but it is something I think I should try and work on developing my current networks in Ireland.

My Current Networks and Ethical Concerns for Networking

As I said before having an overlap between Professional and Personal Networks is great but also leads me to realise how careful I need to be on Social Media. I am not majorly into posting on social media and I like to ensure I don't too much of an insight to my life on these sites. I try to keep my personal pages slightly professional and I am very careful about commenting and ensuring that I would be happy for anyone to read or see anything I post. This is vital especially when it could be the difference between you securing a job or not.

 For me, networking really lends itself in my practice to the importance of the theory of Communication Technology. So much of networking in my practice is done through social media sites and connecting to people via the web. I do feel very lucky for the training I received as I feel it has made me very approachable and capable of making good professional links.