If you’re a professional or a budding professional, you’ll soon start to notice that there is an ebb and flow of work over the year. Although every year and every dancer is different, the one consistent thing in our industry is there are slow and busy times. As we head toward the end of another holiday season which has an abundance of seasonal work, it can be easy to forget the challenges the first quarter of the year can bring.
With the exception of a dance role here and there during pilot season, work can slow down. If you’re not already on a gig, you may be affected by this annual dip. It’s not a rule, but if you feel like there are fewer auditions to attend at the start of the year, you’re not alone. While the number of jobs that are out there is out of our hands, we do have control over how we spend the time waiting for opportunities.
1. Do some housekeeping.
If it’s slow for you, take it as an opportunity to do some housekeeping. The work you do to make sure your business is running properly will serve you well. Walking into auditions with old material isn’t great and we all know how stressful it can be to cut videos on iMovie at a moment’s notice. Imagine when you’re double-booked and running around the city to castings and auditions. Take the time to make sure everything with your business is running smoothly. You’ll be really glad you took care of this stuff when it gets busy again.
2. Connect with your agent.
If you already have an agent, touch base with them. Agents are busy so don’t expect a long conversation, but it’s always worth checking in. If you don’t already have an agent, the new year is a great time to start searching for one. L.A.’s industry is agent-driven, so if you want access to the bigger gigs, you’ll need representation. All agencies have annual auditions throughout the year. Research each of the agencies, talk to other dancers about who they’re with and their experience with them, and submit your materials via the directions for submission on their sites.
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3. Refresh your marketing materials.
Headshots
It’s not always necessary to redo headshots every year, but if it’s been a while or you haven’t been working, it might be time. Consult your agent, get some new direction, and schedule a photo shoot.
Résumé
Thankfully, updating your résumé is less expensive than getting your headshots redone. Refresh your information by adding new gigs you did over the past year and purging older ones. As you get more jobs under your belt, you can get rid of the jobs that you might have put on your résumé as space fillers.
Reel
Did you do a bunch of gigs that you may have new footage from? First things first, get your hands on it. This is easier said than done sometimes. It can take a while to get footage from production companies, but it’s worth it when you have it on your demo reel. When you’ve got what you need, create or update your reel on your own or hire a video editor.
Online Casting Sites
Online casting sites are how agents submit dancers to casting agents for jobs. If you don’t have a profile, create one as soon as possible. Consult with your agent about which ones you need to have a profile on, upload headshots, a résumé, and videos, and be as specific as possible about what your special skills are. Creating and updating your digital materials on casting sites can be pricey, but it’s absolutely necessary. Think about it this way, if you book just one or two gigs through it, it pays for itself.
4. Go to class.
There’ll be times when you have absolutely no time to work on your craft, so take this as an opportunity to do so. Refresh your current skill set, whatever it might be, and reconnect with choreographers and teachers who you already have a relationship with. Take a step outside of the classes you normally go to and try something new. If you usually take heels class or hip hop, try a technical class or a partnering workshop. You never know when you’ll have to perform a different style on a job and it’s always preferable to be prepared for those moments.
5. Create your own work.
If you choreograph, create your own project. Grab some friends, rent studio space, set some choreography, and film it. It’ll kill multiple birds with one stone because it’ll get your creative juices flowing, keep your mind and body occupied when you’re not auditioning, and you’ll have a finished product to use as a marketing tool. As a bonus, you’ll connect with your colleagues and be helping them out too. If you’re not one to lead up a project like this, connect with your dancer friends. There’s a good chance you can join an existing group.
Remember that being a professional dancer means you’re also your own small business. Dancing is only part of your job. Do your housekeeping and connect with or audition for representation, refresh all your marketing materials, work on your craft, expand your skillset, and work your creative magic in the studio. The work you do in the slower part of the new year can make for a more successful 2020.
Ready to find your next gig? Check out Backstage’s dance audition listings!
The views expressed in this article are solely that of the individual(s) providing them,
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
