TASK 1d: 2d images

Below is a flickr link to a set of images of my work. This is to give you a taster of all my professional practices and give you a feel for the diversity and colour of my work.

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjypmKG8

I hope you enjoy them...

TASK 1a: Professional profile

I automatically put my profile up on my page when I created this blog late last year. I guess I'm so used to doing it for programs and employers, I had no idea that it would actually be one of our tasks. So what I'm interested in is how I can develop my profile, to do this I invite you all in a critical conversasion - Lets share profiles... Mine can be found on the right of this page, please read it and comment on anything you feel I can change and improve about it. Is it too chatty and informal? Is the joke at the end too much? Is it detailed enough or have I just skimmed over my theatre credits?

And my search for good profiles begins...

Academic - Rigorous and Systematic

At the end of the induction day we explored the word academic. Until now, this is a word I hadn't really thought about much, perhaps because I never thought I would be associated with such a word, or maybe because my work has been more practical based so far. Alan Durrant, threw the words vigorous and systematic on the table and this got me thinking. When I tried to explain the word rigorous, I sort of punch the air and show my muscles. With systematic I start moving my flat palm along, as if creating files with my hand. I then realise something about myself, I think and learn a certain way. When I think about an idea, it comes to my mind and I nearly always paint the picture of it infont of me with my hands and then begin to talk about it. Its like I feel the words rigorous and systematic and my body shapes that feeling, then I can start expressing it, just like a physical theatre drama exercise. This excites me, I'm learning about myself and they way I work best, with lots of Rigorous study and systematic written work, I look forward to becoming an academic.

The Journey begins tomorrow.

My BAPP journey takes off tomorrow. I haven't enrolled yet, think they might have forgotten me. I feel nervous and excited to learn and grow. I read the handbook for Module 1 last night, once I got over the initial shock of the language and tasks, I started feeling really pleased with the choice I have made to study on this particular course. I look forward to both gaining new skills and cementing the skills I already have. To celebrate the start of this academic voyage, I started my journal. I played with the idea of a voice journal, but decided I work best when it is in written form. So 10 am sharp tomorrow morning...

Thinking outside the box!

When I studied at musical theatre college, we had lots of guest speakers come in from the industry. They were invited in to talk about their area of expertise in the business and from casting director to leading lady, they all gave advice and guidance on the key to a successful career in the performing arts. All of course backed up with experience and amusing theatre anecdotes, with a couple of celebrity names thrown in for wow factor. Sometimes these guest speakers would touch upon the subject of being out of work. They said it was a hard industry and there would be periods of time in which work would dry up. As I reflect now, I realise I must have thought I had some sort of immunity to such unemployed periods. After all I was a hard working student and I did pass all my assessments, I'd planned for a consistent and smooth career. But no matter how much it was mentioned in my classes, nothing could prepare me for the reality of an artist. I never would have predicted the roller coaster career I was about to have, the highs and lows of job offers to rejection. Further more what I had no idea about, was through this contrast I would have to start 'thinking outside the box' to survive in this industry.

As a represented artist, an agent submits you for work and the casting director (if they are kind enough) invites you to an audition. And then the fun begins, you keep going back for recalls in hope that the phone rings with an offer. You're performing career is completely in the hands of those above you. Network all you like, unless you are famous you will be subject to the powers that be. However, am I not my own business? What does a company do when there is a dip? Drum up some more business through innovation and thinking outside the box. If I can't get any work, I'll just have to write some myself.

So I did, I wrote my own successful cabaret act. This then lead me to performing in various gig venues and cooperate events, enabling me to devise more acts to create more work. It was through the success of this idea that I decided to invest in my own children's theatre school. It has been open for a term and already full. Suddenly my career is not subject to casting directors and agents, auditions come and go but definitely play a secondary role in the make up of my work. I now find myself in the driving seat of my career, with this comes an element of freedom towards my work as an artist. All because I dared to think outside the box.

My First Blog.

After reading the programme handbook and having a short but dramatic panic about all the things I had to get in place before I start the course, I called on a close friend who is just about to finish this very course. We met in Starbucks and I gave coffee and cake in exchange for a clear and informative breakdown of what I needed to do. My first question was of course was, "What is all this blog business about?". After I understood why I'm blogging and what relevance it has to my degree. I naturally came to my second question, "What do I blog about? The weather?"

So here I am, just turned thirty and after a ten year career on stage, I go back to school. I haven't written an essay in about 13 years, so my feeling of fear combined with anxiety is understandable. However, it's "the show must go on" mentality that has got me through the last 10 years and I intend to apply the same Freddie Mercury attitude to my studies. The thought of reviewing my professional practice and giving it the conversion of an academic credit, makes me feel excited and enthused with ideas for my studies. Having obtained all the knowledge I've been collecting over the years, I can now inject them with the exploration and analysis of higher education. Pretty cool stuff...

I am really looking forward to learning and can't wait to start my journey. Here is a quote I found on the net, thought it summed it up quite nicely, "The main part of intellectual education is not the acquisition of facts but learning how to make facts live."

- Oliver Wendell Holmes

I look forward to meeting all my class members and tutors soon, look forward to following your blogs. Blog Blog blog  away...