Task 3a...Current Networks
Part 1

Coming from a Musical Theatre background, you are taught from day 1 that networking is key.  I think this follows through in to many other industries, and networking opens the doors to other opportunities.

I currently use social networking sites such as facebook, twitter and follow varied blogs all which are networking tools and enabling me to interract with fellow creatives.
Blogs are really important for me as I view them for pleasure, but also for my field of work.  Being up to date with trends and seeing what is going on around the world is vital for my industry and by following blogs and emersing yourself in social networking sites is the easiest way to do this.  Please see some of the blogs I follow below...

Fashion...
http://lookbook.nu/looks#!countries/united-kingdom
http://www.theblondesalad.com/
http://stylebubble.typepad.com/

Interior Design...
http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.teaforjoy.blogspot.co.uk/
http://blog.designsquish.com/ (Lifestyle blog)
http://theselby.com/ (for imagery)

I have sent a series of qustions out via a social networking site, and am so excited to see the results.  I sent the list of questions to a group of very varied professionals that include Psychologists, Nurses, Prof. Ballerinas, Dancers, Models, Nanny's, Buyers etc so it will be extremely interesting to see how different professionals view networking, as I know a lot of professionals have their own social networking sites that are available for them to use that connect them to their individual profession. 
I will keep you all updated!

I am really impressed with how people manage their own established, engaging professional blogs and this is something I would love to do, i find how people write and think inspiring!  I do not have the spare time at the moment to keep an up to date blog alongside this one which is currently my priroity, but it is something I would love to do in the future, and with thanks to this course I think I will have all the tools to enable me to do so. 

Family and friends are huge network tools for me, these are the people that will tell you the honest truth about what you want and need to know, or advise you on the necessary.  These are the people who will be thinking about you first should an opportunity arise they think you may be intersted in.  These are my favourite tools as selfishly I can surround myself with them!  The old saying it's not what you know it's who you know seems to ring true with not only myself, but both friends and professional colleagues!  Or 'right place, right time' which I totally empathise with.

I will reflect further in part 2 once I have had my feedback from my friends and colleagues...