Task 3c: Sources of Information

5 of my most important sources of information include:

- Facebook
- Twitter
- Google
- Wikipedia
- YouTube

As we can see, all these sources are Internet based. I believe the internet is the best place for information as people across the world are constantly updating and improving the information provided. 'Google' is one of the biggest and fastest ways to source information. For example, I just searched 'Dance' in the search bar, and after 0.21 seconds I was presented with 1,880,000,000 results. Google: Dance. Although some of the information on the Internet can be misleading and sometimes wrong, if you do enough research on the chosen subject, you can start to recognise what is useful. This can be said for Wikipedia as it is an ever growing Web 2.0 site in which the reader can update any of the information provided if they feel its wrong or they have something to add to it. YouTube is less of a networking site but more a place to improve and grow as a performer. I know if I want to buy a new song, you can nearly always find a video of someone singing it on YouTube, which helps me to connect to the song and its performance style. One website that shows a link to the performance's is NewMusicalTheatre.com. Although the Sheet Music can be expensive, they are always fairly new and unknown songs, which gives you an edge in auditions as the Casting Directors will always ask you a bit about the song.

Being on social networking sites has really improved my Networking. On Facebook they are developing pages in which we can 'Follow" peoples pages, say for example a Casting Director. This means that without having to be 'friends' with them we can still access the information they are providing. This is very much how twitter works. One Casting Director who is famous for this is "Debbie O'Brien. She has set up both a Facebook and Twitter account for performers to follow, where she will let us know about any Open auditions she is holding. Here is the Link to her Twitter Page if anyone is interested in Following her @DobCasting.

I think one way I could improve on my Social Networking is going to see a few more shows. I need to work a lot to pay for my rent, fee's, travel, food and personal items which never gives me much money to go and see shows. Networking at show's is a massive help as you can later talk to them on the different Social Networking Sites. For example, if you search them on Twitter and them send them a message saying 'Hi, was really good meeting you earlier. Well Done for the show,' they are more likely to remember you.

In conclusion, I believe it is down to what the individuals needs are. Some people benefit from Library's, others from socialising. Nothing is wrong and everything can be useful for personal development.