Life after college - following your dreams but paying your bills too!

Photo by Eric Olson

After graduating from Appalachian State University with degrees in Dance Studies and Psychology, I moved back home with my parents to figure out my next step and save some money to make that step possible.  After a couple months of working and living rent-free (thanks, Mom and Dad!), I decided I had saved enough to make a leap of faith and move to “The Big (second) City”. I knew I wanted to be in a place where I could be a part of a thriving and innovative dance community and hoped Chicago could be that place for me.

I was lucky to find a job working in a dance store fairly quicklyt after moving, which made it possible for me to enjoy my free time exploring the city and especially the vast dance scene. At the end of that first summer, I auditioned for the Dance COLEctive and was so pleased to accept an apprentice position with the company. I felt as though I had achieved my dream! I was living in an incredible city and had landed a real-life dancing job! I was over the moon.

I can honestly say that I still feel this same way. I am still in love with this city (more so when the temperature is in the positive range!) and haven’t stopped exploring all that it has to offer. I am currently working two jobs to make ends meet. One as a clinic coordinator at an acupuncture and massage clinic and the other serving at a local bar. I love my jobs. I work with amazing people and feel appreciated for what I do. But most importantly, working these jobs makes it possible for me to pay my bills and allows me to dance with the unbelievable women I spend every Tuesday and Thursday with. I feel lucky to be able to pursue my passion in such an incredible place with the inspirational support and friendship from the TDC team. 

Submitted by TDC Apprentice Molly Kirkpatrick on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.  

How to Succeed as an Independent Dance Artist

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.  

Thanks to Bonnie Brooks and the Artists and Audiences students for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts and further refine my values on this topic!

Submitted by Margi Cole, TDC Artistic Director on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.