College life to Grad life!

For the first time in around 16 years, the moment that you graduate becomes the start of a very different chapter. Daily schedules are no longer ruled

by someone else. There isn't a ballet class

ready paid waiting for you at 9am.

Graduating into a predominantly self employed career is wild. Freedom, the thing you've craved since you were 15 is now the norm and suddenly you have no idea what to do with it!

I can't really remember my first year as a graduate. I know the daily grind became a mix of working freelance jobs (I was a waitress for corporate events in London, I hated it. I was then temporary Christmas staff at Jack Wills, I hated that too. I

taught street dance and ballet in Primary schools - I didn't hate that as much)

The reason I hated it all wasn't because I didn't have a good work ethic. But it was because it wasn't what I dreamed of doing once I'd finished my dance degree.

Graduate life is a lonely one too. The people

who become your friends, whether it was organic or forced into harmony singing with them. Are all of a sudden not the people you interact with. All day you are surrounded by muggles who ask "when you're gonna be on the Westend". Your parents who

say ‘come home, your hardly

making ends meet and you can travel into london easily’, and then your friends from college you see in auditions and in the cafès after auditions. Trying desperately to catch up, but both feeling like poo because the audition didn't go as planned.

I’m really selling this aren't I. [My audition industry essentials course, shows the positive side of

choosing a creative industry, I promise!]

This article resonates with every graduate right? Not just those who dance or perform. How many journalist degree students step straight into a job at

Vogue? If you haven’t, go see the Devil Wears Prada to solidify that thought.

But I want to reframe this struggle as the moment your creative identity is born. This is the chance to do what you want to do.

There used to be a facebook group called The Hustle, it was a hub of all the random

auditions, temporary jobs, random meet ups, things to nag your agent about!

No, it wasn't access to the private audition for the Tate McRae tour (who I dont think was born when I graduated!) but it was a hub of people who were scavenging towards the same dream.

This is where I got some of my first jobs, met some of my best friends and navigated the dance industry as a community.

That group no longer exists I don’t think but I'm

sure there are others.

It’s title "Hustle" that is what I wanted to draw

attention to.

Before graduation whilst at University, it's someone else’s hustle. Upon graduation it's all your hustle. You can't wait for someone else to create your dream. I'm not saying dump your agent if your lucky enough to have one but becoming a professional performer is becoming a creative entrepreneur.

If you can get your head into the mindset of an entrepreneur - then there's your answer to success.

Network; head to class, put yourself

outside your comfort zone.

Be Selective; going to auditions that you know your not going to get are just going to equal a negative correlation between

auditions. You wouldn't go to an interview for a

Doctor, if you were trained as a Dentist.

Go see theatre, fringe, collab on projects, grab the coffee, initiate conversation. This fulfils you, expands your vision and in turn open doors.

Oh and it takes time. . Some people work within the first 6 months, some debut the 'dream' job at 40.

How long its going to take isn't ‘how long is a bit of

string’ . Instead it’s how many strands does that one bit of string have? How intertwined and connected is it? If one part frays, which bit takes the tension?

My best advice - strengthen the string. Don’t measure it.