So you want to perform? | WA Youth Theatre Company

We were so impressed reading this article by Veronica Lee on artsHub on Monday, August 06, 2012 that we had to reblog it for our subscribers.

You may have been the first violinist in a youth orchestra, the high distinction regular at your dance school, the star of your local drama production. But it?s a huge step from high potential to a career in the arts.

Success depends on your ability to leverage value from every opportunity and contact you can find. There is no shortage of arts programs encouraging and preparing young artists for the industry but you will also need mentors, work experience and opportunities to show what you can do.

Train
It can be tempting to skip the theory or institutional structure of a formal training program and try to jump directly into the industry. But training programs are an opportunity to develop your craft and there is always more to learn.

Drama schools like the National Institute of Dramatic Art Kensington, New South Wales and the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts have launched the careers of well-known actors such as Cate Blanchett, Colin Friels and Hugh Jackman but they are also responsible for many of the designers and production/technical staff whose names you don?t know.

If you can get into a focused professional school like The Australian Ballet School, Southbank, Victoria, you have a career path mapped out. Ninety per cent of the school?s students find full time employment in Australia within six months of graduation.

There are Government-supported places for most tertiary performing arts programs it?s well worth investing the time and energy in getting your base skills up to scratch.

It can be tempting to abandon training part-way down the track if a performance opportunity comes up. This is a hard call so be aware of the risk and take advice on the relative value of a gig with the long term skills you are developing.

Compete
But for most young artists a course is only the beginning. For graduates of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, Sydney getting a film into a Festival gig or, better still, an award is a key career boost. Graduates and students have won more than 400 awards including 22 Australian Film Institute Awards and 10 Best Short Fiction Awards at the Sydney Film Festival.

Put yourself out there whenever you can. The National Eistedfodd has launched hundreds of careers from opera singers to rock bands. Don?t discount commercial competitions like Dance Around The World Solo Competition or the opportunities offered by commercial television in shows such as The Voice.

Get a mentor
Whatever formal training you get, don?t rely solely on a course. Mentor programs offer young people the opportunity to work with professionals from the industry and the chance to form strong relationships with them. Students work side by side with mentors in an effort to establish set goals specific to their craft but the craft is only the beginning. A mentor can introduce you to useful contacts, keep an ear to the ground for you and ?talk you up?.

Formal mentoring programs include the Australia Council?s JUMP, a national mentoring program for young and emerging artists aged 18-30, who are in the first five years of their professional practice. JUMP offers artists an opportunity to undertake a one-on-one mentorship with a leading professional of their choice, focussed on a funded creative project. Together they work towards expanding the artists? national network with access to online profiling and professional development opportunities.

But you don?t need to be accepted to a formal mentoring program to get the advantages of mentoring. Offer someone you admire your volunteer labour ? or if you can, offer to pay them. Chances are they will be flattered to be asked to mentor you and will enjoy sharing their skills with you.

Join
Joining industry organisations, gives you knowledge of what is going on. You will hear about callouts for auditions, job opportunities and places to work. Becoming an artsHub professional member gives you access to a jobs board, career advice and job tips for arts professionals. The Media Arts and Entertainment Alliance or Musicians? Union can provide you with information about rates, tax and representation.

Join Facebook and other online groups around your interests too for the connections but beware of scams promising you opportunities in exchange for money.

Apply for scholarships and grants
On the other hand, there are lots of legitimate ways to fund the next step in your career. Checkout the artsHub Grants Quarterly for opportunities in music, dance, theatre, travel scholarships and general grants.

Volunteer
Working for nothing might be the best way to get paid. Hang around where you want to work and make yourself useful. Run errands, make coffee and make friends. While it?s unlikely that someone will turn around and offer you a role just because you are standing there, you will begin to integrate into the industry. When something does come up, you will have a head start on other applicants because you are known.

Use everything
Leverage from whatever you can ? culture, language, personal contacts. If you come from a minority background don?t be shy to take advantage of the special access that might offer. The National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association has launched professionals such as dancer and choreographer Stephen Page and singer Christine Anu.

Maintain a balance between optimism and realism
Performing is a tough career and lots of aspirants don?t make it. There?s nothing wrong with having a lifeboat or giving it a go and then getting out. But someone has to make it and why shouldn?t it be you?

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://waytco.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/so-you-want-to-perform/

bain capital marines urinating haley barbour olivier martinez peoples choice awards 2012 ford recalls robert kardashian