Keeping in contact with one’s network can be tricky. I personally quite enjoy talking to people on the telephone, as I feel that some things can only be said in words. Plus, you get a closer connection to the person as they can hear the emotion in your voice and can gain a clearer understanding of the matter at hand. Even of your countries apart, it is possible to use technologies to call someone, using such programs as Skype, not only is thins good for cross Atlantic calls, but its free. This means that keeping in contact is so much easier and cheaper than before.
Another good way to keep in touch is to send mail. Letters allow you to connect to the writer on a personal level. Sending mail gives you the possibility to send not just letters but photographs or even small packages, making it ideal when auditioning for companies. However, nowadays we have an even quicker, faster and more efficient way to keep in contact and that is by email. This capability means that the sender can transmit photographs, video, sound and text in a matter of seconds, to the opposite side of the world. Again this is ideal for auditions and keeping in touch with those who are miles away.
Further to this, I have recently ventured into the world of social networking, and I feel that by using such sites as Twitter and Facebook, it allows us to network in a much more relaxed way. By posting a “tweet” or a “status”, we are able to inform our web of connections of recent developments in our lives. This happens on mass, making it less work for us to tell everyone individually, which can become quite tiresome.
A personal favorite of mine is to meet up with your contact. I feel it makes the connection more personal and allows you to associate on a more social level. It is also nice to discuss matters over lunch, or even better drinks. It is good to connect to our network on a social level, as it shows them that we are human and also enjoy having a good time as well as being a hard worker.
Additionally, if we are in the same circle of friends and connections, we may even meet our acquaintances’ on social occasions, such as going on an outing to the theatre to see a show or even eating dinner at the same restaurant. These “spontaneous” gatherings allow us to remain in contact with parts of our network that may not be particularly strong (such as some one we have only met once before).
In all, we keep connected with our network by simply going on a dinner date, updating out Facebook status, tweeting or even sending a straightforward email to anyone in our many groups of friends.
Hi Jacob
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you when it comes to the best way to network is face to face everytime. You note people's facial expressions and emotions and body language and this way you can guage whether you should continue to keep this person in your network of contacts. It may not be mutally beneficial. But then again, a friendship may develope or better still this person may become your mentor. I don't intend to start tweeting, it seems pointless for me in my current position, I'd rather text for a quick conversation. My Blackberry is the life line to my business. I can view my e-mails which contain bookings of jobs or enquries and I can respond almost immediately. I can search on Google and use Youtube for instant information. Socialising is the best way of networking. You are having fun while building your network. It has become second nature to me that I will ask questions even when I'm shopping. How does tweeting help you in your current career?
Twitter is one of those things, when you never know who's watching, in this case following! I have a friends on twitter who is closely linked to many high profile dancers, actors and singers. Who knows even an agent might see me and want to know more! In fact one of the performers on Twitter suggested i put an action dance shot as the display picture to entice people in. I feel it helps my career as it is one of the ways to get noticed!
ReplyDeleteHi Jacob,
ReplyDeleteInteresting read...It certainly got me thinking. I agree meeting up is a much warmer way of communication sometimes when things are wrote they can be read very different to what the person is actually trying to say. I also agree with Corinda over emails you miss on how that person is feeling which is important but i do think to gather information for research the internet is a better way to get a wider view.