Subsequent up in our sequence, Casting within the age of the cloud, is about studying and following instructions when submitting on-line materials.
Awhile again, somebody I do know was having a little bit of hassle sending cash by means of a cash switch web site. She informed me the method was too difficult and that she didn’t perceive it; consequently, she lastly determined that she didn’t need to use the cash switch web site in any respect however as a substitute bodily go to a financial institution and pay for a wire switch. I informed her to carry off on the financial institution switch till the following time we have been in the identical room, in order that I might assist her.
The following time we have been in the identical metropolis and on the identical deal with, we went by means of the method collectively.
Now, I’m the sort of one that typically doesn’t like to easily give individuals all of the steps phrase for phrase however as a substitute ask questions that enable them to mainly do the method themselves — and in so doing, study to be autonomous. So we logged into her account, and to the query “What do I do now?”, I answered, “In most purposes, the reply to that query will be discovered within the menus. Let’s look by means of the menus.” In order we clicked by means of every menu selection, she requested at every one, “So now what do I do?”
To which I answered, “What does it say on the web page?”
After clicking by means of a few the menus, we received to the cash switch web page. Similar query: “So now what do I do?” Similar reply: “What does it say on the web page?” She appeared, then learn one of many menu selections: “Ship Cash?”
Affirmative.
On the following web page, we noticed a area referred to as “Title or e-mail deal with.” Similar query, to which I answered, “What do you suppose?” She received it.
We went to by means of the following few pages within the course of, and finally we received to the ultimate web page, which was just about clean, apart from one sentence to the impact of “Click on Okay to finalize transaction.” On the web page there was one button, labeled…
You guessed it — “Okay.”
However as a substitute of clicking “Okay,” she requested the identical query, “So now what do I do?” however then immediately continued, “Possibly I ought to return. I’ll return.”
I rapidly put my hand on hers and managed to cease her earlier than she hit the “Again” arrow on the browser. I’ll admit that I raised my voice a bit louder as I repeated, “What… does it say on the web page?” She learn it, then requested, “I click on Okay?”
She did, and the transaction was carried out. Completed. Accomplished.
Then the stunning response: “That’s it? That was straightforward!”
A brand new cloud shift however with age-old necessities
Within the final episode of this Casting within the age of the cloud article sequence, I hinted that all the world of dance is presently present process a post-pandemic shift towards the Cloud. It’s a curious migration — not curious due to the actual fact itself of shifting towards know-how (it was inevitable) however curious due to the pace with which it has occurred, after having prevented it for thus lengthy. Simply a short while in the past, video conferencing was a thriller to bounce world. Right this moment, it’s a staple, as dance academics world wide now haven’t any selection however to show a lot of courses by means of video conferencing. It has been fairly wonderful to observe the trade uncover know-how with such fervor, both loving it or hating it. However utilizing it, regardless.
Video conferencing has been part of my very own life for a very long time. However my first time utilizing video conferencing and display screen sharing to really prepare long-distance audition companions was in 2008, once I was making ready a dance audition in Australia that I ran in Sydney in 2009. It has been a useful instrument that I’ve used commonly since then, though my first time utilizing it in a dwell audition context was not till a lot later, in 2016.
Even on-line casting and auditions by means of video submissions have begun to unfold. In a gaggle dialogue that I participated in with different trade professionals when the lockdown first started, one of many members talked about that they’d been auditioning by means of on-line video submissions for the final a yr or so. One other curious migration, I believed, as a result of a big a part of my job for the final 16 years has been auditioning candidates by means of on-line video submissions.
The rationale I point out this isn’t to rub the dance group’s technological lag in anybody’s nostril; removed from it, the purpose of my story lies elsewhere. Sixteen years of casting on-line has include its frustrations, frustrations linked to not solely making an attempt to persuade dancers to use on-line programs but in addition getting them to submit the correct materials and data requested. I believe that now that others are additionally doing their casting on-line, they too could start experiencing among the identical frustrations. I really feel for them. And I empathize. The primary frustration has been what I simply talked about: the submission of insufficient materials or data. When a casting name is posted publicly, there may be often what we name a “breakdown” included: a bodily description of the position, an inventory of the kind of expertise wanted, the submission materials wanted from every candidate, a submission deadline and the place to submit their utility. Generally, there are directions included instantly within the breakdown on how to submit; typically, there’s a hyperlink towards an internet web page the place one can discover submission directions.
These directions are vital to think about, as a result of when a casting director or choreographer asks you for sure skilled instruments (CV, photographs, video, and so forth.) the aim behind the request is to collect data — data obligatory with a view to decide on whether or not or not it’s possible you’ll be proper for a undertaking, an organization, a task. And the rationale that sure codecs of those skilled instruments are particularly requested is to have the ability to collect this data as rapidly as doable, as a result of, extra instances than not, there are plenty of submissions to get by means of.
Everytime you ship in materials that hides that data (i.e. in an over-edited showreel), then you aren’t letting them know what they should know with a view to make that call. In lots of circumstances, there isn’t a time to get again to you and ask you to ship within the appropriate materials; more often than not, your submission will simply be thrown out and so they’ll transfer on to the following candidate. Sadly, nobody has the time to waste.
Take into account as properly that when you don’t submit what’s requested for, we on the receiving finish get the sensation that you just both can’t or received’t observe instructions. The result of that’s easy: nobody desires to work with somebody who doesn’t observe instructions.
And within the occasion of any ambiguity, I say please do ask questions. It’s at all times higher to make clear what isn’t clear, instantly from the supply, than to submit the fallacious factor. Nonetheless — though I encourage all dancers to ask questions, to not be afraid of approaching casting administrators for clarification — earlier than doing so, I might very a lot encourage dancers to take one step again and ask themselves one essential query first.
“What does it say on the web page?”
By Rick Tjia of Dance Informa.
