4c. Developing my questions

Previously, I posted the questions on my blog that I was intrigued to find answers to in order to develop an inquiry topic.  To obtain this information, I sent a questionnaire to some of my professional associates in my professional community.  

Below, I have posted the responses of two male and three female professional associates to the questions I asked.

1. What do you feel is the biggest pressure you have had to face as a professional dancer?

• The financial strain you have to go through when work isn't busy. The constant struggle of trying to pay your bills, take class and manage to hold down a job whilst auditioning.   Also pressure to "keep up" with other friends on social media.. Who seem to post their successful booking of a job more than you do.  (Professional Male Associate A)

• To stay Physically fit is a big one. (Professional Male Associate B)

• Trying to stay in work and earn a living. Trying to earn enough money to live, feed and enjoy yourself, whilst paying for travel to get to and from auditions, paying for classes, expensive dance clothes and shoes. (Professional Female Associate A)

• As  a dancer I feel looking slim is such a huge pressure whether you are naturally small or curvy, it feels expected. Also trying to juggle normal jobs to earn money and then making time for auditions is a huge pressure. (Professional Female Associate B)

• At the moment it is choosing career over a home/personal life. Earlier in my career it never bothered me but working abroad has meant a lot of sacrifices with friends and family and that has been a huge pressure. Earlier in my career I would say my weight. I was always told to lose weight and I always struggled with it. Although I am happy with my weight now I still feel pressure that slimmer is better. (Professional Female Associate C)

2. Do you feel you are always seen fairly at an audition?

• No, waiting in line for hours sometimes just to be seen once, where there's no chance they can watch you and cut you anyway never feels fair. (Professional Male Associate A)

• Not at all. If there is someone that knows or has worked with a member of the casting team, I feel they have an advantage some of the time and talent is outshined by friends of friends. (Professional Male Associate B)

• No. They state that they are looking for anyone, shape or height. When in reality, they know exactly who they are looking for and may even have people they know auditioning that have already been offered the job beforehand, but to make it look fair they have to audition. (Professional Female Associate A)

• At some auditions yes I do but not all auditions, if its an open it is commonly known as a cattle market and you can see half the time the panel wont be watching while you put your everything into your performance and you know they were not watching. (Professional Female Associate B)

• I suppose yes. You can never know what a panel is looking for specifically on the day but I generally feel I get to show what I can do and if it’s what they want they would hire me. The only time I’d say this wasn't the case is when they have already hired people and the audition is a formality. (Professional Female Associate C)

3. At an audition, have you ever felt discriminated against?

• I am constantly discriminated, I'm either too tall, not muscular enough or too muscular. (Professional Male Associate A) 

• Oh god yes! Especially if you get through to the last few rounds and they decide you are ‘too small’ or ‘not the right build’ etc. They could quite easily have realised that in an early round and put me out of my misery quicker. (Professional Male Associate B)

• Even before an audition I have felt discriminated, when they state they are looking for a specific height, race or hair colour for example. When I have fit the height requirements, I attend the audition and then experience discrimination again and have they put through all people of the same size and all the shorter people get cut first round. (Professional Female Associate A)

• I have felt discriminated on two separate occasions.  On the first occasion I arrived at the audition and the majority of the girls where blonde, so I knew being a brunette I didn't stand a chance as they clearly wanted blondes. The second occasion was when I was asked to turn around so they could see my back side and then told me I wasn't right, it felt cruel, rude and discriminating. (Professional Female Associate B)

• Discriminated, No. Scrutinized, Yes. Everyone has their preference on looks and training colleges etc. (Professional Female Associate C)

4. Do you wish you could get feedback after auditions?

• Yes but people are never approachable and never have time - despite the fact we are expected to give them all our time. (Professional Male Associate A)

• Of course. Sometimes I do get feedback from my agent. Its quite nice to know whether you didn’t get a job for a reason that you can change for next time or its something that you can never change and can get over quick. It’s a kind of closure I suppose. (Professional Male Associate B)

• Yes, This would be great. Knowing you were too small, or not the right look for the job would be great to know, rather than going away and thinking your rubbish, and your not a good dancer.  That is a real self-esteem blow. Plus – if it was anything to do with hair colour for example, some people would change their hair colour for the right job, and there is always wigs!!! (Professional Female Associate A)

• Yes 100%.  I understand it would take a lot of time but at least you could go away knowing the real reason why you wasn’t right instead of beating yourself up about something that might not be true. (Professional Female Associate B)

•  Yes, although I have in some cases emailed for feedback afterwards and have received it. I think it’s good to know why I wasn’t picked for a job, whether it’s something I can work on/change or whether it is something like height or hair colour. (Professional Female Associate C)

5. Have you ever felt someone has got a job over you because of the way they looked, rather   than because of their ability?

• Yes. I find in most cases this is how people book jobs, on looks. (Professional Male Associate A)

• I know people have. I once did an audition, and my feedback was that I was the best dancer in the room, but because the job was topless and I was slightly more overweight at the time, they didn’t give me the job. (Professional Male Associate B)

• Yes, this happens all the time, and its really frustrating. Because no matter how hard to you train, no matter how good of a dancer you are, perfect for the job, if you don’t look right… you don’t get the job. (Professional Female Associate A)

•  This is not just a feeling this is fact. I have seen many times young tiny gorgeous dancers go through which is great but there ability to dance might not match up to their appearance which is just so sad for those who are truly talented and work so hard, I haven’t found this the case at every audition but a good fair few.(Professional Female Associate B)

• YES. Definitely. I think there needs to be a balance because dance is a visual art and the choreographer/ director want their piece to be shown a certain way. They shouldn't have to chose one or the other but in a lot of circumstances I have found that to have someone who looks exactly like they want them to, they will overlook technique/ flexibility etc. (Professional Female Associate C)

6. When you go to the same audition as a friend, do you see a change in their attitude towards you?

• People become very competitive, which can be healthy, but I only choose to be friends with genuine people in this industry - and they are hard to find. (Professional Male Associate A)

• Not really. The friends that I have and see at auditions have a similar mentality to me; ‘Say hi at the start, the odd smile throughout the audition. I don’t really talk to people at auditions, not out of being bitchy, but just to get into the right frame of mind. Straight after the audition is over, go for a coffee and a catch up. (Professional Male Associate B)

• Not to the point that they are trying to compete against you (Even though they are) Maybe that they are just focused and concentrating on the audition, and trying to do their best. (Professional Female Associate A)

• Luckily for me, I found it has given me more confidence and had the same effect on my friend, if you know someone you feel less tense and a slight bit more confident, but everyone is there for a job and you have to fight for your place it’s good to have a little bit of healthy competition but I personally have  never felt any negative attitude or issue with a friend at a audition. (Professional Female Associate B)

• No, it is a competitive industry my real friends would want me to get it even if they didn’t and visa verse. (Professional Female Associate C)

7. Have you ever felt disheartened or not good enough? If so, how did you overcome these feelings?

• You walk out the room and forget you even did the audition. The best way to get over it is to get together with industry friends and slag the business off together! Nothing beats a rant. (Professional Male Associate A)

• I suppose I have in a way. But having such strong family, friends and supportive relationship with my agent I overcome it quite quickly. (Professional Male Associate B)

• After every non successful audition, because you always think? Why wasn’t I good enough for that job, even if you think it was perfect for you, and you were right and you know you did your best in that audition. (Professional Female Associate A)

• I think it is natural for all performers to feel this when they get cut from an audition, at college they train you to have thick skin but until you are there in the moment you can never know how hard it is to be told NO you’re not right and you’re not getting this job you have been practising and thinking about. I find the more you discuss with friends it helps. Most people can feel like they’re the only one feeling this way and that’s never the case, I try to say to myself that job wasn’t for me and there is something better coming my way. A positive attitude is more effective than a negative one and over time you come to learn it’s just the way of the industry. (Professional Female Associate B)

• Yes, I feel like that a lot! It’s a case of keeping on going, doing the best I possibly can and working my ass off! I try to prove myself wrong. Dancing is a lot about fire and drive and if I lose that or can’t be bothered then I’ll think about a different career. (Professional Female Associate C)

8. Do you find it hard supporting your career financially e.g. going to class, living costs etc?

• Extremely difficult at times, but you roll with the punches and hope a job is round the corner. (Professional Male Associate A)

•  Now I am living at home it has made it a lot easier. But I have found it very hard in the past to support myself. Even with financial help from my family. (Professional Male Associate B)

• The dance industry will always be a tough one to support yourself in. There are so many people in the industry and not enough jobs to cater to everyone’s needs. So it’s hard now a day to get a job and when you do, the pay is okay, not amazing, but then everything else is so expensive. (Professional Female Associate A)

• If you live outside of London I find getting to auditions and going to class is so expensive on top of just everyday living. If you are lucky enough to have classes nearby and a understanding job that can let you leave on short notice it helps but it’s still very hard. It’s the stress I find hard and the last minute mayhem of sorting out money for trains or classes when your there to make it worthwhile and then food and drink. If your a dancer basically you have to understand that your financially never going to know how much you earn each month. (Professional Female Associate B)

• Yes massively. It’s fine when I am in a long contract but the period of uncertainty whilst doing the odd gig here and there makes it very difficult for me to afford class/ trains for auditions etc. (Professional Female Associate C)

9. Do you feel your parents have supported you throughout your training and career?

• My parents have been very supportive, without them I wouldn't be able to do this. (Professional Male Associate A)

•  My parents have been absolutely amazing. My dad even started working every hour under the sun so that they could afford living costs of me being in London. (Professional Male Associate B)

• I feel they have supported me in every way they can, financially, helping me through moving to and from college, watching my shows. Anything they have been able to do, they have. (Professional Female Associate A)

• My mum and step dad have been incredibly supportive over the years and through out my training, I know it meant as much to them as it did me. Every time I get a job it’s not long before the whole of my area know about it.  I just find they don’t understand that if you are out of work for long lengths of time that doesn’t mean you've given up, it's just hard to stay in constant work.  Also when moneys not great reminding you everyday doesn’t help, seeing as I worry myself most days anyway. But I know its only because they care. (Professional Female Associate B)

• My mum has been so amazingly supportive in every way. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her being there for me.  My dad never wanted me to dance so never helped financially or supported my choices until he came to see me in a particular show I did and his view changed and now I feel he supports me (although maybe that’s more him realising he’s not going to be able to change my career choice now!) (Professional Female Associate C)

10. Do you feel any pressure to be successful to repay your parents for their support and financial help?

• If my parents lend me money I will always pay them back when I get my next pay cheque. They tend to help when money is tight in between jobs. (Professional Male Associate A)

• Not at all. The only preasure that is being put on me to succeed comes from me and my passion for my job. (Professional Male Associate B)

• Yes of course, It would be amazing to be successful and prove to everyone that hard work pays off, and then to pay your parents back and help them out would be so rewarding. (Professional Female Associate A)

• In a weird way I do, just because they spent a lot of money to put me where I am today and not working and living with them still I sometimes feel like I’ve let them down. (Professional Female Associate B)

• When I first graduated I felt the need to do what I’d trained for. I think more for myself though than for them.  I’d like to repay them but not by being successful (successful is subjective anyway). I would like to be financially stable and be able to treat them to holidays and things. (Professional Female Associate C)

11. Do you like the way you look?

• Yes. I am very happy with my appearance. (Professional Male Associate A)

• Big question. I do like the way I look, now. I used to hate so much about myself. But now as my body has actually matured and I have put a lot of work into getting what I want for my body at the gym. I have started to get to the place where I want to be. I will never be fully happy with the way I look I'm sure, as I am so widely built that I cant change how broad I am. But then again, I am not too sure I would want to change that. It’s a very complicated state of mind I guess. (Professional Male Associate B)

• If I wasn’t a dancer, I would be completely happy with the way I look. Not having the pressure of trying to stay slim. That is my only issue. Trying to eat healthy, exercise and stay fit. Because there is this cliché that dancers have to be skinny to get jobs, and it really shouldn't be about that, it should be about how good you are! (Professional Female Associate A)

• I think I am okay to look at but like most woman and dancers i would always like to be a bit slimmer and more toned than I am. (Professional Female Associate B)

• There are things that I don’t like but I wouldn’t say that I am massively unhappy with my appearance. I wouldn’t want to change how I look using surgery. (Professional Female Associate C)

12. Have you ever suffered from depression, anxiety or an eating disorder due to your career? 

• No, but these things sometimes come across my mind, and I feel guilty if I haven't been to the gym or if I over eat. I'm yet to meet a fellow dancer who doesn't think about their weight every day. (Professional Male Associate A)

• I haven’t really no. I do get anxious every now and again when either unemployed or coming to the end of a contract and unemployment is looming. But overall because of such a strong backing and support network with family, friends and my agent it doesn’t last to long. (Professional Male Associate B)

• No, but I know many people that have, and its because of the way this industry is, and the influence it has on people whilst growing up and training that has caused this. (Professional Female Associate A)

• Over the last two years i personally have suffered from depression and anxiety, it is mentally soul destroying to feel failure and disappointment on yourself and then the worry of what others may think. I feel Facebook and Instagram make it worse seeing as you can see all the jobs your friends are getting and how you don’t have any, this then can lead to binge eating or drinking a lot or just being emotional a lot of the time. It can put strain on your relationship with your family friends and partners, which it has. I am naturally curvy but have gained weight through stress and also don’t have the confidence to go to a gym as I don’t like people seeing me out of shape. (Professional Female Associate B)

• I’m not sure if it was depression but during a long period out of dance work I was very unhappy. There were other factors involved but lack of career direction and unsuccessful auditions at the time were the main part of it. (Professional Female Associate C)

13. Do you feel there is enough support for dancers out there and would you know where to go if you needed it?

• No, and the only help I can think of is friends and family. (Professional Male Associate A)

• I have never really thought about it. I suppose with my family being so close I can just talk to them about it. But maybe if someone didn’t have that there must be some sort of help with equity? (Professional Male Associate B)

• I feel there is enough, but I also feel that there could be more. Social sites such as The Hustle on Facebook is great, and there are lots of other places you can go to for support. But I feel there could be more. (Professional Female Associate A)

• I don’t think there is? And never been made aware if there is only friends family and partners if you have them to talk to. (Professional Female Associate B)

• I have been researching help for dancers for various things because of BAPP. I think with google I would be able to find some support if I felt I really needed it. (Professional Female Associate C)

14. Do you feel the joy of performing outweighs any negative feelings or stresses you experience?

• Yes it really does, otherwise I think it would be an impossible business to be in. (Professional Male Associate A)

• For sure. There is nothing better than being on a stage doing what you love and getting paid for it. But not only that, because of the struggle to get a job in the first place, having one and being happy doing it is the most gratifying thing ever. (Professional Male Associate B) 

• Once you have a job and you are happy and you know you have some money coming in for a few months of so, that does make it worthwhile and enjoyable. But once you’re out of work it does because very stressful. It’s a never ending cycle. (Professional Female Associate A)

• For me yes, because the minute I am dancing and being paid to do what I genuinely love there is nothing better. The stress goes away the worry goes away and i feel like the person i enjoy being the most. (Professional Female Associate B)

• I think there are stresses in any job. I love what I do and I feel grateful that I can do it for a living. Yes I have always felt like the good outweighs the bad. But I think my priorities are changing and although I want to perform for a fair while yet, if the bad ever outweighs the good for quite a long period of time then I will quit. (Professional Female Associate C)

15. Are you happy in the performing industry?

• Yes, and I can't ever imagine doing anything else. (Professional Male Associate A)

• I am. I love it. There is nothing else I would rather be doing. I of course have the thought of giving up, having a ‘normal’ life. But nothing will compare to how I feel when in a job and doing what I love. (Professional Male Associate B)

• I feel that everyone should have a fair chance, and I feel A LOT could be changed in the industry to do this. It shouldn’t be about who you know as it defintely is, its should be about what you know, how good you are, how talented you are and not based on looks, size, race, hair colour, gender etc. Money should go up, and people working for free should not be happening. Tradesmen, people who work in shops don’t do it for free or for the experience. So why should dancers? We don’t get the benefits that normal people do in a normal jobs, we don’t get sick pay, holiday pay, we don’t get days off that are paid, we have to normally working through hard family times, working away from our families, work on special days such as Christmas. (Professional Female Associate A)

• It has its ups and downs but all in all I wouldn’t be working in a bar job and then working as anything and everything if i didn’t love it i guess so yes I am happy. (Professional Female Associate B)

• I am. There are things that I wish I’d had the chance to do (maybe I still will) eg. certain dance contracts but generally I am happy in the industry. I think the answer would vary depending on when I was asked though.  Every job comes with positives and negatives. (Professional Female Associate C)

The answers above were very useful and were just a selection of the ten professional associates I sent out a questionnaire to.  Their feedback helped me to understand what is going through other performers mind's and how their thoughts compare and differ to my own.  It was interesting to see that everyone felt they weren't fairly seen at auditions and feel image plays a vital part in obtaining a job.  Some felt as if they are discriminated against at auditions by the way they look and feel pressure to keep fit and slim in between auditioning.  They all mentioned how hard it is to keep up with these pressures, whilst they are unemployed and on a tight budget.  However, when they are employed it outweighs all the negative aspects.

The other point that stood out to me, was that everyone has dealt with rejection at some point in their career.  Auditions are a massive part of a dancer's life and you will always get more "NO's" than "YES'S"!  It was interesting to see the different ways in which other performers coped with this rejection.  Everyone stated they would like feedback after auditions as it would make it easier for them to accept why they hadn't got the job.  They would like to know whether it is something out of their control e.g height, age, hair colour (which is a lot easier to accept and move on to the next audition) or whether it is something in their control that they can work on and improve.

As rejection is something that everyone deals with at some point and will carry on dealing with through out their career and even the rest of their lives in different situations ,  I feel it is the topic I would like to look into further at the moment. 

Are your opinions similar or do they differ to the feedback above?  I would love to know the thoughts of some other B.A.P.P course students.