A Newsletter with a Difference

A few weeks from now, the student committee of the Guild Musical Theatre Group, at the University of Birmingham (England), should be creating a newsletter with a difference.

This newsletter is for both the students and Alumni of this, my old student society. It will connect a group of very talented students, with a group of well connected Alumni. Needless to say, it is a chance to make a few people's careers and connect a great many more.

While there are plenty of drama colleges whose students need these connections, the role of student societies should not be underestimated. As I have said before, the Guild Musical Theatre Group is far more than just another society. In business terms, it would be a strategist's dream come true. Because, after 30 years in existence, its Alumni now occupy key positions in the performing arts industry. Its students have now build their operation to a very professional level. There is a brilliant potential here, for a great many opportunities to be made.

I realize that drama students should be first in line for this kind of opportunity, but I think that this project is a way, to encourage students of other disciplines, to come forward and engage with the performing arts. Besides which, the drama students of my university and others will benefit indirectly, from the exposure and connections, that this newsletter will create.

And there is an important reason why this particular project matters so much. The performing arts as a profession is often misunderstood by outsiders (while I am not an insider myself, I have been fortunate enough to gain a musical theatre qualification, and to work with artists.) I have heard it dismissed time and again, as something to do for a hobby: but not as a way to make a living. So there is not the respect that there would be for other professions. Again and again, young hopefuls are told that there 'aren't the opportunities' to pursue a career in the arts.

But how many future students have been discouraged this way? And how much talent has been wasted? I say that if young people have passion, and talent then it should be used: whether for sport, the arts, or indeed anything they want to pursue. This is surely the purpose of every university, college or school that has ever been founded.

One crucial factor in today's world, however, is that there need to be networks, in place to make this happen. As Linkedin founder, Reid Hoffman writes, it is about 'network building'. This is very true. If there is one thing I've learned for certain, from the world of business, it is that opportunities do not just happen: they are made. Name the company, the institution or the legacy, and in every case, it is there because one individual, or a group of people made a conscious decision, to start something up. Story after story tells of the same humble origins behind a great success. And this newsletter is an opportunity to start something up, that will lead to even bigger things, for a great many talented people.

All members and Alumni of the Guild Musical Theatre Group (or GMTG) are educated, successful and organised people, with a genuine passion for the performing arts. They are quite capable of building a very good network together, and the newsletter would be the perfect way to begin. And if this succeeds, it will be proof that you really can do what you love, for a career. What's more, I know that this could be an inspiration to a great many other students: not only to performing arts students, but students of other professions too.

This is an opportunity that has been waiting to happen. And with the right kind of planning, it will. The newsletter format is a very good way to connect students and Alumni of a profession. To all students who are reading this: I strongly recommend that you set up a newsletter between yourselves and Alumni of your chosen profession, if you haven't already done this.

So for the next few weeks I am really looking forward to the first edition of this newsletter. And I have a feeling that this will be the start of an important opportunity, for a great many people,

Highlights from February 2015

Here are some of the highlights, from the Forum over February 2015:

The Guild Musical Theatre Group, and Student Alumni Networking

After discussions with GMTG’s student committee, they have agreed to create a newsletter, for both students and Alumni to use. This is the first step in an important process.

The reason why I am using Guild Musical Theatre Group (GMTG) as an example for student-Alumni networking, is because of its crucial networking potential. People cannot see the big picture yet, but they will do, as the students and Alumni begin to communicate.

Over the course of 30 years, graduates from the society have moved into key areas of the performing arts industry. Likewise, as I have said before, the students themselves have combined their raw talent and a lot of skill, to build the society into a kind of training school for the stage. So I am sure that, as business analysts would agree, if all of these people were brought together now, they would be able to build a very successful arts network.

Both the students and Alumni are all very talented and indeed, some of the Alumni are themselves, directors of important arts institutions. They are quite capable of organising a project of this scale. This is especially important for the performing arts, as I am assured, that the industry relies on the personal connections between its professionals. Creating a network like this one, would offer new connections, and – most importantly – would not only help students to find good careers: but would create new careers as well.

Having said that, I accept that it will take time. This process will take at least several years, before the students and Alumni on both sides, realise its full potential. The most important thing right now is to make a start. The students and Alumni need to contact one another, and share information. Besides the usual Facebook and other social media pages, a newsletter is a very good way to do this. This was suggested by GMTG Committee’s committee, and although I was sceptical at first, I now see that it has had a lot of support from the Alumni side, and is definitely the way forward.

This project has a lot of relevance to students at other universities, and colleges too. Ours can’t be the only well-established society, with the potential to network its members and Alumni. And I am sure that if successful, GMTG’s example will inspire other student societies to do the same with their Alumni. Of course, the main schools of study themselves, should be the first and most significant place, where the networking happens between the students and Alumni.

Work Experience for Students

As university careers officers have told me, work placements are still mostly optional for their students. Some degrees include them, others do not. Well I say that work placements and work experience for students in their chosen industry – even for a few weeks – should no longer be simply an option: but should form an integral part of their studies.

All students in the UK are now expected to pay a basic tuition fee of around £9,000 a year. That means they are now paying customers. And as I was taught in business, paying customers should expect the same level of service: whether the business is a college or university. All students should be entitled to work experience in their chosen industry. History students should be able to work with museum curators and archaeologists; psychology students with practising psychologists; sports science students with the sports and medical professionals. The list goes on, but the logic is the same.

Of course, the argument will be: why should full time professionals take time out of their important work, to train the students, and what about the costs involved? Well my counter argument is this: how much time and resources must medical professionals take out of their jobs, to teach their students? And yet, it has long been established, at my university and at others, for students of medicine, to be given work experience in the health professions. This must surely take a lot of time and money. But we do it all the same. So why can’t students of all other professions, have the same opportunities?

Qualified Assessment

The UK’s National Citizens Service (NCS) is my latest point of interest, in finding qualified assessment for non-graduates. NCS organisers have told me, that part of their programme involves awarding young people a certificate qualification for ‘Learning a New Skill’. I am wondering if this could be modified, to award young people with several new skills. After all, this kind of programme is aimed at 16-17 year olds, who are likely to be non-graduates.

I have also messaged Apprenticeships UK about this: as their schemes could perhaps be used to award certificates to some non-apprentices. There might even be a way to combine both programmes, and award at least some basic certificates to non-graduates.

I will wait to hear.

Job Creation/Business Start Ups

The Gorilla database is still the clearest way forward, and I will let Marcus set this up, on the relevant social media pages, to build awareness, before any major changes are made. The basic idea, is to put both the ideas and personal contacts for a new business, in one place; so if you or anyone you know, has ideas for a new business, then you are welcome to follow the links on the blog page, and send your ideas to the contact email. These will then be listed on +Google pages for the project.

Summary

These have been the main points on the Let's Build Bridges Forum for the month of February, and I will wait for the various people’s responses this month in March.