Welcome Message

As you may know, this blog started life as a resource aimed at the members and Alumni of Birmingham University's Guild Musical Theatre Group.















Since then, I have realised that a great many artists I know could use a serious resource for discussion and debate of the major issues.















So, I open this network to any and all arts professionals who would like to use it. Over the years, I have seen some awe inspiring performances and productions by a great many talented and high ranking individuals, whose knowledge would be an asset to the artistic community. I invite these individuals and others to come forward, so that their achievements may be celebrated.






If you would like to write articles or make comments on this blog, please let me know. My contact email is on the link. Membership is free, and there are no obligations. Existing members are free to write as and when they want.








Its is also easy to forget, that we don't often have a chance to discuss or to think about the most serious issues affecting the arts. Despite all the progress made by online networks like Facebook and Twitter, there still needs to be a place where opinions can be viewed, and I hope that this will be such a place: a neutral ground, where all are welcome, and where knowledge can be shared.















Artists of all disciplines, I hope that this will assist your development and further networking. May this resource serve you well.















Best Regards,















James Megarry















Founder















Saturday 30 January 2016

Q and A

Hi All

As per my invites, here s a proposal i'd like to put for both members and Alumni of the Guild Musical Theatre Group (GMTG).

Both the student committee and my fellow Alumni who specialise in engagement, have mentioned the idea of student-Alumni Q and A's: a questions and answers session, in which both members and Alumni of GMTG can get together and exchange ideas and information. I think this could actually be a very effective way for us all to network. It would be especially useful for students in the society, who are looking for a career in the performing arts.

I understand that it would be logistically impossible, for all Alumni who work in the arts industry, to take time out of their very busy schedules, and travel hundreds (or even thousands) of miles to the exact same time and place. Therefore, some of it could be done via Skype, Google Hangouts, or a similar means of online communication.

The way student-Alumni Q and A sessions normally work, I am told, is for the students to bring prepared questions to put to the Alumni for their advice on connections, finding work in the arts industry etc, within a period of time,. Like speed dating there's a time limit on each student asking each Alumni and they all swap round, or area arranged accordingly, so that everyone gets a turn.

But we could also make it a two way process. Rather than we Alumni dictating advice to the students, I reckon my fellow Alumni who work in the arts/entertainment industry, could come prepared with a list of issues and challenges from their day jobs, that they need help to solve. What students can certainly offer in return, is innovations. Every generation of students brings new ideas: and GMTG's members are engaged in new projects, showcases, concerts and competitions. They might just have some of the answers my fellow Alumni are looking for.

So that's the basic idea. Both students and Alumni involved with GMTG have suggested it. I think it's worth a try. What do you think?

Best Regards

James M