Student Blog: Do I Have to Market Myself on Social Media?
Do we have to have a following to be hired?
Let’s talk about your social media comfort zone. These days, it seems like everyone is getting hired based on their social media presence. Recently, I’ve felt trapped in a spiral of self-marketing. I am constantly being pushed various self-tapes, showcase videos, and practice room performances. Everyone I know is suddenly posting a video once a week showcasing their talent, catering themselves towards the current Broadway or National Tour season. It starts to make me feel extremely behind. It also doesn’t help that I attend a small theater program where comparison permeates every corner of every hall. When I do post a video of me singing or performing, which is rare, it is always on my stories, and involves me re-watching myself over fifty times, critiquing every little note I sang. I critique it so much to the point that I don’t even want to post it anymore, and then we are back to square one.
Thus, this year, my New Year's resolution was to post more of myself on social media, and really push myself out of my comfort zone. I hated it at first, and honestly, I still hate putting myself out there in this way. What are people saying? Do they think I’m talented enough? Are they sending this to people and making fun of me? What is everyone thinking? The truth is, no one is thinking anything. They’re watching it for five seconds and moving on. Whenever I see a video of a friend or stranger performing, I’m always amazed. One, enamored by their talent, and two, proud of the act of posting in the first place. I can only assume that those who view or follow will extend the same kindness towards me.
As I begin to post more, I feel a sort of freedom that has carried itself into my physical life as well. Since literally putting myself out there, I’ve felt more confident in physical auditions. It takes a lot of guts to post on social media for fear of the hate comments that run rife. But I found that the more I share, the more free I become. It’s the same with my writing. Once I start posting, I realize it really is not as scary as my brain makes it seem, and in fact, I receive kind compliments that fortify my belief in myself. When I rewatch these videos of myself after stepping away from them for a few months, I’m extraordinarily proud.
The truth is, our industry is changing. The way we get hired is changing. Though not essential to a successful career, having an online community that roots for your success gets you into rooms that would have been more difficult to break into if not for your following. All I ask is that we reframe this, and turn it into a positive experience where we can grow our own self-assurance, and post our work for ourselves first and foremost. This career path is incredibly hard, so we must find our own small wins within its daunting nature.
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