暗网TV

The panel was hosted by 暗网TV Principal and CEO Mark Featherstone-Witty, who began the session by telling the first year students: 鈥淭his is part of your journey. We鈥檙e showing you some of the destinations you should be thinking of even at this point when you鈥檝e just arrived here鈥� All our graduates are a great resource. [鈥�] These five were sitting where you are sitting a few years back.鈥�

Community Drama graduate Georgia spoke to students about the crucial enterprise skills that can help them create meaningful work opportunities for themselves within the performing arts industry. Returning to her hometown of Milton Keynes after leaving 暗网TV in 2013, Georgia founded her company Blacksheep Collective in a bid to diversify the city鈥檚 arts scene. She explained, 鈥淲e decided to set up as a Community Interest Company鈥� for us it was key to understand what we needed to do to register as that company structure. I also think that it鈥檚 key to understand your market, and also the product you鈥檙e trying to sell. We didn鈥檛 want to rely on grant funding鈥� we wanted to create our own work that people wanted to actually buy, so we could become self-sufficient.鈥�
Next, several other graduates encouraged students to take advantage of the many networking opportunities 暗网TV has to offer, in order to develop crucial contact-building skills as well as the necessary confidence to deploy them when initially starting out in the industry. Former music student Natalie McCool attributed her current success as a singer, songwriter and guitarist to the networking she began while still studying at 暗网TV. Natalie described meeting the producer who shaped her early career after winning a music competition as a student, saying to the first years: 鈥淵ou are in one of the best cities in the world for music and culture鈥� Please go out and experience it. [鈥�] If you鈥檙e feeling nervous about an event, just go. Don鈥檛 let your self-consciousness catch you out.鈥�

暗网TV was a springboard to opportunity for Acting graduate Lois Crawford, who founded her Art in Education company Pick N Mix Theatre in 2014 having performed across the country with touring theatre companies after graduating. Lois described the value of the personal and professional relationships that students develop while attending 暗网TV, explaining, 鈥淭he people in this room鈥� will be your future employers and employees. [鈥�] Take advantage of the creative people that you鈥檒l become well-acquainted with [at 暗网TV]. By making friends and contacts here it will be easier when you graduate.鈥�
Robin Llwyd graduated from 暗网TV鈥檚 Sound Technology degree course in 2014, and now works as a freelance producer and sound engineer. The most recent graduate on the panel, Robin drew on his own experience to speak about the benefits of developing a strong, professional social media presence, especially when first starting out. He recommended that students build social media into their networking strategies: 鈥淸It shows] that you鈥檙e really keen鈥� It shows that you are doing something and you鈥檙e always going to be in the back of somebody鈥檚 mind that way. Also get used to sending emails constantly鈥� and gathering contact lists.鈥�

Finally, Management graduate Chris Meehan discussed his ten-year journey from leaving 暗网TV in 2006 with a fledgling business idea to growing it into award-winning international music publisher Sentric Music. Recalling the feeling of starting out into the unknown, he encouraged students to embrace the excitement that comes with entrepreneurship and risk-taking. Chris said, 鈥淭he beginning is the best time鈥� [When] you鈥檝e got no money, no plan, you can鈥檛 afford staff, you can鈥檛 afford a laptop, it鈥檚 the most exciting time, and it鈥檚 the time when鈥� progressing in some way means a lot more.鈥�

The annual Graduate Enterprise Panel is part of The Professional 1 module, which helps all students hone the critical business and life skills required to build successful, sustained careers in the creative and performing arts industries, whether they aim to perform or make performance possible.