Task 1b: Professional communication technologies

'Web 2.0 doesn't have a hard boundary, but rather, a gravitational core' O'Reilly, T (2006).  This is the crux of the idea of web 2.0.  Moreover, the notion of 'harnessing a collective intelligence' is on a personal level, the interesting part.  The understanding that all web 2.0 relies on the interaction and participation of the user to better the site.  Therefore we rely on each other to improve the intelligence we can gain from networking sites.  In regards to my profession, I immediately start thinking of sites such as Dancerspro (a casting site for dancers that allows performers to update their information, communicate with casting directors and other performers, and start threads on the forum), the Facebook page The Hustle, and The Stage jobs page as they are all networking platforms that I use regularly.

Am I an intelligent user?  I have a degree of understanding on how I can gain information on areas I want.  For example, if I want to ask the Dancerspro community a question on a production company, experience has taught me the most efficient way to word a question put to a forum or a search engine so that I will be presented with better or more answers on the topic.  But in terms of being a good user (a prosumer) I think I'm pretty lousy.  Rarely will I respond to a forum chat or comment on a thread simply to add the information on the site . I take the information I can to help myself!  Never before have I actually given much thought to the idea that it's not all about taking information I need in that moment; more adding and learning from the ever expanding collective intelligence offered through web 2.0.  Its also highlighted to me how much is on offer if I learn to become a clever blogger.  Information and experience from other students on the BA PP, tutors, ex-students and authors is so easily accessible through their blogs.  Not only this, is that the more participatory users the more intelligent the system becomes.  This is outlined in Tim O'Reilly's meme of web 2.0:



'Blogs: Participation not publishing'!





I now understand the importance of a collaborative input as the basis for web 2.0.

While reading Tim O'Reilly's Blog I also drew up my own meme to outline my understanding of the different factors of Web 2.0.


Tim O'Reilly's 'Three Competencies'
1) Architectures of participation
2) Remixable data and transformations
3) Harnessing collective intelligence

 

 

'Architectures of participation'
culture of the consumer = culture of the production
Cheap - Easy - Quick = Emancipation of the user

Architectures of participation
The outline that web 2.0 relies on passive and active involvement from the users.  This in turn leads more freedom and a democratisation of information on the web.  This got me thinking of the freedom we have as users of web 2.0.

Emancipation. 
I have freedom to organise my online profile - allowing me to build and modify how I look to the web 2.0 community.   I don't rely on a system or Government to filter what is online,  I have the right to check what can been seen by others, making anything unwanted invisible.   It's all down to my online savvy!  In terms of employment I have many tools at my discretion to help me show how I want to be perceived.   However certain website's default rule on information / photo sharing might not be in line with what I want visible to a prospective employer. 

The idea of 'harnessing collective intelligence'
The intelligent user = the intelligent system = an efficient search engine
 

Harnessing collective intelligence
The intelligent user and the intelligent 2.0 system have a parabolic relationship.   What is asked of the web will help build links for the next user to access that information.  This is called 'Hyperlinking'.  'Much as synapses form in the brain, with associations becoming stronger through repetition or intensity, the web of connections grows organically as an output of the collective activity of all web users.' O'Reilly, T.
In the same vein, if a site has little activity it's intelligence will not expand.  Web 2.0 relies on activity.   Much like this blog and the online nature of the BA in Professional Practice I am reliant on other students and the tutors checking in and commenting so I can maintain that I'm on the right track!

Remixable data and transformations
The blurring between consumer and producer - the prosumer.   No web 2.0 is ever 'finished'.  Everything is in a constant state of change as users comment, edit.  The notion that getting involved will be more attractive, as there is less of the stress of creating an artefact alone.   You are not solely responsible for the content of a website. 

I also thought about the ethical connotations of remixable data.   Is it harder to find the facts online?  As so many resources are wikis,  how do we know who came up with a theory first?  Something that would prove tricky to the citing student!  Also,  is it easier for users to shirk responsibility for something that might be considered unethical online? I think about my teaching work.   Obviously there are clear company and governmental rules about how much information I could put online about children.  But, because of the nature of the web and how so many people can alter information, it could get confusing who would be held accountable if personal information was displayed on a constantly changing web 2.0 setting. 



O'Reilly, T. (2006) 'What Is Web 2.0: Design Patterns And Business Models For The Next Generation Of Software', Online, Available from:
http://www.oreilly.com/pub/a/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html



 

Task 1A

Throughout this first module I have given thought to how I would present myself in a professional profile. I have read other BA PP students' profiles as well as looking at my LinkedIn and other online network contacts' pages.  After a few drafts this is the profile I have come up with, geared towards furthering my career in teaching / the managerial side of arts companies.

Professional Profile

I studied full time from the age of 16 on the dance stream at Performers College.  I trained in contemporary and classical styles as well as musical theatre and acting.  Since graduating I have worked largely abroad in a variety of tours that have allowed me to travel extensively (France, Spain, Italy, US, Mexico and Brasil). I see myself as a contemporary jazz dancer primarily and professional works include:  Tihany Spectacular (Brasil tour), Disneyland Paris (face character and dancer), Hoteles Royal Solaris (Mexico) and C-12 Dance Theatre (East London Dance). I returned to England around a year ago, and am currently teaching dance and run drama workshops for children in and out of schools. I have also gained managerial and administrative experience working at a large racquets and sports club in Bristol.  I am looking to find a role that will incorporate my managerial and teaching experience I have gained in my employment over the past year with my passion for the arts.

I have also used this profile as my summary on my Linkedin page.  I think it best summarises my past experiences with the areas that I would like to pursue now.

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=365870856&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Our CV is more often than not an employer's first point of contact.  Why else would we spend so much of our late pre audition evenings aligning photos, adding and deleting work experience and changing fonts.  Like many other BA PP blogs that I have read I am so much like everyone else in that I probably have more versions of my CV than I do fingers.  I have come from a performance background and change my headshot on my CV depending on the nature of the dance job; if it's a hair show I may use a more 'commercial' look headshot, a Panto I would probably use a smiley headshot - something I feel is more fun and approachable.  Furthermore,  I can't always rely on my performance or teaching work alone as income.  Therefore I have CVs for customer service jobs, bar and waitressing work.  Most recently I have developed a CV that is aimed towards the managerial and administrative side of arts companies, an area I am interested in pursuing.

Below is an example of my current dance CV:

Here is how I have added my professional profile to my current CV.  This CV is focused towards teaching work, as well as applying for managerial / administrative roles workign with arts companies.

My current dance CV.
Below title I would usually have text boxes of personal information such as height, hair colour, age etc,
info probably not too suitable on an open blog for an academic course!

 

Having read Adesola Akinleye's blog 'how are you experienced', I was delighted to address some themes I have mused on since I first started out in the world of auditions and constantly marketing myself as a dancer: How much of ourselves do we lose in the process of projecting what we think the employer wants?  How much of our CV is an honest representation of us as people or is just a pretence to show what we think / we have learnt they want?  Most importantly, is this front effective?


Links:

Akinleye, A. (2013) 'How are you experienced' Available from: http://adesolaa.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/how-you-are-experienced.html'

BA Professional Practice blog: first entry and first impressions

After 6 years of professional performing, 3 years of full-time dance training and all that came before that, I am taking the leap to continue my academic career with the BA in Professional Practice of the Arts.  Over the past 6 years I have worked on a variety of tours and shows.  I have been lucky enough to travel extensively and have danced in theme parks, circus style shows, cabaret and tours.  At present I am still auditioning and dancing as much as possible with local companies as well as teaching dance and drama workshops with children.  Through continuing my academic work I hope to broaden my prospective career and be able to move more into the teaching and production side of dance.

The course is designed for students to work largely autonomously, something that I will admit, filled me with apprehension as well as excitement. On one hand, I am keen to write about my experiences as a performer and the day to day of living a dancer's life.  In fact this has been something that I have been interested in starting for some time, before I embarked on the course.   What better way to share my thoughts on the industry, to document some of the great experiences I have had, things I've learnt, and to share photos/videos easily with anyone out there who's interested. 

Contrastingly, being 'left to my own devices' is intimidating! I feel that I am somewhat of a perfectionist - but how will I know what I'm doing is correct?  I think that is the whole point.  To learn from other's input and leave myself open to criticism and suggestions.  So please, comment away!  I look forward to what's to come on the course.