Professors, mentors, and bosses have always told me that connections you have are especially important in theatre. I've met so many individuals that have told me that they have their current job through their network. The theatre industry is a small world-- you never know what opportunities your connections could lead you into discovering. I've broken down networking into four steps: (1) reaching out, (2) coffee chats, (3) remembering details, and (4) staying connected.
Reaching Out
The purpose of connecting with someone is to learn from their insights and experiences and expand your knowledge of the industry. When deciding who to connect with, I recommend contacting individuals who work at organizations or in positions that interest you or have expertise in an area you're looking to explore.
There are two types of reach outs: cold reach outs and connection-based reach out. A cold reach out is a reach out where you have no mutual connections with the person. Typically, it's easier to do a cold reach out via LinkedIn, since an email can be difficult to track down at times. However, when doing a cold reach out, it's important to do some research to see if you can find an email because people check their email more often than they check their LinkedIn. A connection-based reach out is when you have a mutual connection that can help you connect with the person. If I feel comfortable, I always reach out to the mutual connection to ask if they can assist in making a connection via email either by introducing you via email or asking if you can mention them in your message.
The message itself should explain who you are, why you are reaching out, and share your availability. You want to keep your message polite, informative, and concise. I also recommend being flexible in terms of timing, location, and other details. Here is an sample message, however, I recommend customizing the message more toward your needs if you are using this message:
"Hello!
My name is INSERT NAME HERE and I am a INSERT POSITION & COMPANY OR COLLEGE & MAJOR HERE. I am planning to pursue FILL THE IN BLANK professionally as I am passionate about SHARE YOUR PASSIONS HERE. I noticed your amazing work on PROJECT OR ROLE OF YOUR CONNECTION.
If you have even 30 minutes to connect via zoom or in person, I'd love to find some time to discuss your recent work and your career journey at COMPANY and beyond. I'm generally available on INSERT DATES AND TIMES HERE, however I can be flexible to fit into your schedule. Thank you so much, I look forward to speaking soon!
Best regards,
INSERT YOUR NAME HERE"
Coffee Chats
The connection itself requires some preparation. I usually do research on the person's career beforehand and ask questions that gear toward their experience, advice that they have, and more. While questions help navigate the conversation, if the conversation goes in a completely different direction, I'll follow their lead. Typically, I'll start by introduce myself more in depth and my career goals. Then I'll ask about their career or any open ended question to kick off the conversation. Throughout the conversation, I'll ask questions based on their responses and what best suites the conversation. Before finishing, I always ask if they have any advice they think would be helpful for me to hear. The conversation, overall, can turn in a lot of directions so it's important to trust your instincts rather than your preparations if needed. When finished, I always thank them for their time, including specific details about what I've taken away from the conversation.
Remember the Details
As soon as possible, I'll write down details and highlights from the conversation after the meeting. This includes, details about their career, specific advice they shared, and personal details they mentioned (favorite shows, upcoming projects, hobbies, etc.) These will serve as things to turn back to later and help me to remember the conversation and what I learned through speaking with the person. I also always send an email after, thanking the person for their time and include some of these details as well to reinforce my memory and show that I was paying attention, will take their advice to heart, and hope to continue the relationship going forward.
Staying Connected
There are three components to staying connected with someone: keeping them in the loop, asking about their new projects, and being helpful. First, by keeping them in the loop you show you're eager to celebrate your successes with them. When you take on a new role, work on a new project, or have an exciting accomplishment, this is a great time to share your progress with them. The same goes for their accomplishments, when you notice they've reached a milestone, it's equally as important to congratulate them and ask them about their experiences since you last spoke. Lastly, sharing articles, shows, or opportunities they might find interesting is a great way to stay connected. This shows that you're thinking about them and understand their passions within the industry.
A connection isn't a one-and-done thing, just like a friendship, you have to connect with them periodically to keep the professional relationship alive. You should genuinely be interested in their work and show your interest through reach outs.
Overall, if this advice is followed, you'll find yourself set up well for your career in the arts. Connections create opportunities and it's important to maintain and build relationships with your connections.
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