Year 3 Professional Employment Skills Module

Module MT15: Year 3 Professional Employment Skills

UK Credits: 15 ECTS: 7.5 Level: HE6

Outline

You will prepare for professional auditions and employment.

Auditions and Audition Classes

Tutors Tutor led Hours Guest and in-house tutors 25 hours

Aims

To ensure that you have the means to secure employment and maintain themselves in the professional arts and entertainment industry by • acquiring professional employment skills and relevant knowledge of the industry • developing personal skills and qualities which will enhance their professional and personal lives

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of the module you will be expected to be able to: Skills • research information relating to job opportunities and identify key requirements accurately • show competence in self-presentation in correspondence and at interview • target potential employers and agents • choose personal photographs which accurately reveal casting potential • prepare clear and concise CVs which provide accurate and concise information • choose appropriate clothes for auditions and interviews • perform a range of audition pieces which demonstrate an understanding of the differing requirements of potential employers • demonstrate professional competence at audition • record and maintain professional contacts in a systematic way • draw up a personal training programme which can be continued after graduation Knowledge and Understanding • demonstrate an understanding of the principles of Tax and National Insurance as applied to the professional performer

How will I learn?

A sequence of inter-linked classes and workshops in the final year of training: • Careers advice and guidance • Professional Practice Workshops

• Auditions and Audition class • Professional CV and Photos • Workshop New Writing The Module is supported by contacts available to you through the regular flow of guest professional practitioners working as directors, musical directors and choreographers on projects and productions and with resident staff all of whom are, or have been, working professionals. They pass on their extensive knowledge of the industry in a number of ways – formally and informally, often on an individual basis. The Course Director with the Administrators provide points of contact for agents, casting directors and producing managements wishing to contact present and past students. Also, you benefit from opportunities to participate in a range of external professional performance opportunities arranged through the School, usually during the vacations. These are in addition to the professional auditions which you are permitted to attend in the final term following the Showcase.

Careers Workshop

Tutors Tutor led Hours Guest and in-house tutors 1 hour x 10 weeks = 10 hours

Aims

To prepare you for the business aspect of employment, including contractual and legal obligations.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of the module you will be expected to be able to: Knowledge and Understanding • understand the implication of agency agreements and employment contracts • understand the basic taxation system in relation to performers • understand the role of Equity and the range of services it offers • understand the structure of the performance industry

How will I learn?

A sequence of lectures, workshops and seminars in the third year on topics such as tax, self-employment and national insurance, contracts of employment, the structure of the performance industry, the role of agents and casting directors, the role of Equity and Spotlight.

Professional Practice Workshops

Tutors Tutor led Hours In house staff and guest tutors 30

Aims

To give you the opportunity to gain new skills and develop a greater understanding of the industry which you are about to join.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this component you will be expected to be able to: Skills • demonstrate the ability to develop new skills quickly and effectively • identify areas of work you wish to pursue Knowledge and understanding • demonstrate good understanding of the industry you are about to enter Values and attitudes • be open to new experiences and ways of working

How will I learn?

You will take part in a series of professional practice workshops. These may focus on the three core disciplines, for example on a dance style not previously covered in the curriculum, or on a particular style of ensemble singing, or they may introduce new skills such as circus skills or devising. Workshops may also cover practical business applications, such as corporate work, setting up your own company or managing your finances.

Professional Practice Portfolio

Tutor Karen Edwards Tutor Led Hours 2 hours tutorial support You are required to create a portfolio reflecting on a variety of aspects of your professional practice. The portfolio should be separated into relevant sections or headings, as below, and should contain the following elements: SECTION 1: ACTION PLAN • Your up-to-date professional CV (n.b. your own CV, not copied from Spotlight) • Your publicity photograph • An Action Plan for the year which follows your graduation from the course, which should: Identify areas of work you wish to pursue and how this might be achieved An outline of how you will support yourself financially through the year (a more detailed budget is a requirement of section 3) Ideas that can be put into practice which support ongoing training after ArtsEd SECTION 2: INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE • Your own reflective notes on the following experiences, including the outcome, as appropriate: Auditions for Year 3 productions Mock auditions Professional auditions arranged by ArtsEd External auditions and castings Agent interviews

• Research into a minimum of ten musical theatre productions currently running in the West End or on tour, detailing key creatives, casting director/s and producers, and outlining suitable audition material for the role/s you would like to audition for in each production • Notes from contextual studies lectures from Years 1, 2 and 3 • Further evidence of industry knowledge (e.g. relevant companies or casting directors to contact, given your/ particular strengths and interests identified in the Action Plan) SECTION 3: PERSONAL MANAGEMENT • Notes on professional and financial self-management, e.g. tax matters, union membership etc. This section should also include: A more detailed, personalised budget plan that takes into account income/expenditure as you prepare to begin life after ArtsEd SECTION 4: FITNESS, HEALTH AND SAFETY • A personalised training programme detailing a specific exercise regime that can be undertaken post-ArtsEd • Notes on maintaining mental well-being • Notes on diet and nutrition, including sample shopping lists, recipes etc. • Notes on injury prevention and good vocal health SECTION 5: FEEDBACK • Copies of feedback on your classwork, projects, assessments and performances from Years 1, 2 and 3 APPENDIX • Copies of any published reviews of 3rd year productions or other external professional performance opportunities arranged through the School • Any other information/handouts you think might be relevant or useful to you as a resource

Aim

To enable you to demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of the business aspects of the profession that you have chosen to enter.

What will I be expected to achieve?

On successful completion of this component you will be expected to demonstrate a professional level of understanding of how to Skills • produce an up-to-date professional CV • create an Action Plan for the year which follows their graduation from the course Knowledge and understanding • identify the areas of work they wish to pursue • demonstrate a good understanding of the industry they are about to enter

MODULE TEACHING PATTERN

Teaching Component Type Contact Hours Self Directed Study Hours Total Student Learning Hours

Auditions and Audition Classes Workshop classes, auditions

25 40 65 Careers Workshops Workshop classes 10 3 13

Professional Practice Workshops Professional Practice Portfolio Workshop classes, lectures and seminars

30 20 50 Self-directed study 2 20 22

Total 67 83 150

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed on your classwork in auditions and audition classes and on the Professional Practice Portfolio.

MODULE ASSESSMENT PATTERN

Assessment Component Assessment Type Weighti ng Pass Mark Pass/Fail

Auditions and Audition Classes Classwork n/a n/a Yes

Careers Workshops Professional Practice Workshops Classwork Classwork n/a n/a Yes n/a n/a Yes

Professional Practice Portfolio Written assignment n/a n/a Yes

What do I have to do to pass?

You are required to pass each component in order to pass the module. Professional Employment Skills does not carry any weighting in the Year 3 overall mark but you are required to pass the module in order to be eligible for the degree.

How and when will I get feedback?

You will receive verbal feedback from the panel on in-house auditions, and from your Head of Year on the Professional Practice Portfolio.

READING LIST

Title Author

Publisher Year

Auditioning for the Musical Theatre Fred Silver Penguin 1988 Thank you – that’s all we need for today Mary Hammond Edition Peters 2010 Thank You Very Much! Stuart Ostrow Smith & Kraus 2002 How to Audition for the Musical Theatre Donald Oliver Smith & Kraus 1985 How to Audition Gordon Hunt Harper Collins 1995

Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part Michael Shurtleff Bantam Books 1979

Next! Auditioning for the Musical Theatre Stephen M. Alper Heinemann 1995

The Actor’s Handbook Jill Fenner Bloomsbury 1998

An Actor’s Guide to Getting Work S. Dunmore A&C Black 2001

SPECIAL SCHEME OF STUDY

A number of students each year are offered work before graduation. Permission from the school must be sought in writing before accepting any such offer. Permission might be granted to take time off from studies, and the student might be given academic credit for the professional work undertaken as replacement for course work if most or all of the following criteria are met: 1) the offer of professional work is considered to be of an appropriate professional standard; 2) payment to the student is at an appropriate professional level; 3) the work will enhance the training of the student; 4) the work will enhance the future employment prospects of the student; 5) the work involved can be described as fulfilling the objectives of course work missed; 6) adequate documentation can be provided which proves that the work to be done meets the above criteria; 7) the work can be assessed in an appropriate manner, equivalent to procedures used for internal work.

Permission will only be granted for time off from the final term of skills

classes and professional practice. As there is no equivalent production in the final summer term, the special scheme of study is not included in the assessment scheme. Therefore, there will be no requirement for the work undertaken to be viewed by staff of ArtsEd and/or the external examiner.