Branding Yourself by Travis Prokop

Spring 2020 came with many twists and turns and offering Professional Issues in Dance for our students for the first time was a positive investment that continues to give back even in quarantine. One aspect of the course includes the necessity to brand yourself as the “art-repreneur” that you are. Whether you are an educator, choreographer or performer, here are three key things to remember when creating a personal brand:

1. Know Your Person
   Capitalize on the things that make you different. Ask yourself, “Who would hire me?” and then ask yourself, “Why?” Statistically, talent doesn't always get the job. Choreographers want dancers who know who they are, so they are able to fully realize the characters they are being asked to portray. Find your uniqueness, build a reputation for the things you want to be known for and allow yourself to be known for them. Strong personal brands are based on differentiation, not blending in.
   
   
2. Make It Match
   Website, headshot, social media, wardrobe… if you look professional, potential clients, investors, collaborators, etc. that don’t know you personally are going to be more likely to agree to a meeting with you or accept your requests on social media. You should present yourself in a consistent manner online and off, across all platforms. Deliver on what you say you will. You can’t disappear for months on end and hope that people will remember you. You need to build and nurture relationships and find tools that allow you to communicate with your audience or target market regularly.
   
   
3. Spread the Word
   Make your personal brand visible to the right people who need to know you. Get out of the house and go to things (performances), post videos of your work and represent your truest self. Every interaction you have, whether that’s in-person at a networking event, meeting or conference, or online over a video call, via your website and social media, is an opportunity to put your best “branded” self forward.