Like many other creative souls out there, I’ve been confronted with the harsh reality that being a skilled, talented, and hard working artist is no longer enough to have a successful academic and professional career. Not only do you have to perfect your live performance and your lifestyle to suit the demands of a performer, your social media game better be on point as well. Knowing your “brand” is essential, and how you communicate yourself online can make or break a career. As a professional student majoring in Communication Studies, I find it even more essential to present yourself accurately to your fellow classmates and professors online as well as offline.

“In the music industry, everything an artist does, says, looks like, sounds like, etc. is a direct or indirect form of advertising. The exception being that in the entertainment industry, it is advertising on steroids. It is an industry based on the senses and emotion. Promoting an artist involves engaging the potential consumer with a sensual or intellectual appeal. Guys like me in marketing understand this nuance and we do our best to enter the psyche of the targeted consumer to create a campaign that will attract them to the product, service or cause we assist promoting.”

This is my headshot I use for acting gigs. Although there’s no photoshop used here, there is a gracious amount of fantasy employed seeing as how I never go into a coffee shop barefoot and strike a pose with a professional photographer at my disposal.

I like this photo because for me it strikes that balance of self promotion and reality. And although this might seem superfluous, it matters because what you see is what you get. Unlike some profiles that blur the lines of online anonymity and in class interaction. The strongest I’ve ever performed in and out of class had everything to do with complete trust and engagement with other actual humans, meaning no filters or perfectly posed spontaneity.

I’m on Set….

Another great way to showcase yourself and reach out online or in class is to document the actual work you do so others can feel connected to your message. In my instance, I like to share photos of me on set or videos of my band performing live. That way the Ideal and actual version of myself have a better chance of melding into something personable rather than fake. And it’s such a great thing to connect with your classmates or co-workers in person after they approach you and say something to effect like, “ I saw your post on…… and I had no idea we had so much in common…..”. If I’ve learned anything in my classes it’s that you have to remain open to connecting to others in any way humanly possible, and representing yourself accurately and honestly digitally is a must in this day and age.

My advice for navigating any class, social setting, online opportunity, or face to face interview, is knowing who you say you are and what you actually are. Honestly is the best policy, but with the advent of: filters, spell check, multiple takes, and small attention spans, truth is relative. Do your best to stay rooted in accurate information about the internet, while pushing forward using the advancements in technologies to connect to others in a ways that were unheard of just a little while ago.