040 How to get a (better) job in an hour and an half

Convener: James Bush

Participants: Jo, Jack, Lindsay, Other (x6/7)

Summary of discussion, conclusions and/or recommendations:

If your goal is to get paid for doing what you want or love, follow these simple steps:

• Be aware, there may not be many job opportunities ‘out there’
• Be Punctual
• Begin to strike a balance between working for free and paid work
• Be prepared to work as a waitress, a bartend, a care assistant, an intern, a box officer, a front of house manager, a call centre operative, a teacher.
• Align yourself with buildings/institutions/support networks that may allow you free access to the resources that aid your desired practice.
• Be Self-Employed
• See your family/friends/partner/bed less as you work 80 hours a week.
• Benefit from further education/training/professional development…
• But, before parting with any of that hard earned money, have a clear idea of what skills you are improving and why you have chosen a particular development path
• Be aware of the things/situations that scare you and attempt to transform this fear into your currency
• Bravely go into that audition or that interview and declare “I am Artist/Performer/Director/Designer/etc.
• Believe in your own ability.
• Be selective in what you say yes to – being paid for your expenses/work is not an unreasonable request.
• Be bold and barter – offer your skills (tea making, envelope stuffing) as an exchange for that ticket or that place in that workshop.
• Be realistic – weigh up the financial cost of a project against the personal/professional gain.
• Appraise the quality of your life.
• Be thankful for what you have.
• See where you may be able to help others.

Web links that may be useful when job searching:
www.tcw.org.uk – complete works creative company
www.facebook.com – seek arts venues/companies that interest you
www.twitter.com – follow organisations/people that interest you
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/mailinglistsindex.htm - sign up!
www.artsjobs.org.uk/index.php - Jobs galore
www.guardian.co.uk – jobs