Sources of information

These are my five most used sources of information in my current professional practice.

Internet

The internet, although a vast category, is my primary source of information. It’s very rare that I’ll go to the internet to find some information and be unsuccessful. But as Hayley Jayne Bence said in her blog there are so many Web 2.0 technologies, so I could probably break these down into sub categories...

I choose this picture as, for me it puts the internet in perspective

Google – an excellent research tool

Emailing- (just the other day I dropped a presenter friend a line via email to see if he would be willing to cast his professional eye over my show reel, he responded within 48hrs!)

YouTube- Again another fantastic tool for researching. Over the past few months I have spent hours on end looking at other people’s show reel to try and learn from what they have done and develop unique ideas for mine.

IMDB- I constantly check IMDB to research directors, casting directors, producers and other actors. This gives you some insight into other shows directors have worked on and I’ve often just wanted to get a feel for their style of work before going to an audition.

Spotlight

Spotlight, although still an internet tool is another great source of information. Being between agents at the moment as I move my career from acting to presenting, Spotlight has become the number one way I here about auditions. Although it’s very different from having an agent (because I get sent through every kind of breakdown) Its highly beneficial for me to see what is currently being cast and the type of people that they are looking for!

The Spotlight team are great too, always happy to help with inquiries either over the phone or via email!

Agent/Talking to people

Up until a month ago my agent was another great source of information. As Ross said in his blog

Because my agent is better connected than myself and has a professional network that allows her to talk with people I wouldn’t be able to, this enable her to get me auditions that otherwise I wouldn’t be able to find (Ross Dunning, Sources of information blog, 2010)

Agents are invaluable in having access to information that you would otherwise miss.

Although I am looking for new representation in my new field of work, I still keep in contact with my previous agent and he still sends me through things he comes across that he feels I would be right for.

I have coupled this source of information, because in my current situation ‘talking to people’ has taken the place of my agent. By putting myself out there a bit I have been able to make some contacts that are great sources of information. In regards to what is ‘out there’ and how to go about developing myself as a presenter.

Contacts Book

The Contacts book is a great way of ‘finding’ people. This could be Agents, Casting Directors, photographers or theatres. I often use this is a starting point and then take it to the internet do dig deeper. For example, as I prepare to approach Presenting agents I will look up the agents in Contacts and then look up their website online to get a feel for who I am about to approach.

Watching TV

Ross made a really interesting point in his Soucres of information blog about staying in the loop of what’s happening in and around the performing Arts world.  I think that it’s extremely important to know what is going on, who is working and who your ‘competition’ is. There are many times when I have been to an audition and been asked ‘who is your competition?’ or ‘what was the last film you watched?’ There is nothing worse than pausing for 20 seconds and then answering with ‘Err....I don’t know’

Watching Television, although it’s not something I do a great deal of is a great way of staying in the loop of what’s current on TV. Who is casting and directing the shows I admire or aspire to be in? who are the presenters?, where are the holes in the market? After raising these questions I’d take it to IMDB or do some further research online.

Although I tried to keep these sources of information in order or importance, I have realised that much like my professional network of people, my network of information frequently crosses over. There are only a few sources of information that I use without joining them with another source to get the very best out it.