Task 3a: Range & Value of Current Networks

The acting industry is a well-connected network where more often than not you hear the phrase 'It's not what you know; it's who you know'. To begin evaluating the importance of my current networks - I sketched out a rough plan of my Communities of Practice.

Rough mind map of my Communities of Practice

Range

What stood out to me most was the sheer amount of various branches radiating from my name. There were certain subheadings I deliberated on whether or not they were a relevant community of practice. However, I concluded that if I have made substantial contacts and connections with people via a particular organisation or aspect of my life; then that merits a subheading in my communities of practice. It ranged from my personal to professional life on quite a large scale - but what I found interesting was the interlinking of the professional and personal world. For example - in order to make some professional film work - I benefitted from a personal contact to produce the results that worked best for me at that time. 

Value

I contemplated that I valued my personal links as much as my professional links in regards to my professional practice. My peers whom I trained with and whom now are my very close friends are undoubtedly the writers / directors / co-actors or audition panels of the future. To grow and learn with such an expansive range of talent and diversity is invaluable in the networking world. I debated whether or not the subheading of socialising was 'valuable' enough to include in my communities of practice. I opted to keep it in - realising that, in the acting industry, 'socialising' is a key aspect of networking.

During my third year of training at Italia Conti, I made it my business to go and see all of the BA Course's acting productions. This was a different course to mine but I felt it was necessary to see the style of work they were producing, at the same level as us. I made links with people who I am glad to have met and I would encourage any other performing arts student to look outwards for inspiration in their final years.

How I Intend to Further Extend

I am positive that I will get more professional contracts over the years. I have experience from the recent panto I was in of making a whole new bunch of contacts. I can imagine as time goes on as a working actor, this list will grow until I begin to work with familiar faces.

I also want to extend my professional networks to roles of importance in the theatre. Myself and my co-worker are planning on putting a self-written production on and we have already started researching venues where this could be possible. The next step, in terms of networking, would be to find out the specific contact for each venue and start emailing them, outlining our ideas.

Capitalise on my Professional Networks

'Capitalise' sounds harsh, impersonal and it has a slight economic sound to it. It makes it sound as if each actor has a game plan in order to succeed, and it is as straightforward as doing anything we can to accomplish this. This may be the case for some people - but I prefer to look at this task in a more positive, humane way. The professional environment is healthiest when everyone is thriving in their own way. I can benefit from my friends', colleagues' and contacts' skills as they can benefit from mine. Of course I am always looking for creative opportunities, especially with new people I meet; however the difference is I am a naturally social and friendly person. It is difficult for me to be forced or fake. I think falseness in the professional world of networking is an ethical issue which needs to be addressed. There are too many people who 'use and abuse' for their personal gain. I like to imagine that I can maintain dignity whilst still building on my professional network pool. I can gain creative plus by working with people who I have met and I know their strengths in specific genres. I have already 'capitalised' on my professional network by receiving feedback on my filmed scene from my previous acting for camera teacher, my agent and a director I have worked with. These 3 separate entities come from different branches of my communities of practice map but they each came together​ to form an objective feedback system for me to work off.

Ethical Concerns For Networking in the Workplace

Befriending colleagues / employers on Facebook or allowing them to follow you on Instagram or Twitter opens up your personal life to them. I have to be mindful and censor what I share on these social media platforms. This is a conscious decision I have made to stay connected and share a bit of my life with them. It is not a sacrifice I am making. Anything that I share online of me I wouldn't mind my employers seeing. This bodes well for my professional life too.

I can conclude with comparing my professional networks to the rhizome theory. This method of learning where the learning overlaps and interconnects during our course of study helps to visualise the overlapping linking of different aspects of my communities of practice. I found common denominators whilst creating my communities of practice map - people who fitted in two or more headings as well as organisations that linked to various subheadings.