Dressing Room 6 - Half a Sixpence Dinner Time Discussion 25th October 2016

Reflective Journal

Dressing Room  6 - Half a Sixpence

Dinner Time Discussion

25th October 2016

I am now within the tech period/rehearsals of Half a Sixpence at The Noel Coward Theatre in Leicester Square, in preparation for opening night on Saturday 29th October! The cast have moved into the theatre this week as rehearsals commence. I am very lucky to be sharing Dressing 6 with three very close cast members and have already made ourselves at home.

Within our dinner break during rehearsals we were all relaxing in our dressing and had a big discussion/informal 'question and answer' session regarding certain questions within my Inquiry topic and subheadings. Due to being surrounded by fellow performers varying in age and training I felt this conversation was incredibly resourceful as I have gained new opinions and perspectives that I can collate and compare with the rest of my findings. 

This specific discussion logged within my Reflective Journal will prove interesting when compared with results from my 4 organised interviews.

Assuring that I am accurate with my cast member's responses I gained consent to record the conversation and only use it to analyse my findings. 

HOW DOES YOUR DIET IMPROVE YOUR WELLBEING? HOW HAS IT CHANGED?

One of the girls, Kim is now a vegan so her diet has changed dramatically over the years. It makes her 'feel healthy for the inside out'. Within our industry we need to have allot of energy and the right nutritional foods thus making a difference regarding how you feel on stage.

Jenny added to this response that the way in which she eats and looks have stemmed from her industry. She is still in that 'middle ground of finding a balance of eating the right amount of good food that fuels me but doesn't hinder me'.

DO YOU FIND THAT LIFESTYLE HABITS CHANGE SEASONALLY OR IN ACCORDANCE TO THE WORK?

Kim: Yes. In summer you want to be outside with fresh air eating salads however in the winter you want to be sat cosy with films, eating chocolate and warmer stodgier foods. You wear different clothes therefore act differently.

Jen: Winter is allot harder if your actively loosing weight or aware of what your eating as you want big, hearty food but you feel you cannot have it. 

WHAT DOES THE WORD WELLBEING MEAN TO YOU?

Kim: 'Wellbeing to me means being well on the inside out', for example your physical & mental wellbeing and health. 

Jen: Being well in your mind, body and outlook on life.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR WELLBEING HAS CHANGES OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS?

Kim: Yes, 'I feel like my career has affected my wellbeing'.If she is involved in a positive job or atmosphere her whole perspective alters. For example mental health improves, less stressed.

Jen: 'Most definitely'. Jen attended college within the past 5 years and expresses that its 'not necessarily a healthy place'. Before she commenced training she wasn't healthy with her wellbeing, therefore indulged allot as she didn't understand the term, however Jenny's understanding developed at college. She stated that this new knowledge was 'dangerous, because my understanding hurt me. I knew that I was hurting myself with food but I wasn't stopping myself'.  However Jenny now believes that she has found a good balance upon graduation.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO MAINTAIN A GOOD SENSE OF WORK LIFE BALANCE?

Kim: 'To maintain a good sense work life balance try not to put too much energy into the job'. Kim explains further that it’s vital that you need to have a life outside of your job, therefore not making the job become your life. 

We are very passionate about our profession so we put our job in front of everyone else. Due to experience within the industry Kim identified that finance is a constant challenge that can completely impact healthy eating, living well etc.

'As an actor having a cold could mean the difference between performing and not performing'


-Have a great unit of friends around you that can support you.

Jen: 'Put yourself first but not in a selfish ways. You cannot go on that stage if you have run yourself into the ground so you have to associate your wellbeing to your ability to perform'

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE CONCEPT WORK LIFE BALANCE?

Kim: Yes

Jen: No

IS IT EVER CHALLENGING MAINTAINING AN EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF WORK AND FAMILY/SOCIAL TIME?

Kim: 'Difficult', Kim uses our 'Tech week' as a prime example as we cannot plan anything or see anybody due to not knowing our call times for rehearsals the next day. 

'Eradicate weeks of your life for your career'

However when the show is up and running you have full day free to work, rest and play. 

Jen: 'I am in a position where I don't know what a work life balance even is. Work is my life at the moment and has completely taken over'

Within performance contracts the only way Jen can see her family is if they come to watch the show. Her relationship has been affected due to work as 'work is everything', however only because she has just graduated from college.

Kim replied to Jenny to say that our work life balance changes throughout our career. As we get older we aim towards different goals such as to settle down, have a family.

WHAT SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF YOUR JOB MAY PREVENT YOU FROM HAVING A GOOD SENSE OF WORK LIFE BALANCE?

Kim:

·      The hours

·      The strain on your body

·      The strain on your mental health

‘Most of the people within the rehearsal process have colds possibly due to rehearsing for a week in a studio that was either hot or cold’

·      Brutality of the job

‘As an actor you put yourself out there, you are your product’

‘Your made to stand in a line and your told sorry you look this and we need something else’

‘You’ve got a great voice and you’re a really nice person but your slightly too old’

These scenarios can have an affect on our mental health as a performers.

HOW IMPORTANT IS SLEEP, REST AND LIESURE TIME TO YOU?

(Devon enters the discussion)

Jen: ‘It is extremely important. If you can’t sleep you cant do your job. If you don’t treat yourself well you can’t do your job’ In order to get that rest you have to find the specific balance between work and lifestyle. ‘Try and make it part of your routine and your job’

Kim: ‘Leisure time is very important but the reason we find it difficult within a show is because the people who you are working with become your life’. That is the reason why it is vital to have friends outside of our industry that you can have that leisure time with. ‘They force you to be away from that environment that we are in at the moment’

HOW DO YOU PRIORITISE YOUR WORKING DAY?

Jen: ‘I’m at the point now in my career that if it’s a two show day that is my day. I’ve been told by allot of people to have a life outside of this and not become consumed but right now I am really have with it consuming me’

She assures to get an early nights sleep and the most she will do in the morning is go to the gym.

Kim: Kim’s response differed as she has another job as she lives with a family that she Nannys for, therefore that pays her rent resulting in her saving money as she would not be able to job work within the industry we are in.

She has a diary which she will always use and try to plan ahead as much as possible. Mostly working before shows on a Monday and Tuesday and Friday to pay for her rent. Time management plays a huge role within Kim’s work life balance.

Devon: Devon agrees with Jen, that she makes sure she gets an early night. ‘I find that when I am doing a show I can’t eat too much before going on stage as nerves get the better of me, so on a two-show day I prioritise being confident in the show over eating’

‘My nerves are being fed’

Kim responds to Devon by agreeing that this is a big obstacle especially with wearing a corset throughout the shows. Due to wearing these it is challenging to eat a proper meal before a show therefore we have to ‘Plan what you eat, when you eat, how you eat’

DO YOU FEEL LIKE OUR WELLBEING IS BEING COMPROMISED WITHIN THE 21^st CENTURY?

Jen: '100% I think that social media has really been a massive help and detriment to our wellbeing. Help in the fact that your aloud to be more sociable, your aloud to have a ridiculous amount of friend all over the world and keep in touch with everyone.'

'However it stop people living in the absolute now. So you don't appreciate that amazing meal as much because you took a photo of it to put on Instagram first'

Kim adds that social media can also be detrimental to people's confidence

'All your doing is constantly comparing yourself to other people.'

'You've got inspiration right at your fingertips viewing pictures of performers and their lifestyle, however if your not in a position to have those things they have it makes you feel worse about yourself'

'People instantly become consumed by social media. For example 20 years ago the iPhone didn't exist, now all of us in this dressing room have one which we are constantly scrolling on and looking on.' In a way this technology prevents conversation and verbal communication to happen.

Dev: 'People only put online what they want you to see'

Devon has previously followed fitness trainers and personalities and have caught them out. For example 'she didn't do a work out, she put a sports bra and her sweat pants on, tipped water on her face and posted ''what an amazing workout this morning''

Some people would look at a blog/status like this and feel bad about their eating habits and health. All they are doing is taking that photo or writing that post to create the impression to the world of the things that they are doing but in reality they're not.

ARE YOU INFLUENCED BY ADVERTISEMENTS/POP-UPS ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

Kim: 'I wouldn't say I'm influenced by them because allot of the time I just close pop-ups'

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYER HAVING A DUTY OF CARE REGARDING OUR WELLBEING?

Kim: 'From having a good company manager is the route of all happy companies'
We need that mother hen figure within the company and middle man between us and the producers as they are thinking about the money and in some cases the cast are not their priority. They should support our mental wellbeing as well are physical.

All girls gave the example of the flu jab that our company offered us as a brilliant way companies can look after our wellbeing, however some companies and producers are not as providing.

The Efficiency of Pop-ups - Literature Review

‘The Efficiency of Pop-ups’

Authors:

Dr Jon Dodd

Robert Stevens

Date Published:

January 2003

The company Bunnyfoot, which was founded in 1999, focuses on UK UX Consultancy, usability and customer experience.

By conducting further research within the purpose of pop ups in advertising, Bunnyfoot has identified attitudes towards these methods and the possible perception of the website, advertiser and observer.

Their experts conducted tasks where by 36 participants viewed two comparable websites. This observation presented ‘a strong sense of dislike for pop-up ads’ (Dodd J, Stevens R 2003). Due to this factor, participants expressed a sense of dislike regarding the website and brand owner.

One participant informed that,

‘There is nothing more annoying than adverts popping up…. It’s enough to make me leave a site’ (Scott, IT Professional)

I agree with this view point as even though on various social media e.g. Facebook I will sometimes be enticed and view certain pop-ups, this generation especially I am bombarded and swamped with advertisements and pop-ups. Some of which are not accurate and biased. However I do not have a complete disliking to all Pop-ups within social media as I use them regularly within my industry. Examples include,

·      Audition/casting details

·      Friends involved within shows (Castlists)

·      New shows and their locations

·      General Information (shows, choreography, directors etc)

(pop up ads are like) ‘…interrupting somebody… (they) divert your attention away from what you want to pay your attention to’ (Lisa, PA)

The major findings produced by this research were:

• ·      50% of adds were closed before the add finished loading
• ·      35% of adds were ignored completely
• ·      There were no positive comments about pop-ups from any of the 36 users tested
• ·      Users feel like their intelligence is being tested because of the suggestion that they cannot find what they are looking for
• ·      Users are frustrated by adverts which appear in the centre of the screen or obstruct information because they are an unwanted interruption

‘I never click through pop-ups… I regard them as an irritation’ (Jack, Architect)

This research has presented that there are apposing opinions regarding pop-ups and advertisement within social media. This observation also shows the opinion of individuals working within other fields. These feelings expressed are conflicting to the opinions of various participants within the Performing Arts Industry that were interviewed. Rather than observing a pop up as a resourceful, informative source to understand and learn about their industry, the concept is know betrayed as an obstructive irritation.

‘I find pop-ups generally annoying because they come into my life whether I want them or not. I almost ignore what they are about…most times I kill it before it has delivered its message’ (Mark, student)

Even though this scheme of research has projected predominantly negative thoughts regarding Pop-ups, previous research has proved contradictory as some users find that Pop-ups have a competitive role within marketing. 

This piece of literature has proved incredibly resourceful regarding my Inquiry, delving and exploring further in to the sub-heading, Media and Technology.  From sectioning my inquiry into 4 sub-headings I have been able to research certain subjects thoroughly thus evaluating their significance within the topic of Wellbeing. From reviewing this source I have identified new opinions, both negative and positive. Some beliefs defer to my interview findings however the same key words have been highlighted from various findings. As well as within my industry this text explores the views of people outside of my work field which has given me a broader perspective of the purpose of Pop-ups. For example, as a performer I do find selected Pop-ups/advertisements very useful and beneficial towards my career and industry, however many individuals outside my industry believe that they are irrelevant, obtrusive and annoying.

I can relate to individuals who are against Pop-ups/advertisements as they are over-powering the web and are in some cases completely irrelevant, off topic containing false or inaccurate information. I do believe that they have impacted my industry in both negative and positive ways:

POSITIVE =
They can provide me with information regarding auditions or casting details and the concept had made everyone more aware of the importance of fitness and health. Therefore we can gain knowledge from certain Pop-ups/advertisement.

NEGATIVE=
They overcrowd the internet and are a nuisance to web surfers. They can presents false or biased information about fitness, health or nutrition thus distorting the truth and tricking web surfers.

Work Life Balance - Alex Huckle

Whilst researching my inquiry I have also been observing my brother (newly graduated after 4 years of intense study) I have gained his permission to blog my findings and have observed a dramatic change within his sense of wellbeing during and after his study.

It is interesting to compare these findings to my profession and industry and I feel that our wellbeing can be impaired if we are deemed under achieving.

The past four years of my brother’s life have been to most challenging, productive and at stressful times, a degree in design and Ergonomics has required dedication and determination to complete modules with at times, unrealistic deadlines. Upon reflection these timescales have developed my brother’s ability to prioritise his work and dedicate most of his time to his study. During his years of study I have witnessed him coming home during Christmas and Easter, working through the bank holidays, compromising ‘family time’ just to meet his deadlines. I recall him coming to stay with me in Plymouth last Christmas to watch my show. He set up his laptop, books and modules within his hotel room and worked every day whilst we as a family spent time together. He was so disciplined that he would stop working in the evening to catch up with us all.

As a family, this had a huge impact on our dynamics, my parents felt guilty at times for not being able to help my brother to free up some of his time, they watched him become extremely tired and anxious. Whilst, he on the other hand felt frustrated that he had to detach himself from us in order to stay on track to meet his deadlines.

The next few months up to final submission proved extremely challenging and sleep deprivation, travelling to and from University to complete user testing research and design work prototyping within the workshops. This was followed by presentations and a wait for his final grading. All of the above factors impacted hugely on his wellbeing describing himself as ‘emotionally drained’ and exhausted. The sense of relief came after his final submission, he described sleeping for a whole day to recuperate, which seemed to be a common practice after each submission of work. (Work life balance totally compromised during this time)

‘Design Week’ concluded his degree and enabled all graduates to display their final project work. The University invited the public and Industry professionals to celebrate their achievements giving the graduates a pathway to network with potential employers. My brother describes a feeling of achievement and a feeling of worth, that all of his studies had been worthwhile. In June he graduated with a First Class honours degree!

New challenges became apparent, moving back home after 4 years, enabled my brother to  rest and recuperate, taking time out to see his friends, go on holiday and regulate his sleeping Pattern. His ‘work life balance‘  reversed from all work to no work, this in its self-played a huge part of his wellbeing being compromised. Without full time employment and only taking on part time work he was limited to the amount of social activities that he could take part in. His fellow graduates began to embark upon their professional careers therefore feelings of anxiety and loss of direction began to enter his thoughts. Being at home all day allowed time to apply for jobs, create a portfolio and help around the house. There was a sense of despair about his student debt and questioning himself about the past 4 years of study being worth while. These few weeks I observed my brother start to be indecisive, doubting his own judgement and become very irritable. After applying for a number of jobs interview offers filtered into his inbox. This gave him the encouragement and incentive to prep for his interviews securing him a job within the field that he has studied with scope to develop and expand his career. Finally it seems that he has found the perfect  ’work life balance’ and a job that challenges him, very little travel and an ability to maintain and finance a social life. All of these factors contribute to a good sense of well being.

Although my brother’s experiences were not related to the Performing Arts Industry, I can relate to his behaviours and thought process during and after his study. My thoughts were parable to his when I had been unsuccessful in numerous castings and recalls. I too questioned by training, its worth and the ability to achieve the career I had worked so hard for. My wellbeing affected my mental health, doubting my own ability. Persistence to audition and move onto the next casting, built up my self-esteem improving my mindset.

Within my profession I am starting to conclude that work life balance cannot be an evenly split between work, relationships and social time. My industry dictates working many unsociable hours and work life balance can be achieved if the important people in your life respect this and work around me to help achieve a manageable ‘work life balance’ and good sense of wellbeing.