To help me develop my professional inquiry I asked my singing teacher Angharad Sanders and also my Agent Lexi at FLP. Hearing the views of a more experienced performer was really useful to know that she too used to be in my position.
Angharad:
1- Do we need qualifications to achieve the title of a professional performer?
"I don't think we do. I have a few friends that have worked on the Westend who haven't train...but they are boys."
2 - How can we maintain performance standards after training? Is it possible?
"Yes of course. Making sure you keep your voice active and your body challenged makes sure you maintain standards. You got muscle memory from college, you just need to make sure your body doesn't forget the placements."
3 - How long should we pursue our dream?
"Its your dream...for as long as you have it."
4 - Is it easier for men to get jobs over women?
"It's becoming harder for men also, but yes."
5 - Do we need an agent in order to gain paid work?
"Not necessarily, just make sure you get your face out there for people to recognise."
6 - How can we keep on top of money?
"If your passionate enough, you will find a way. Try and do little bits here and there."
Lexi:
1: "I think showing that you have trained shows commitment to your career, there are DADA's that people can get if they can't afford training. We will always take trained performers over non-trained performers."
2: "YESS!!!! Go to class, book singing lessons, do work shops, go to auditions..there is plenty out there if you look in the right places."
3: "As long as you want, noone can decide your future for you."
4: "In the past yes, but things are changing. It's not what you know, it's who !"
5: "Not all the time, but it helps to have us behind you. It looks better that I contact people on your behalf."
6: "There are lots of different jobs out there for performers. Spotlight always have opportunities. Keep your eyes open!"
Tuesday 21 February 2012
Friday 3 February 2012
Task 4a - Developing Lines of Inquiry
Task 4a; Developing Lines of Inquiry.
In Task 2d I stated:
‘One thing that really makes me angry in my profession is Untalented Celebrities. Just because they have a name and a face doesn’t mean that they have the talent to be the Lead in a show. When I have put so much time and effort into being the best performer I can be, seeing a celeb, who hasn’t had musical theatre training or any form of training, walks right on to stage is really upsetting.’
Continuing on with this theme in terms of Inquiry, these are some of the questions I have asked my self within the performing profession;
1- Do we need qualifications to achieve the title of a professional performer?
2 - How can we maintain performance standards after training? Is it possible?
3 - How long should we pursue our dream?
4 - Is it easier for men to get jobs over women?
5 - Do we need an agent in order to gain paid work?
6 - How can we keep on top of money?
Here are my views;
1 - For me, this can go either way. In some instances I know of people who haven’t trained but have become hugely successful within performing such as Ramin Karimloo. Although he always had a love for performing (within rock bands) he didn’t train at a ‘Performing Arts College.’ Therefore although he has had many Lead roles such as ‘The Phantom’ in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ could we say he is a Professional or just lucky? Many ‘Professional’ performers who have spent years and money upon training never make it in this industry. I know that as a newly graduated performer it is so hard for casting directors to even give you an audition let alone a job. One thing that does annoy me in ‘Celebrities.’ People who go on reality TV shows such as The Only way is Essex and Big Brother seem to be able to gain performing jobs at the click of a finger. I understand that it is better for the theatre if they do this, as it will make more money, but for people such as me who have trained their whole live in order to be able to perform it is just not fair.
2 - I believe with enough hard work we can maintain our own performance levels and improve upon them. Alothugh I have only had a few jobs since leaving college in 2011, I can say that I am still as slim, as supple and I still have the confidence to perform a song upon request for an audition.
3 - I don’t think you can put a time upon your career, if you believe in yourself and can be patient enough to wait for that one person to give you a chance then you should.
4 - I think it is easier to men to get jobs. As there are less guys that train and pursue performing, there is a smaller ratio for men to jobs, whereas with girls there is probably 3 times as meny people as there is jobs.
5 - I don’t think we need an agent in able to get paid work these days. There are so many networking sites such as DanceCast, CastingCallPro and StarNow which allow us to contact Casting Directors personally in order to gain auditions and potentially gain work. Unfortunately for all these sites there is a fee in order to submit your CV.
6 - Money is a very touchy subject in the industry. First we train, which cost my parents £36,000 for my 3 years at Italia Conti, let alone the 13 years I did before attending that college. Now I have left I have to pay for my Spotlight £184, Casting Call Pro £22 a month, my travel £35 a week, my rent £400 a month, bills, clothes, food and things such as hair and makeup products to keep up my looks for auditions. Even after gaining a job there is insurance, equity and if you have one, an agent to pay. I get the best buzz from performing but when you break it down and think about how to survive in these ever increasing prices...it doesn't look too good for our careers.
In Task 2d I stated:
‘One thing that really makes me angry in my profession is Untalented Celebrities. Just because they have a name and a face doesn’t mean that they have the talent to be the Lead in a show. When I have put so much time and effort into being the best performer I can be, seeing a celeb, who hasn’t had musical theatre training or any form of training, walks right on to stage is really upsetting.’
Continuing on with this theme in terms of Inquiry, these are some of the questions I have asked my self within the performing profession;
1- Do we need qualifications to achieve the title of a professional performer?
2 - How can we maintain performance standards after training? Is it possible?
3 - How long should we pursue our dream?
4 - Is it easier for men to get jobs over women?
5 - Do we need an agent in order to gain paid work?
6 - How can we keep on top of money?
Here are my views;
1 - For me, this can go either way. In some instances I know of people who haven’t trained but have become hugely successful within performing such as Ramin Karimloo. Although he always had a love for performing (within rock bands) he didn’t train at a ‘Performing Arts College.’ Therefore although he has had many Lead roles such as ‘The Phantom’ in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ could we say he is a Professional or just lucky? Many ‘Professional’ performers who have spent years and money upon training never make it in this industry. I know that as a newly graduated performer it is so hard for casting directors to even give you an audition let alone a job. One thing that does annoy me in ‘Celebrities.’ People who go on reality TV shows such as The Only way is Essex and Big Brother seem to be able to gain performing jobs at the click of a finger. I understand that it is better for the theatre if they do this, as it will make more money, but for people such as me who have trained their whole live in order to be able to perform it is just not fair.
2 - I believe with enough hard work we can maintain our own performance levels and improve upon them. Alothugh I have only had a few jobs since leaving college in 2011, I can say that I am still as slim, as supple and I still have the confidence to perform a song upon request for an audition.
3 - I don’t think you can put a time upon your career, if you believe in yourself and can be patient enough to wait for that one person to give you a chance then you should.
4 - I think it is easier to men to get jobs. As there are less guys that train and pursue performing, there is a smaller ratio for men to jobs, whereas with girls there is probably 3 times as meny people as there is jobs.
5 - I don’t think we need an agent in able to get paid work these days. There are so many networking sites such as DanceCast, CastingCallPro and StarNow which allow us to contact Casting Directors personally in order to gain auditions and potentially gain work. Unfortunately for all these sites there is a fee in order to submit your CV.
6 - Money is a very touchy subject in the industry. First we train, which cost my parents £36,000 for my 3 years at Italia Conti, let alone the 13 years I did before attending that college. Now I have left I have to pay for my Spotlight £184, Casting Call Pro £22 a month, my travel £35 a week, my rent £400 a month, bills, clothes, food and things such as hair and makeup products to keep up my looks for auditions. Even after gaining a job there is insurance, equity and if you have one, an agent to pay. I get the best buzz from performing but when you break it down and think about how to survive in these ever increasing prices...it doesn't look too good for our careers.
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