I wanted to look at how many people in the arts industry became successful through chance and 'being in the right place at the time'. You only have to look at Justin Bieber being scouted by Usher through you tube. What were the chances?! What if he wasn't on you tube that day and time? Would he have scouted someone different? Would Justin Bieber still be famous? Having this stroke of luck by chance means you are in the best position/place to take advantage of an opportunity. But how do you teach yourself to be in the right place at the right time? In short you can't because you have no idea when that time may be. Seth Simons wrote an article "How to be in the right place at the right time more often" he gave three ways in which you can help improve your chances.
- Proximity "You cannot catch a fish without being near the water" or in our case "You cannot land your dream role without attending the audition". You can put yourself in the right place at the right time more often by identifying an area in which you have the necessary skills and knowledge to capitalise on sudden opportunities.
- Practice - "The fish not caught on the first try is larger when finally caught" In every case, the practice that precedes the instance of 'luck' is just as important as the crowning moment itself. Have you given up on your practice only to wonder why you're not improving in your field and experiencing the same luck as others? What steps can you take today in order to hone in your senses and polish your skills so the next opportunity can be turned into a lucky moment?
- Persistance "If you do not fish often, the fish have little chance to bite" Being in the right place at the right time involves in being in a lot of places at a lot of times that might seem inconvenient or even painful.
By using the idea of proximity to opportunities and following through with practice and persistence could I too become lucky and increase my chance of chance? Is actively participating in my discipline and practice enough to improve my chance?
I have been lucky to have had experienced the idea of chance in a really positive way. I posted a video online which got 13.6 million views for a fashion business. It resulted in a lot of new opportunities in social media and marketing. Ultimately leading me down a different path away from dance which gave me a lower chance of succeeding in this industry as I was no longer actively participating. The video going viral was completely by chance and something I had no control over. Which lead me to think about how little control I have over my life as a dancer. I can't control the casting directors mind into picking me for a job, I can't control auditions processes and I can't control what everyone around me is doing.
I wanted to use chance as an area of learning in my essay but am unsure on what my area of learning would actually be? Could it be planning for a situation that is out of my control? For example when something goes wrong on stage? What can you learn from being in a situation that is completely out of your control? How to contend with something I will never have control over? How to respond to chance? The understanding that chance has had a positive effect on me where videos online have gone viral and allowed me new job opportunities?
So many thoughts and questions - I would love to hear your experiences of chance and maybe some thoughts into helping me establish what my AOL could be around this as am struggling to use it in context.
Abi x
References:
- "How to be in the right place at the right time more often" Simon Seth https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/how-to-be-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time-more-often.html
Hey Abi, great blog to read and a very interesting idea! I completely agree, sometimes in an audition room you may get a job because you were the right height or your hair was the right colour, rather than it being about your talent and ability. It just so happened that that is what they were specifically looking for for that job.
ReplyDeleteI think maybe you could have a look at tacit knowledge with this, and reflecting in and on action maybe - linking this to your idea of something suddenly changing and being out of control, what is your next move with this, and how do you respond? Maybe it can relate to how you feel or how you proceed from not doing something because of the fear you have with not knowing.
I hope this may give you a different point of view to to look at
Emily x
Hi Emily,
DeleteThank you so much for your comment - it has really helped me establish a new way of thinking around the idea of chance. Really like the idea of using tacit knowledge. Chance is huge in our industry and I really hope I am able to portray this in my essay!
Hope your week is going well - Abi x
This is a really interesting topic, and for me it made me think about the fact that you never know when opportunity will present its self. I had a similar thing when going to an audition, they told me I wasn’t right but asked me to come back for an audition for a different show. I think you could definitely link it to networking as well because by posting your video it enabled you to connect with new people and opened up a whole new range opportunities such as the social media marketing.
ReplyDeleteYes! Networking is a great idea, sometimes you take a chance with people online/in real life as well and you are completely right you never know when a opportunity will present itself.
DeleteThank you for your comment, hope your week is going well so far!
Abi x
Hi Abi, you bring up some really interesting points. Of course you can't plan that chance is going to happen but I love the idea of increasing your chances, kind of like a strategy to success. I think the point on proximity links really well with your experience, but also if you didn't have the courage/confidence to put your video out to the world the story and outcome would have been totally different. You increased your chances by initially believing in your own work.
ReplyDeleteAlex x
Hi Alex,
DeleteThats a really great way of explaining it - a strategy to success!! Love it. I think it is crazy that the choices/chances we have taken have led us to this very moment. Thank you for giving me a new way of looking at it.
Hope your week is going well so far!
Abi x
Hi Abi,
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting idea. Chance is something that can't be determined, yet like Alex said, you can increase your chances by putting the hard work in. The power of Web 2.0 and networks could relate with chance, you may follow professionals whom may be an affiliate to your friends, they could then post an advertisement for an open class online without realise the casting director is watching the class, scouting talent. Without taking the chance in following the latter profile, and adding them to your professional network, this opportunity to present your talent to an industry creative could have been missed.
By following a profile you haven't had an engagement with is a chance as they could provide you with insightful knowledge on your discipline and goals, or upload content which could effect your mindset.
Ellie x
Hi Ellie,
DeleteThank you that is super helpful. You take a chance when following people online and in real life. I really like that link and it is something i hadn't thought of before. How mind-blowing that all the choices/chances we have made have led us to this exact moment!🤯
Hope your week is going well so far!
Abi x
Hi Abi, This is such an interesting AOL topic and I think there is so much you could discuss. There is a lot of positive and negative aspects and many ethical problems in situations like you've described because for some people affording the auditions or accessing Web 2.0 isn't possible. I think so many people are discouraged when not given equal opportunities and is something in the performing arts world that could improve on. It feels like sometimes with west end shows and television talent shows it's all the same people used and there is such a slim chance of being chosen and getting your foot in the door.
ReplyDeleteAlso amazing to hear that something you created reached millions of people! x
Hi Niamh,
DeleteI 100% agree. Not having an equal opportunity can be so detrimental to us as performers. How are we ever meant to get our foot in the door when we are not given a chance? You have given me some food for thought - thank you!
Hope your week is going well so far!
Abi x
Hi Abi,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great Area of Learning! I think there is something here about having a goal and 'manifesting' too. I really wanted to get into professional acting and took a week off my office job to do a summer school. I knew that they did a one year course, and that completion of that would enable me to get onto this degree course. By chance, during the first lunchtime on the summer school, the head of school came and had a chat with me about why I was there and what I wanted to do in the future - then suggested I audition.. and here I am. Was this chance, or was I somehow giving off a kind of energy because I had hoped/wished/visualised or manifested this path? I know there is some research and statistics on how much more likely you are to achieve success if you write a goal down - perhaps this is something to look at too?
Sally
Hi Sally,
DeleteFirstly, Thank-you so much for sharing your story with me and Well done for completing the course, believing in yourself and starting this degree! There is so many things you can put down to chance but I think it goes hand in hand with working hard and manifesting your goals like you say. You are never going to be offered a chance without proving your worth. I think your story links really well with the proximity link above, without attending the summer school you would never have had that chat with the head of year. Would you have been in the same position now? Or would you still be in your office job? You took a chance going to the summer school and it completely paid off. I will definitely be looking into some more research around this. Thank you for the pointers!!
Abi x