Task 4D: my title....

So,  for me this had never really crossed my mind, mostly because, I didn't realise that we got to choose!
But really there arent that many options that I think id even consider...
My training has been thorough in singing, dancing and acting, and though it delved into the different areas of the industry, such as tv, ballet, and pop singing, for the most part I was working in the musical theatre genre. Italia conti is an academy of 'performing arts'. So really I think my title should be one of the following:

• BA Hons Professional Practice Musical Theatre
• BA Hons Professional Practice Performing Arts

Looking at them slightly closer, Musical theatre is fairly accurate, most of my training has revolved around it, and been with the aim of breaking into that area. However, though it isn't very specific, I still feel like I have had a lot of experience in other areas such as the acting for screen and pop music side, that perhaps 'musical theatre' is selling me a bit short.

I like the idea of 'performing arts' because for me it resembles more than just musical theatre. Yes, it suggests training in musical theatre, but the emphasis is on the 'performing' whether that be anything in the industry. I have done backing vocals for new albums, sung with various bands, peroformed solo acoustic gigs, and have always excelled in acting for camera, more so than acting for stage. I feel that in all of these activities.. I am a performer and perhaps this title suits my training and my future career prospects better than 'musical theatre'.

My previous studies were a '3 year performing arts course..leading to a National diploma in Professional Musical Theatre'.... So I am torn between the two titles...


I dont know,... I'll have to think about it.
My topic is looking at confidence in the performers... so really that could go with either.

task 4c: the beauty of unemployment...

So for task 4c, well its rather irrelevant for me because i'm currently unemployed. But I can understand that from an ethical point of view, if i were employed, it would be really important for me to gain the support of my employers before carrying out any strong investigation within the work place. One, because I would be conducting said research on the time of my employer. Two, because it would involve their staff cooperating with me, and they may feel this distracts from the work at hand. Three, because it is polite to inform them, as you are carrying out research that concerns them and possibly the way they are running the work place. And four, because they may not actually want you stirring up issues and potentially pointing floors in the every day running of their business that they may not want pointing out. 

For this task I am, therefore (for want of a superior), giving myself permission to carry out my research, ethically and considerately to those around me with no wish to disturb the peace of any one within the industry.

POSITIVE!

Survey and positive thoughts :)

hello everybody. So this week has been terribly exciting and shoddy at the same time. I was feeling like crap at the beginning of the week with tonsilitus, .. that was unpleasant... but after downing my body weight in penicilin, on sunday march 3rd, I completed my first half marathon. iit was amazing! I am not in my fittest form at the moment, and only trained for 2 weeks, but we finished the 13.2 miles in 2hrs 28mins, right within our target time, so veryyyyy happy about that. But it got me thinking, the furthest I had ever run before was 6 miles, and i managed to double that and add some more! What a confidence boost. In this module i've started asking questions about confidence and what it takes to succeed in this industry, and really think just going for it with a truly positive mental attitude is the way forward. Of course there is loads more to be considered, but 2013 is a year of proactive and productive behaviour for me and I feel much better about life in general. Infact tomorrow night I will be auditioning for the London Philharmonic Choir, not for the career benefits,,, because im not sure that there are *that* many, but because, i love singing, i love singing beautiful harmonies in choirs, and because doing things I enjoy will help keep me in this positive and proactive mood.

I have created a cheeky lil survey for you all, it should take about 3 mins of your life to fill in so id be so very appreciative if youd have a quick look.
Thanks again guys, and in the words of legally blonde.... 'Keep it positive'... in fact il add a youtube clip of that song, just coz its good fun.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RPPYTMD

4b, SIG!

Hey guys, so to get some chitter chatter going, I've started a group on facebook, search http://www.facebook.com/groups/357590597687259/?ref=ts&fref=ts  alternatively search :   'SIG, success psychology, mentality in performing auditioning and the rest'   i've left the title of the group pretty wide because from what i've read on peoples blogs theres a fair bit of overlapping space. errr,, I've also added, BOBBIE, ANASTASIA, MEL BROWN, and HANNAH STEWART. so just get involved if your interested.i've added a few people outside of BAPP who are are in similar professional situations to see if i can get some extra opinions.

Theres also the sig group set up by bobbie, which is looking pretty lively , http://www.facebook.com/groups/357590597687259/?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/groups/499154283474027/?notif_t=group_added_to_group  get involved, heres a link.

Task 4a..a bit more

just after the last (and first of the  term) campus session, Rosemary came up with the question,  WHAT IS SUCCESS?  as in who is to say if we are successful or not, and when have we done enough to deem ourselves a success?

I cant question success and confidence without perhaps deciding what success is to me.

I do thin however being a 'success' is different depending on each line of work, and I also believe that success is down to the individual achieving what they have set out to achieve. I could have allll the money in the world, but if I have 'achieved' nothing in the process of earning that, I may still not consider my self a 'success'.

A good question and thanks to Rosemary!!

Developing lines of Professional Inquiry, task 4a

Sooo welcome back everyone, I presume every ones quietly cracking on, biting their finger nails before the first campus session in 2 days. This is my first blog in a while, but that's because I've been spending my time having a good old think. Reflecting on last term diaries and tasks, in particular task 2D, I found that perhaps the most reoccurring issue for me was not knowing how to get into the industry on a professional level. But that quickly followed by the thought that perhaps I'm putting barriers in front of myself to prevent the thought that I've failed. However from this, I've managed to put together some questions to ponder for this module.

• Does professional training lower self esteem?
• Do untrained artists have stronger confidence than trained artists?
• Should teachers in drama schools be teaching confidence?
• Does the attitude of teachers in drama schools lower the confidence of its pupils?
• Is the test of self esteem purely a way of weeding out those who will fail in the industry?
• In drama school there is always 'favourites', does this need to be clamped down on to prevent lowering the confidence of others?
• Should colleges invest more time in checking up on what the teachers are teaching rather than worrying about other trivial aspects?
• Do confidence issues go back further than college teachers, perhaps as far as childhood and family?
• How have others over come their own barriers to become successful?
• What successful practitioners had barriers such as this and should it be further advertised to give others a push in the right direction.
• If self esteem is lowered in drama college, would it be better to to by pass the drama college and go straight to either working or University? (big fish small pond syndrome) 
• Does having successful people around you push you to become successful or remind you that you are not?
• Do confidence issues effect what auditions you attend,and how well you perform?

If anyone has any thoughts on any of these questions then do please get in touch, leave a comment. I'd be interested to see what you think, and if any one else has experienced similar issues.