This week I was invited to talk to a group of upper division dance students in the Artists and Audiences class at the Dance Center of Columbia College. I went to share my thoughts and experiences about operating as an Independent Artist in the field. I offered them tips on things to research, places to look for information and ways to organize themselves through the business of dance and in preparing, I realized that something more emerged. What is really important are the ways in which you treat and communicate with people. Succeeding there enables you to create the infrastructure you need to operate successfully as an Independent Artist and in general, more than anything, it just comes down to being a good person. Dance teaches us so beautifully discipline, patience, perseverance, passion and how to interact with each other. These are qualities I feel we can all benefit from and use in our "regular" lives. What do you think?
Here are my top 12 thoughts on the matter:
- Be on time.
- Treat people the way you would want to be treated.
- If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. You never know who is in earshot and might repeat something you did not mean for them.
- Follow through on what you commit to.
- Be an active member of your community. Participate, be seen, support and engage on many levels.
- Do your research.
- Learn how to make a budget. Be accountable to yourself and others in this arena.
- Put your money where your mouth is. Your high expectation of others should also be something you expect of yourself.
- Be professional.
- Be authentic.
- Learn about the field at large. Locally, nationally, internationally. What are the current trends and issues that we face outside of the studio and theater.
- Say Thank You! Even to your closest friends, peers and colleagues. It just goes a long way.
Submitted by Margi Cole, TDC Artistic Director on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.
Well done! :) Thanks for this great post.
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