The Branding Badge (Part 3)
The finale to my branding experience! I have learned so much over the last few months in ways I never expected – from my childhood years of Girl Scouts to basic tips I picked up from Senior Seminar.
But why the sudden obsession with brand? I think it’s my way of getting ready to say good-bye to being a ‘college theatre dork’. In a few months, I’m expecting to graduate, to leave all the people whom I’ve been working alongside for the past four years and I’ll have to introduce myself anew all over again. This is me trying to find the best way to say, “Hello, this is me”.
Actually, a friend of mine figured it out best. She was despairing her concerns about people who are considered ‘nice’.
It’s just…when the first thing people have to say about you is that ‘Oh, he/she’s so nice!’, it’s like, you couldn’t think of any other adjective to describe them first?
She was ranting about something completely unrelated but I think she made a good point for me. It’s like when I was auditioning for colleges and I worried that my song choices wouldn’t express who I was. Branding became my way of realizing how and who I am now and figuring out how to put that on a resume or website and then in my repertoire book. I don’t want to be just the ‘nice’ choice – I want to be THE choice because of who I am and how we click that makes me right for you.
Not only what is right for that future casting director but for what projects I am right for: four years ago, I would have told you that I wanted to do musical theatre and play all the ingénue roles. No, no, that’s not right. Part of branding for me was figuring out my “type” and more importantly, what I value in theatre so I can go out there and play that. I’m not interested in nice: I am going for the vulnerable, little but fierce and maybe yeah, geeky!
My inner girl scout says that once I get new headshots next year and finally have enough footage to put together a reel, I may have finally earned my branding badge. In the meantime, I’m far enough along that I need to trust that I might know what I want after all and should start sending out my resume. Right now. I need a job. And a place to live. I’m graduating in five months. Umm….
The Green Room 
The year after graduating college was a hard one for me- mostly because I didn’t know my brand. Congrats on getting a head start on it now- I look forward to seeing you accomplish things post-graduation!
Thanks 🙂 And now you’ve got me curious – how did you start branding and what did you do? Do you mind giving me a little bit of insight?
I knew what I wanted with my name/image/how I wanted to be seen by people but I didn’t know where I fit as far as types. I think I’vs written a few blogs on finding my type. I’ll try to look them up and send them to you!
This is a blog I wrote as I was finally figuring it out: https://greenroomblog.com/2011/12/23/2011-its-been-a-journey/
I’m constantly evaluating myself on what I do best and what makes me different than other people. Comparison always holds me back. Knowing what makes me me is the best way I can sell my brand. I really should write a follow-up post to this one because I’ve learned more about myself in 2 years!