After reading Reader 1 it really can spark up many conversation topics of how Web 2.0 has evolved and keeps evolving and how it effects us in society every single day.
As stated in my previous blog I have noted how it has evolved for me and how I communicate through the use of web 2.0 on a daily basis with friends but in terms of my profession its something I only really opened my eyes to when I started studying at Italia Conti in 2011.
One thing I have learnt about working in this industry and I hear all the time... "It's not what you know, it's who you know". Now this can be interpreted on many different levels and sometimes I believe people can become false and use this saying to their advantage working and networking their way around professionals to get to where they want to be. For me, I have always been against being false but I believe through the correct use of social media platforms you can meet and talk to people to network yourself correctly and hopefully find a way to help develop ones career.
So I ask myself how through the use of Web 2.0 can I help myself to develop my career in the performing arts?
- FACEBOOK - when I first became a Facebook user it was all about getting as many friends as possible and posting pictures and seeing how many likes you can get. Now as previously stated yes I do use it to communicate with friends but also to network. There is a section on Facebook called Groups and it is on here where I am a member of many groups such as "The Hustle" and "British Actor's Network". It is on these groups that audition and job vacancies are advertised; where agent's post if they are looking for clients and what are their requirements and furthermore it also is a group where many artists within my field all communicate together, where we can post questions as to which headshot maybe appropriate for a certain audition? Or just a friendly chat and advice to each other about how each others careers are going. It is through groups that allow us through the use of Web 2.0 to work together in this industry and help each other when we really need that extra bit of advice. It's on Facebook that I have created a group chat with a few girls who I studied with at Italia Conti with who are also on this BAPP course, and sometimes knowing that you're not alone and when you just need a spark of inspiration or advice, through the use of social media one can achieve it.
- TWITTER - Twitter unlike Facebook is something I have always used in a professional manner. It is where I follow artists and agencies and casting directors and on a daily basis I look to see which casting director is casting which show but also who out of my friends is attending the same auditions as myself. Twitter, because of its brief writing capacity leaves a market for you to be short and sweet and to the point of what you are conveying to your followers. But also it is incredibly easy to link to other sites using Web 2.0 to network oneself further. For example it maybe an agency advertising audition: "Audition's being held tomorrow, please find details on the link to our website" immediately I would click on that link and see all details needed to attend. This links back to a quote in Reader 1 stated by Hamilton (2000) "an increase in participation can contribute to the successful building of relationships and the democratisation of media (Hamilton 2000, p. 371). Web 2.0 advocates that...making participation cheap, easy and quick people are more able to get involved in the processes of collaboration, sharing and interaction." Which I couldn't agree with more. It is through these uses of Web 2.0 that I see clips of songs I wish to record and send out to agencies on a voice reel, and it is all made so simple and easy to understand. However I will say I believe it is only simple and easy now that i am used to it, i am still getting the hang of the programmes in writing a blog and further challenging myself creating a Flickr account but it is through my studying the BAPP arts programme that I want to challenge myself using as many Web 2.0 tools as possible in order to help me develop my career.
- To further challenge myself and to continue to improve my CV I am going to create a Linked In page. I always thought of this use of Socail media to be more of a means of connecting with the business world but after reading a few of the blogs of other students on ym course and seeing they have had job offers after uploading their CV's/ biography's onto such sites I have decided to take the plunge and see what impact it has for me.
Finally, I think it is important to discuss Ethical Considerations of Web 2.0 as even though I have wrote about it in a completely positive light in how I believe it is beneficial to help develop my career it does all depend on how we use it.
On Facebook my profile is to a private setting, even though I do my best to keep all of my content professional at all times, I do primarily use it as a means of contacts with friends around the world and only on a work basis for the likes of the groups I am a part of as previously stated. However, if anyone were to see any content from my Facebook they would only see my profile picture and cover photo and no content on my page so I make sure that this is appropriate to a professional eye at all times.
On the contrary my Twitter profile I rarely use to advocate private information in my life and only used as a means of networking myself in the musical theatre industry but after reading a few blogs and how others use their social media one maybe for professional and one completely private for the likes of both Facebook and twitter maybe is something I need to consider. At the time being I do feel I have a good balance on what I do post online and how I am seen to a professional employer if they were to look me up and see what they can find out about me.
I don't know where my future will take me, I'm currently working full time at Ted Baker alongside auditioning and alongside studying for my BAPP and I hope that through this course I will enable skills that will lead me somewhere very beneficial in the future. I think through reading this article for myself being aware of what I post online I need to make more of an importance and even though it may not be affecting my career now it may impact a job opportunity in the future so it is something I am going to take on board. However, also making the most of all of its benefits it has into helping me aid my career in Musical Theatre.
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