Current sources of information

In this task I have identified my five current most important sources of information. I examine their productivity in an effort to advance my professional practice.

Online Web sites

Online sights like face book and twitter provide live feeds with work related information and job opportunities. Youtube.com provides a visual aid when making inquiries and seeking information on tasks. Online search bars like Google and Bing allow information to be quickly accessed and filter, providing data that is more relevant to a search to be obtained.

  Sending and receiving information virtually via the Internet is cost effective and faster facilitating easier communication. The main importance of online web sites is that they provide me with instant global access to employers and information.

Agent

Employers approach the agency I belong to with a brief, asking the agency to submit clients that are suitable for their jobs. Employers approach agencies to filter out unsuitable candidates for posts, which saves them time. From past experience, in my professional practice there is a trend forming where employers are increasingly approaching only agencies when they are recruiting. It has therefore become essential for me to have an agent seeking work on my behalf.

  A large percentage of my employment has emerged from the initial connection that my agent has initially made. I rely on my agent to inform me about the various shows being recruited for, allowing me sufficient preparation time and increasing the possibility of me being successful at obtaining the job.

 A percentage of my pay is paid to my Agent for the duration of a contract. An advantage is agents are able to negotiate with employers for wage increases on behalf of their client. A disadvantage occurs when agent enters their client for a job that is in the public domain, can be accessed by all and wages are non negotiable.

Community of Practice

Maintaining a network with past school friends, work associates and teachers has been important for providing job opportunities. Ross Dunning expressed in his 2010 blog how “word of mouth is one of the fastest ways that information can spread” (R.Dunning, 2010). P. Nottingham also talks about how reputation precedes a person in her 2010 blog. I believe it is therefore important to try and maintain good relationships with members of my community of practice.

My community of practice provides moral support and career guidance. Currently this is my most important and vital source of information.

Newspapers

Newspapers provide data on funding, work opportunities and general information pertaining Performing Arts e.g. The Stage and Dancing Times. A drawback is that these newspapers are not free and there is no guarantee that the information provided would be beneficial to my goal after purchase. Occasionally I purchase the stage newspaper because the information in the recruitment section is released to print prior to being available online, potentially enabling a longer period for audition preparation.

Family

Members of my immediate family work in various fields like childcare, marketing and the voluntary running of an Arts organisation. Through various discussions on topics pertaining to their fields, I have been able to obtain useful information e.g. grant and funding information. This information has been important in aiding me to achieve productivity in my professional practice. Mutual work experiences are shared and information that is learnt from training days and work seminars is relayed.

Reference:

http://rossdunning.blogspot.com/2010/11/sources-of-information.html

http://paulanottingham.blogspot.com/2010/09/reputation-and-professional-practice.html