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The Dive Podcast
Welcome to The Dive Podcast
Hey, I’m Taylor Scanlan—a Musical Theatre performer with over 10 years of experience, and the creator of The Aligned Performer, a community-led business dedicated to helping emerging artists like you step into the industry with confidence and clarity.
This podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the performing arts world.
Whether you’re preparing for auditions, managing self-doubt, or figuring out how to sustain a long-term career, The Dive Podcast is here to guide you.
Here’s what you can expect:
🎭 Live Q&A Episodes: Every other week, I’ll answer your questions directly, sharing insights and strategies to help you move forward.
🎤 Industry Expert Interviews: On alternate weeks, I sit down with seasoned professionals who share their journeys, actionable advice, and what they’ve learned about thriving in this industry.
If you’re ready to build confidence, master your mindset, and create a sustainable, fulfilling career in the arts, you’re in the right place.
Let’s dive in together! 🎭✨
The Dive Podcast
26: Networking Authentically, Social Media & Motivation with Sophie Holloway
Navigate the complexities of authentic networking in the performance world with us. Sophie sheds light on her rise to recognition through consistent hard work and dedication, rather than relying solely on initial opportunities. We discuss the pressures of authenticity, the dangers of rushing success, and how social media can be a tool for genuine sharing. Learn about the balance between showing your progress and maintaining sincerity, and the importance of researching and learning from industry professionals.
Finally, we explore the unique challenges faced by Australian performers and how these can become strengths. With limited opportunities, Aussie artists often develop a versatile skill set, giving them an edge internationally. Sophie and I discuss work ethic, attention to detail in dance class settings, and the value of creating a supportive learning community. We wrap up the episode with encouragement to explore our resources, join our Instagram community (@thedivecomau), and celebrate the positive impact of mutual support and ongoing education in the dance industry.
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this week on the dive podcast, we have sophie holloway joining us and I wanted to give you an insider look at the five-day mindset challenge we ran a week ago, from the time of filming this, and I just wanted to share it with you because this session was so valuable into learning how to navigate the industry authentically, learning about social media and also learning how to network with other professionals in a way that is authentic. So let's get into it. How are you, soph?
Speaker 2:Happy Friday, let's go, oh gosh.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much for being on, sophie. It's just awesome to have you on, and everyone needs to get their notepads, pens paper, all the things ready, because you're just going to get so much value out of today and to really just smash and complete the final day of five. It's crazy so exciting.
Speaker 2:I've been tuning in during the week and having a listen, having a read of the comments and I just, taylor, this is just so inspiring and just these people are so lucky and I'm learning.
Speaker 2:I was tuning in because I'm learning from listening to everybody and I guess it just goes to show that you never stop growing as an artist and as a person and that's the only true way to navigate through this industry is to keep your mind open. And this whole thing is about mindset and I suppose it just goes to show that the way your head's at is where is the proof in the pudding Like that changes you can be. It doesn't matter how talented you are, if your head's proof in the pudding like that, changes you can be. Doesn't matter how talented you are. If your head's not in the right place, your gift doesn't get out to people the way that it deserves to. So you have to start with the mind and especially in this day and age and with the up-and-coming generation, their mindset is more important than ever. I think, and I'm even realizing that no matter like how experienced I am, my work is only good if my mind is in the right place to inspire.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, amazing, I'm inspired too. I've been learning just as much as well and I've always said with the dive itself, I even just growing up into my career I had I was very fortunate to have such a supportive family. I would never had anyone around me say that I couldn't do anything and sometimes that's a good and bad thing, but I just saw everything as if no one's telling me I can't, then I can, let's go. I always felt like I was supported and I could be passionate about what I was doing and I guess inherently that made my mindset super strong to believe in myself Growing up and having that.
Speaker 1:I was like when I got into this I realized that people didn't have that, and so we can now all come together and be that support for you guys to start realizing this. My hope is that you end up having a career that is a lot more fulfilling and something that you believe that it's for you, basically not for anyone else. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Totally. I think it's that you don't realize what you have until you get that little bit older and get some perspective of seeing how other people struggle. And especially because I teach so much, I see it in even really young people Like I. Compare their journey to mine at the same age and I just obviously we are living in a different world, but it is the mindset is different, and I think it comes from the support you have or the knowledge that you have or where the motivation is coming from. And I think I'm going to start.
Speaker 2:My first topic is about, like, your motivation and about where it's coming from. And is it coming from the right place? All motivated and we're all inspired and there's constantly things in front of us, whether it's on the internet, people in class next to us, our teachers showing us the way, inspired by watching films or seeing musicals or whatever it is. But is your motivation and I actually think that Luca, on the first day, like touched a little bit on like why are you doing this and where is it coming from? So I think I always just remind myself, constantly on the daily, that when I'm motivated to do something, I check him and myself and I'm like what is the byproduct of this? What am I getting out of it? And is this the right motivation?
Speaker 2:Because we're all only human and sometimes, selfishly, the motivation could be for not for selfish reasons, but is it actually going to get you further in your career? Is it going to get you a quick validation, like right now, and it's justifying whether, for example, like going to a class, am I going to this class because I'm going to get a good video or am I going to this class because the choreography is really and the teaching is really good for me? Am I going to the class because I don't know the teacher very well and I want to be more connected with their industry? And there's no right or wrong motivation, because they're all valid and I remind myself that they are all valid. I guess I think I just have a really healthy relationship with like why am?
Speaker 2:I doing this To please somebody else? Is it to get a paycheck? Is it for my own inspiration and to like feel like my cup is full? Is it to actually challenge myself and do something that makes me uncomfortable? And the motivation should be different all the time and, I think, as artists, to really propel your career and get it in the right place sooner. Obviously, we don't have to fast track anything, but you don't have time to waste.
Speaker 2:In this industry. I like to think you don't have time to waste, but you only have time to learn. If you don't put yourself in scenarios to learn, you are wasting time. So you have time. So you have time. We all have time.
Speaker 2:I'm still learning. I'm 30 years old. I'm still learning. I'm still experiencing things and exploring things about myself as an artist or a creative or a dancer all the time. I have huge hopes and dreams ahead of my career, even though I have achieved some really awesome milestones already. But you still have time. I have time for every stage in my career and every stage in my dance journey or whatever you want to.
Speaker 2:But if you're putting your time into the wrong things or the wrong motivation, then you don't have time. That's how you waste time. So never putting pressure on yourself that you have to do something faster or quicker or the right way, but if your motivation behind it is the right thing, you're doing it right for you. So I think straight away, like that just ties in with an example of like my career and just like starting from the beginning, I'll give a few examples.
Speaker 2:Like I was in a big dance school that had a lot of I had amazing teachers, don't get me wrong. But in comparison to now, I feel like young people are connected, educated, they're networking from a very young age because of the schools that they train at. And that's why you choose to go to a certain school is because of the exposure, because of the training that you're going to get, the vast amount of teachers, the vast amount of opportunities and I'm not saying I didn't have a range of teachers and opportunities, but no, my teachers were on one hand and now young people have five teachers in one day.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Five teachers period. So I went. I didn't go to a school with exposure, I went to school with experience and knowledge and education but not with exposure. And I didn't go to a full-time institute after high school. So that meant that a lot of young people get a lot of their experience and education and their networking and get connected with different genres and styles of dance and what path am I going to go to from full-time. And there was also no social media. So that's a whole other thing that I didn't have to help me navigate and explore and be exposed. And then I went straight from high school to.
Speaker 2:I just had a normal person's job worked at Gloria Jeans making coffees, taught babies classes, went to open call auditions and open classes at Sydney Dance Company and all that cool stuff that at the time was really cool and that's what everybody no, that's not what everybody did, but that's what I chose to do. And at the time everyone else went to full-time or they went to uni. They were the only two options and me and my best friend were actually two of the only people at the time in our age bracket that I knew that didn't do that and we both decided to. I guess you could say take a gap year, even though in our minds we were going to work. We just knew that we wanted to work. We wanted to get straight in the industry somehow. And I took a cruise ship contract job straight away and I did that and there were so many people that said to me don't do that, sophie, why are you going on a cruise ship? You're better than that. You don't need a cruise ship. And I thought you know what? Like I'm not doubting that this job is not the biggest thing that I'm hopefully ever going to do, but right now this is the perfect step for me.
Speaker 2:And I just remember doing something that nobody else was doing. No one else was going on cruise ships. It had a stigma at the time. This was like 13 years ago now. Like it's so different now Everybody's like getting on ships and understands how amazing the job is and how important it is for experience and income and there's just so much more exposure to choreographers now.
Speaker 2:But at the time it was like a daggy dance job that nobody did and I was like I don't care, I'm doing it and I think straight away, my motivation behind doing the cruise ship was because I wanted to earn money and travel the world and get experience, not because I wanted to be in someone's face or I wanted to get my dream job straight away, or because I put pressure on the fact that it wasn't going to be cool or the stereotype wasn't right. It wasn't going to be cool or it wasn't. The stereotype wasn't right. The mission was experience, income, travel, dance on stage, so it was a no-brainer to do it.
Speaker 2:And then, similarly, when I did the cruise ships and I put that to bed, then I went over to New York in audition for the Rockettes, just like off on a whim, and again the motivation was not I have to book this dream job. The motivation was I need to experience something that I haven't experienced before. This looks like something that could suit me. I'll just give it a go. And my mindset was always like I can't lose. All I can do is gain something, and it's not necessarily a job, but I'm gaining something. And I think that comes in to networking as well. Yeah, like, your motivation to connect with people in the industry has to be for the right reasons, like not to be best friends with them, be picked out in their class.
Speaker 2:The motivation to network with people is because you know that they have knowledge that you need to gain so what I'm trying to say is once I did the cruise ship thing and I obviously got the job with the Rockets, but that was only for three months out of the year. For the other months I was home in Australia, like navigating this industry in Australia, and of course, anytime you travel and then come back, people always scared oh, I'm not going to be able to stay connected, no one's going to know who I am. That's where I really had to work on my networking then, because I didn't go to a big school where people knew me from the age of 14 years old. I wasn't attached to a full-time school where I had mentors that I was taught by or trained by, and then I didn't have a job in this country to have had Australian dance experience. My jobs were overseas, where all those people that I did network with there weren't in Australia for me to actually continue to be exposed by. So I had to work really hard at that. I don't think I ever thought about the fact that I was networking, though this is the interesting part when you bring up the topic.
Speaker 2:I think my motivation and my mindset was always like I need to learn from other people, I want to be surrounded by people that are doing great things. I am inspired and this feels right and I love to be challenged. So anybody that knew more than me was a challenge for me to be around and I was never scared of that. And in turn, you end up networking in the most genuine way possible because your motivation behind being around those people is for the right reasons. So I get people in full-term schools asking me now like how do you, how can you give me advice on how to network better with people? And I just think there is no advice, because if it's coming from a genuine place and your motivation is because of the craft, not because of a relationship, then the networking happens. I think I'm very blessed to be surrounded and call some Australian dance icons my friends. And when I think about it now and I put it into perspective, little 20-year-old Sophie was never trying to get in front of, was never trying to have those people in her life. They just ended up in my life because I trusted that I was doing things, because I just wanted to learn and I just wanted to have an open mind, and you can smell a genuine connection, like in my life, and an ingenuine one also reeks. Nobody is silly, and especially with social media now it's so much easier to connect with people, but you can tell when it's forced and it's to try to propel themselves in really quickly than other ways that are really genuine.
Speaker 2:So I guess it means what I'm trying to say is you have to put in the work. So if somebody knows your name and you've gotten yourself in a scenario where you've been introduced to somebody or they know your name or they've seen you in a class, it is then your duty. That's not where the networking stops. It's then your duty to prove that your relationship with them or the exposure that you've been given to them, now you have to put the proof in the actual work. So then you have to go to more classes, then you have to turn up at the audition and do a good job. Then you have to present yourself on social media as the person that they met that day.
Speaker 2:Withholding the standard is part of the networking. And if you are lucky enough to get an opportunity where you are introduced to somebody or you're in a classroom or one of your teachers is close friends with somebody else that you are inspired by or want to work with, it's then your duty, like it doesn't stop there. It's, then, your duty to prove you know, because I know for a fact that people, especially when I got the job with the Rockettes, people were like, oh, that Sophie Holloway girl, she's a New York City Rockette. Like people didn't know who I was in Australia, necessarily. But then they knew who I was because they heard about me getting that job.
Speaker 2:Then when I came to Australia I was like, oh, the Rockette. Okay, so that's people knowing who I am, or word of mouth. But then I had to show them that I'm more than a Rockette, or I am that, and that this is because of this because I dance this way, or I have this work ethic, and that this is because of this because I dance this way, or I have this work ethic, or and that does feel like a lot of pressure, but it's not pressure if it's genuine. Again, because I wanted, I want to deserve the credit that I get and I want somebody to speak highly of me constantly and not just like that one time or by word of mouth. I want them to see and go.
Speaker 2:Oh, I get why that choreographer lacks her yeah she does this, or because when she was in my class last week she was this, or when I spoke to her at that event she was. I guess that just yeah. The networking thing is you can't force it and if you're doing the right things for the right reasons and the motivation is in the right place, it will happen very organically.
Speaker 1:Amen, I love that. Thank you so much for sharing. And I think that comes back down to what we're talking a lot this week on that sense of feeling that you have to rush, like everyone's, in this massive rush to succeed or to make it or whatever. But I feel like with this information hungry and we'll get into a bit more social media soonish but with this there's this presence of rushing and needing to like get everything now and that time's running out if you don't get something. But I feel same with me when we, when I was training, we you showed up and you showed up every single day.
Speaker 1:I remember like training from nearly 8 am till sometimes 6 pm at night and that was like Monday to Saturday and then teaching like you've got to show up. There's no fast ticket to to this industry, to anything. And I love that you said about authentic networking, because it's the people that aren't trying to network that end up networking really. Well, if you're thinking, how can I network? Or you're really in a, maybe it's coming from a place that you may not know that's, how can I network with someone so I can speed up, or they can just see me and I can do that.
Speaker 2:Exactly Like it has to be. You have to trust that if and again it goes back to motivation, your mindset if your mindset is in the right place and a genuine place and you're motivated because you purely just want to be a better performer or you want to get yourself in scenarios to better yourself as an artist, then the networking will genuinely happen. Yeah, and it's the same thing for me. I don't even think I'm necessarily important or powerful enough to be a network for people, but I do have relationships with people that are booking people, work and are choreographers. So and they do reach out to me for my opinion on people, but it always I just give my opinion based on the work that I see people do, because I am very close, because I'm going to the classes and I'm at the auditions with you and I see who else is going to the audition and who else is going to class and training and I'm on socials, whereas the older generation above me aren't always on socials as much. I do see and then I can say, yeah, that person looks like they train really hard. I think you should give them a go. Or yeah, I saw them in class last week and they were awesome and then someone goes thanks, sophie, for your opinion. Doesn't necessarily mean I'm actually booking people jobs or giving giving them opportunities, but I am a person who can give my opinion based on literally not whether I am friends with you or not, but just because I see the work that you do and that is networking. You don't actually have to have a friendship or relationship with someone to be networking. You're networking through an example that you're showing, that I'm seeing, and I don't even have to know you or have ever spoken to you, but I know what you look like and I know your name and I saw you in that class and you were working really hard and maybe we didn't speak, but you still networked through me, yes, without you even realizing. So that's again what I'm talking about a genuine networking. It's not about forcing a relationship with people. It's about just putting doing the right. People will see you doing the work. That's another thing. Don't put in work to better your craft and train and force people to see that you're doing it. If you're doing it right and it's actually changing you as an artist, they will see it. So then that kind of brings you to social media.
Speaker 2:Obviously, everybody wants to show the work that they're doing on social media. Whether it's like in class, or you want to post about how you had your vocal lesson, or you want to say that you went to this audition or whatever, that's all good, and we are totally open to do that. I always encourage people to do that, yeah, but we can see when it's forced, though, and when it's because you actually really did put in the work. Also, sometimes, picking your battles with what you show and what you don't show in terms of your progress is such a tough one, and I think young people struggle with this.
Speaker 2:Because I need to post things. I need to show people that I'm dancing, but I don't want it to look like it's bad quality, or I don't want it to look like there's heaps of other people in the video and this and that I just can't get the videos. No, no, no, no, no. And then, on the other end, it's like some people are so selective with what they post that it's almost like they don't have enough content for people to see. I don't really, honestly, ever remember battling with that, because I just backed myself.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:I posted content because I was genuinely proud of it. I thought that I did a great job. I was, it was coming from a genuine place Like I was training and I was putting in the work, and that's when people started to notice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you were, you're sharing your experience in that moment. You were, it was that moment and sharing it in a way of oh, I want to bring everyone into that moment where I felt that and it comes down to a lot.
Speaker 2:I think something that we don't really get taught in full-time or in training is to actually start looking at yourself as a full you're a business, you're a business front, you're you and the best thing and every business goes through their own stages, and that little new, brand new cafe on the corner looked good when it first opened up and then it had a few little kinks in here and there along the way and then it got bigger because it learned lessons and then the clientele built and then the quality got better. And that is you as a business too. And if you don't show the growth I think this is another thing people admire the growth more than you think. So, like when you're sharing things on socials in every moment, you might think this isn't my best or I can do better than this, but in this moment, this was your best. And, yes, you can do better than this and you will do better than this if you keep training, but it doesn't mean that you can't show this moment right now. And if you go back onto my Instagram, I'm guilty for like never deleting anything which, like by now I probably should, because there's another part of me that, like enjoys the journey of my dancing and the quality of my, even my choreography.
Speaker 2:Throwbacks all the time come up in my memories and all that stuff and I think, wow. And then I remember. I don't remember the moment, I remember how I felt and I remember I don't remember the moment. I remember how I felt and I remember I was proud of this, or I thought this was the coolest choreo I'd ever done, or I thought that this song was like so great.
Speaker 2:Or I remember that outfit and and I just giggle to myself and I feel like a little bit sparkly inside because I am can see the growth now, and at the time I didn't think twice about posting it because in that moment I thought it was was the fricking best thing ever. That's it. And I think people are thinking too far ahead. Oh, in X amount of time I won't think this is good. Yeah, you can get rid of it then, but don't stop you from showing you now, because the growth is what people admire. And I think a lot of people did start to follow my dance journey because they saw something in me and I think a lot of people did start to follow my dance journey because they saw something in me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, has actually strengthened my brand because they see the growth rather than going. Oh, yeah, she used to be bad.
Speaker 1:Yeah, everyone used to be bad, but then you put in the work and then you're not bad anymore.
Speaker 2:So I think a healthy amount of sharing online, but your progress is so important and I always encourage people. If you think it's great, then people will buy it.
Speaker 2:If you have hesitations and you're not sure if it's your best dancing, then don't share it, because people can read through that yeah like even I use like my Latin as an example, like I'm not a trained Latin dancer like my whole life, like I did with my ballet and my jazz and my tap. But it was something that I was inspired by and I thought, oh my God, I love the way Latin dancers move. It's, it just looks so beautiful. I love the lines, the aesthetic of it and I thought my body could probably do that. And then I took class because I liked it, not because I thought I was the best at it, and then because I was enjoying myself.
Speaker 2:People then people then think, oh, she's actually good at that, but I'm not necessarily the most technical Latin dancer in the world absolutely not. There's a lot of corners, I'm cutting there, but, yeah, passion and the love for it and it makes people buy it as, oh, she's a professional Latin dancer and it's. The same goes for your posts on the internet. If you think that you did a really good job and you were having the best time and you were dancing and you're proud of that, then people will see that through the video. But if you're hesitating and you don't think it's your best or you didn't think that was the greatest dancing, but I feel like I need to post. So it looks like I was training. Well, just don't post it, because if you're not into it, people aren't going to be into it yeah, post it.
Speaker 2:If it's through instagram, post it on a story just there's so many, there's so many more ways to share now that, yeah, it doesn't have to be a full post professionally like there's no excuse now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just just be.
Speaker 2:Just continue showing people that and showing yourself that you're showing up some other, some other advice that, like my agent and like other mentors of mine that are in that casting, they always say like you can pin things now to your profile and have highlights and things like that so you can still share other content, so that there is content. But you can also say this is my best thing right here, look at this first, and people who are casting and agents and choreographers.
Speaker 2:we don't have time. We're not actually sitting there scrolling and watching every one of your videos, but if you highlight something important or the most recent thing that you've done is right there, that's what they're going to look at. They're not going to go back and look at your 2018 dance videos and see how bad you were back then, like it doesn't actually work like that. But yeah, I just think there's no excuse now to sharing, and you can always take things down after you've posted them and you can always get better, so then your posts end up getting better and again, if it's coming from the right place, it's worth sharing.
Speaker 1:Great, love it. We'll take a little pause here because we've got a whole bunch of people on the Facebook group. Great yeah, it's all good. And we've got Davey on our Zoom and if you're watching in the replay, please comment away. I've said this on nearly every call Sophie's in the group, so if you have questions and you're watching tag Sophie and she'll definitely answer, but I'd love to open the floor.
Speaker 1:I think it's a great spot now to open for questions. Does anyone have any questions about branding, about social media, about anything to do with Soph? And yeah, type away, give us a comment and we'll get your questions answered. But yeah, as you're writing, because sometimes it takes a little bit to come through, you're just so right and you're hitting the nail on the head about showing up authentically and I want to start helping people show up just as they are, not this finished, polished thing, because there's so much power in just showing up real, showing up authentic, showing up raw, because that's actually more attractive than this finished and polished thing. Maybe that's what you're focusing on a lot. The other day, when in our mindset class we were talking about social media and I gave everyone an exercise to go and unfollow any profile that makes you feel inadequate or makes you, when you see it, you feel, oh, that's like wrong, you know, and it's so important because you're, if it's not making you feel good and not inspiring you, I don't think it's also about unfollowing?
Speaker 2:I think that a lot of young people don't follow the right things, like not necessarily unfollowing things that are making you feel icky or not confident, but empower yourself to follow more things that are inspiring, like it's your job to educate yourself. And I always say to kids if you see a movie and there's dancing in it and you love the dancing, straight away you should. I do, I Google who choreographed the film or who choreographed the musical. But I just feel like young people don't do that, they just go oh yeah, I really like that chore. But then you have to go the next step. Then you have to be like okay, who choreographed it? Now, who? Now I'm going to look them up on Instagram, then I'm going to find out 10 other things about that choreographer and then it links me to this page and this page and now I've all of a sudden learned about who choreographed my favorite thing. But I also have now seen that they also choreographed these other five things and the number one assistant is this person. So I'm actually going to follow this assistant and the choreographer because if I'm inspired by this movement or if I like the way this looks, I need to be watching, like subconsciously, when I wake up in the morning and I check my phone, which is what everybody does Am I looking at cute bikini pics of people on holidays and feeling sorry for myself that I'm working hard and I'm not as fit as I'd like to be?
Speaker 2:Or am I looking at choreography that I love and I'm inspired by, and then I'm empowered to know more about the industry that I want to work in? It's as simple as that. And then watch other things that person's choreographed. And then that's the education too. Like not just saying double tapping going I like that, okay, why did you like that? You liked it because actually you don't know, because you haven't done any research on that choreographer or that film or that dancer or I love that performer okay, cool. Where are they from? Where did they train? What do they do? What's their most recent job? And then you're, you just keep learning about people and open your mind to other people's journeys, because I think we're so compare, like there's so much comparison in this industry, but I believe that people struggle with comparison if you're not aware of more people.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:The minute more about more vastness, about different people's journeys. Comparison doesn't even come into it, because you can see just how different everyone is If you only know this small bubble of people that you're comparing yourself to, because they went to my full-time school or they live in Sydney or they are in that musical at the moment and I'm going to think about what job they did before, what job they did after, what job they're doing next. That's not our industry. Our industry is huge and I think I have never compared myself to somebody within like their journey, maybe like my dancing or my skills, but not am I doing the right thing at the right time, because no one's journey is the same and everybody is doing something different yeah.
Speaker 1:I know everyone's heard that a million times, but I know we've actually had a session on it. On comparison, I'm a big believer that anything that you're comparing yourself to is a reflection of your inactivity. So so it's like someone's doing really well. You have a conscience Like, oh, they're looking amazing, or whatever I'm like, it's always a reflection of oh, I'm not doing that. But the good thing is you have 100% control to change it. So get off your butt. Off we go.
Speaker 2:I'll always start comparing myself if I'm feeling like I'm out of work. Yes, and I'm feeling like I'm out of work, yes, and I'm like, okay, what's my job to fix that I'm out of work, instead of comparing myself to other people and making myself feel bad or feel sorry for myself because I'm not as busy as I once was. Okay, let's do some positive things Sophie, to find things to work on, or yourself a new project. I definitely always do that. Sorry, did somebody else ask a question?
Speaker 1:Yes, we have a question on the Facebook group and on Zoom as well. So, Davey asked from your time in America, did you notice any difference between the dancers over there and the dancers over here?
Speaker 2:Oh, of course, I think I'm obviously on team Australian and I just think that Aussies have this unforgivable work ethic. It's we just don't stop, and I think that's another perspective thing that I I have learned because I've spent time over there. I don't when I'm in Australia.
Speaker 2:obviously you're comparing to people here yeah if you want to work globally or internationally like we are doing the work, we are probably doing more work than people overseas. They don't realise that. It's not on purpose. It's just because opportunities are far and few here, so people are working in overdrive. Also, the industry is so much smaller, so the comparison is so much higher so the level is so much higher.
Speaker 2:I also feel like overseas I'm not going to say people aren't versatile, but because the countries, especially America, are so big they find their niche and they push it to the extreme because it's more important that they work in that one industry, whether it's like hip-hop or music theatre or whatever commercial jazz because they don't have to do everything. If they're amazing at one craft, they can consistently work in that genre. But in Australia there is no work in one genre consistently enough, like there is, because of exposure and opportunity here. So Australians are naturally so much more versatile here in general. And so when you do go overseas, you realize that you have so many skills and while you may think I'm not the best music theater performer that there is and that person in America is like incredible you have 10 other skills that they don't have.
Speaker 2:They've never stepped foot in a hip hop class before and they can't like fake a groove to save their life. Or they've never had any experience in teaching and educating, because and that's another thing I feel like overseas they don't do everything like everyone here does. Like a lot of performers here, they're trying to make it work, so they they teach, they have a normal job on the side. They're still working and auditioning, they're working on their choreography and the creative side of them, like we're doing all the strings to the bow whereas over there. So whether it's better or worse, I don't know. I think it does mean that Australians create more opportunities for themselves when they do go overseas, and that's why I don't know any Aussie that hasn't worked when they've gone over there, because we actually have so many options.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And it doesn't limit our yeah, exposure or experience.
Speaker 1:Wonderful and I love that, because even when I went to UK, for example, we put this such a. I feel like we put, for example, west End and Broadway on such an impressive pedestal or that they're their be all, end all. And then when I got there, like I was watching a few musicals going these dancers are marking this I was like what is going on, that work, ethic and drive, and that was obviously just that night. There's so many other factors that could have gone into that, but I think-.
Speaker 2:No, it happens a lot.
Speaker 1:But I, like, I feel like we are working so hard and we don't see the value in what you're already doing. Let today's call anyone that's listening in to really inspire you that what you're doing here in Australia and if you're not in Australia, totally fine, welcome to the Aussies Take this into your stride and know that what you're doing is enough and that it's working, and that there's no falling behind. Everything that you're doing is exactly what you're going to be doing and even if you're in a soft spot now, just know that you can lean on your training. You can lean on the support system here and Australia as a whole to help you keep going.
Speaker 2:But also if it's not working like you don't have. That's why I went and auditioned for the Rockettes, because at the time in Australia, I wasn't satisfied with what opportunities were available to me and I wasn't feeling like the boxes that there were to fit into were suiting me for in terms of work.
Speaker 2:So I went, I'm gonna go somewhere else and find it, and you know I have a lot of dancers that I've trained, that get to their like early twenties and they've done the full-time courses and they've tried the hustle here in Australia and then they're like okay, financially, I'm more secure now and I've got more experience and I'm more mature.
Speaker 2:I'm going to go overseas and try and it's I always tell people, it's not about what you get when you go there, it's about what you bring home.
Speaker 2:Like it's not about you're going there to get something that you don't have here, it's that you're coming home to then feel validated in your skills, have perspective on like we were just talking about, because it's all unknown before you travel and before you go and train somewhere else.
Speaker 2:Come home and it helps you value, like which classes you really do want to be at because you felt something when you were overseas and that's what you want more of when you're at home in your safe space. It makes you validate, like your skill is actually probably really great and maybe in australia you're so compared to people, so in such a close knit around you that when you go and train over there you're like, oh, I was actually the best in the class. And in australia I'm worried about being the worst in the class, but in America I was the best in the class. Maybe I am actually better than I thought I was. Yeah, I'm comparing myself to a high quality dancer in Australia all the time you come home to Australian class and not that you're cocky or have an ego, but you have a confidence about your dancing and it changes the way that you dance and then you actually see the growth.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. A few questions on the Facebook group. We have Abby Perks with love Says, such a beautiful session today. Sophie, Do you have a favorite motivational tool that you use when you're not feeling 100% confident?
Speaker 2:I don't know if it's a tool, but like guiltily, like I'll do something that I know I'm good at. I might not feel good about myself because I'm trying to explore my weaknesses and that's really important and like training things that are not my strength, but if I am feeling really down, I just do something that I know I'm good at because it gives me a little bit of a boost and rather than going to other people for validation about it it's got to be validation that I feel. So it's. I'm going to go into the studio today and I'm going to choreograph some moves and I'm going to take a video of myself on the floor while I do it and I'm going to watch it back before I go to bed and I'm going to be like wow, Seth, you're actually amazing.
Speaker 2:That was so good. I love that, Corey. Does the whole world need to see it? No, Does it turn into a big video on the internet? No, but that makes me feel, reminds me, oh, you're actually killing it. So do something that you're good at, and maybe you're a stronger singer than you are a dancer. Go and belt the song out in the shower or film yourself singing and watch it back 100 times and feel the personal validation, not the external validation, the intrinsic motivation, validation that this is actually great work.
Speaker 2:And then take that confidence and then step into a weak weakness and go to something that you want to be better at.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely. I'm a big believer in that. I always love teaching when people are trying to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes we're focusing so much on the weakness when we are training because we're trying to obviously up, upskill that and make sure that's getting to a place.
Speaker 1:But I think there is a lot of value into diving into your strengths and making sure that you're still filling your cup, because all your strengths are the things that are actually going to fill your cup up a lot more, and your weaknesses are going to highlight all the things about you that you want to work on. But just make sure that you're not going all the time into a weakness, because it can leave you feeling a little bit deflated, but it can also be a great source of motivation too, because you know that you're actively working. But that's great advice.
Speaker 2:I only feel empowered to work on my weaknesses when I actually feel good about my strengths. Otherwise, everything turns into feeling like a weakness and you have to celebrate your strengths so that you are confident to work on your weaknesses, yeah.
Speaker 1:Done. Another question here it says, when going to a challenging class to learn and improve, with the intention that this is a muscle that I'm working on, how do I shift my mindset? Knowing I won't be as strong, I sometimes feel intimidated to be dancing with stronger performers around me.
Speaker 2:Intimidation. I don't think anything in the classroom is supposed to be intimidating. I think an audition is intimidating at times or any form of like place to be judged, but the classroom, whether you think it is or not, is not a place of judgment and not one teacher is judging you for the skill that you're. I say this in my class, like every day. I'm like I am the only person in here who's judging you is me, like the teacher.
Speaker 2:But I'm not judging your skill right now. I'm judging your work ethic or your attention to the work that I'm trying to get you to do, so I can see when someone is working on something that I have highlighted in the classroom and said everybody work on their dynamics in this bit. I really want you to fight for this or I really want this leg line on this section here. Whether you're incredible at it straight away or not, I don't care. I care if you listened to my note and I actively can see you applying the correction. That is the judgment I'm giving, because a teacher or anyone running a class has an ego about the fact that their edge, fact that what their knowledge is, that they're trying to share with you, is important and it's your duty as a student in the room to respect the things that I'm giving you, and the minute I see people ignoring my notes, my corrections, the things I'm highlighting, I'm judging you for that.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And you can be the best dancer in the room, but if you're not listening to the notes that I'm giving on the corrections that I'm giving and applying them to your body.
Speaker 2:I'm judging you and thinking that you're not an open dancer and that you're ignorant and you can be skilled and talented, but you're ignorant in that moment. So I think the class what I'm trying to say is should never be intimidating based on the dancers around you, because class is not a place that you're being judged Like. The only person that's judging you is the teacher for your application to the class, not your skill, and the only person that's judging you is you and you need to finish the class and go. I actually really applied myself then and if you finish a class and go, I was shit. That's on you and you can blame all the reasons why you were shit, but that's part of your learning. Okay, the next time I go to the class, I'm going to make sure that these things don't block me from getting better, and being intimidated by somebody is a block to your training and so obviously you can stand somewhere different in the room. But I think the mindset part is the tool to being better in a challenging dance environment is to realize and really listen.
Speaker 2:What is the teacher trying to get me to do? They're trying to get me to work on dynamics. They're trying to get me to explore style. They're trying to get me to push my body to a limit athletically. Not. Am I the best in the room Because every teacher. We don't want that. We don't need everyone in the room to be the best in the room because every teacher that's not. We don't want that. We don't need everyone in the room to be the best in the room and the teacher thinks they're the best because they're the one giving the wisdom and the knowledge that's it I hope that made sense or worked or helped?
Speaker 1:yeah, and maybe everyone can comment in and react and has this call? Has this session helped you in many ways? Has there been any? I love hearing people's wins and highlights from listening in, and there's just been so many different wins over the past like five days. We are, yeah, we are at 45 minutes. We're at time, but, as always, yeah, if you have any questions for Soph, tag her in the comments below and I'm sure we're going to be seeing a lot more of Soph on throughout the dive as well. But, yeah, thank you so much for being on, sophie. It's just invaluable and I partially have. I'll be truthful here. I made the dive for two reasons one, to help inspire the next generation, but also two, to selfishly like connect with people and learn more about you and connect with some really good friends.
Speaker 2:So that's not selfish, that's you doing the work for you as an artist as well, and see your motivation is coming from the right place yes you're here to help others and yourself, and that's not a bad. You shouldn't be. You shouldn't be embarrassed of that. That's because you care about your learning and that's what's inspiring. That's why these people want to be around you. Because you don't think you know better. You think that you have more to learn and you want to find a way for everybody to learn together, and that is it?
Speaker 1:I'm running this whole challenge and I've got like a full notebook of notes. I'm like, yes, okay, let's go.
Speaker 2:Like with my Align program that I started last year. Same thing, like. I have plenty to share, but I am so lucky that I'm surrounded by these mentors that I'm constantly learning from, and I'm thinking, god, if I'm learning from these people all the time, I want people below me to be able to learn from them too, so let me use my relationship with them to benefit other people's education as well, because I can't hold all of this knowledge in my own head by myself. I need it to get out. I need it, and it reaches everybody in a different way. So I hope that something I said today reached someone and everyone in some way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we've got people saying so. So many notes from this. We love it. This was so helpful. Thanks so much, soph. We have been super motivational. Thank you Also. Professional, authentic, refreshing, inspiring. Such a powerhouse, wow, yeah, we're all coming in. It's so good. Happy Friday to me. Thank you again. I, we're all coming in. It's so good. Happy Friday to me. Thank you again.
Speaker 2:I love seeing everybody's posts in the Facebook. Yes, it's great. I feel like a whole community happening and people are like writing to each other and don't know each other, but now they feel like it's so special, yes, so special, amazing, oh awesome, you're the warm and fuzzies, warm and fuzzies.
Speaker 1:That's it. That's it. We all don't need it. We all got similar problems. We're all doing it alone and we don't need to be so. Have a wonderful day, everyone, and I'll see you a little later for an awesome session. So thank you. Happy Friday, yeah, happy Friday. Go and enjoy. Bye everyone. You've been listening to the Dive Podcast, the fastest growing support platform for performing artists. For more resources, tools, techniques and tips, you can head to our website, wwwthedivecomau. Be sure to subscribe, rate and leave a review for us, and if you feel like this episode could resonate with anyone else in your network, feel free to share it online or share it with a friend directly. Be sure to check us out on instagram with the handle at thedivecomau, where we come on each week and share a little bit more about the behind the scenes of the podcast and any upcoming workshops, classes and offers with the Dive. You.