In-Between Gigs? 10 Productive Ways to Spend your Downtime

05/02/23 • 16 min

Auditions have been slower here in LA. For a multitude of reasons. It has me reflecting and brainstorming productive and affordable ways to keep making progress without being in the audition/gig hustle. I came up with a TOP 10 LIST.
I dropped it below, and all the juicy details (and actionable tips) are inside the episode:

Update your marketing materials
Self-Care
Curate a list of Connections/networking opportunities
Enjoy the downtime
Vision/Mood Board Creation and/or party
Auditions Audit
Meal plan + prep
Plan time away from social media
Journal
Meet with a mentor

Let me know which one(s) you try :)

Hey y'all! I'm Justine, the voice behind the DC:U pod and MNTR MGMT. After 15+ years in the industry as a choreographer, dancer, producer, educator and more, I'm now working closely with dance artists on professional development, business skills and digital enhancement. Curious? Book a free 1:1 Career Call. You can also help support the podcast! Subscribe and receive exclusive member benefits --> Pod Producer/Supporter
Connect with me on Insta @mntr.mgmt

Update your marketing materials
Self-Care
Curate a list of Connections/networking opportunities
Enjoy the downtime
Vision/Mood Board Creation and/or party
Auditions Audit
Meal plan + prep
Plan time away from social media
Journal
Meet with a mentor

Let me know which one(s) you try :)

Previous Episode

SAG/AFTRA Explained + former dance agent dishes ALL — with Janee Lynch

I’m thrilled to bring you a conversation I had with my former agent, Janee Lynch, who is now a senior business executive for SAG/AFTRA in LA. Because of her vast experience in the entertainment industry, I had to pick her brain on her time as an agent as well as the pivot to working for the union and being a full time advocate for dancers’ rights. I spent a really formative time of my career with Janee as my rep and it’s very special to me that she was able to take the time to drop her knowledge and insight with us. It’s SUCH an important episode in so many ways, and you’ll learn:

how to get your agent to GET YOU
when to join the union, including eligibility and advantages
How the union takes care of its members

@janeecheree
A Southern California native, Janée Cherée Lynch began working in entertainment at the age of two (2) years old as a model, actress, dancer and singer. Over the years, her resume included several national print and commercial campaigns, television shows, music videos and educational programs. She attended California State University Long Beach, obtaining degrees in Communications and Dance in 2007, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Shortly after graduation, Janée began working on the business side of entertainment, getting her foot in the door at Clear Talent Group, starting out as an assistant and quickly becoming a Dance Agent, representing some of today’s top Creative Directors, Choreographers and Dancers. In 2011, Janée branched out on her own, becoming the Director of The S Agency, a boutique talent agency, focusing on representation of Dancers, Singers and Actors. In 2016, Janée merged The S Agency, with Eighteentwentysix, a tour production company, as Director of their agency
division. During her time as an agent, Janée also judged on the dance and cheer circuit, and was a frequent guest speaker at numerous conventions and intensives, providing today’s talent with the perspective of being both a performer and an agent, and educating on the ins and outs of entertainment contracts. With a passion for performer rights, in 2017, Janée joined Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) as a Senior Business Representative in Music. Janée’s focus is contract education and enforcement for Singers and Dancers for TV, Film, New Media and Music Video contracts. Janée is also a staff liaison for Singers and Dancers, working on numerous events and educational forums for SAG-AFTRA members, as well as a contributor to the negotiation teams, working on Singer and Dancer contract provisions.

Next Episode

The Realities of College Dance Programs -- with Julie Friedrich

Did you go (or are you considering going) to college for dance? It's pretty cutthroat out there and my incredible guest, contemporary and ballet diva, Julie Friedrich, discusses the pro's and con's of going to college for dance, how she's paved her own path professionally (5:00) and how she mentors dancers through her own program (10:42).

Julie Friedrich’s distinguished career as a professional dancer, mentor, and dance educator in the areas of ballet and contemporary dance spans more than 20 years. Julie received her primary dance education from Meredith Baylis of the Joffrey Ballet School and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Upon graduation, Julie joined the American Repertory Ballet under the direction of Septime Webre; and then went on to join Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes. Throughout her career she has danced works by George Balanchine, Anthony Tudor, Ohad Naharin, Septime Webre, Nacho Duato, Guy Weizman, Roberto Zappala, and various other European and American choreographers. Upon returning to the United States, Julie joined the acclaimed contemporary dance company BodyTraffic as one of its founding members, where she danced for the last three years of her professional dancing career.

Julie taught for over a decade at both the Orange County High School for the Arts and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Through her guidance, Julie has numerous Young Arts winners and her students have gone on to study at the Juilliard School, USC/Kaufman, SUNY Purchase, Arts Umbrella, Cal Arts, Tisch at NYU, and Pace University just to name a few. Professionally, she has former students working in such companies as ATE9, Kyle Abraham, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Cirque Du Soleil, and on Broadway.
Currently, Julie is in her 11th year serving on the performing arts faculty at the Windward School in Culver City, where she teaches, directs, and curates the dance program. Along with her full time work at Windward, she serves as the ballet director for Danceology, and as guest ballet faculty at various institutions across the nation. Since 2012 she has been an integral part of the artistic team at Francisco Gella Dance Works. Julie continues her work mentoring students in preparation for their entrance into the collegiate world through her College Preparatory Program that has developed into a nationwide program serving students and families. In 2013, through the Young Arts Foundation, President Obama and the White House named Julie one of the most influential arts teachers in the country for her mentorship of young dancers.

https://franciscogelladance.com/college-career-prep/
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@missjulie1220
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Julie Rose Friedrich