Marketing as a Young Performer

Being a young performer means you have to know how to put yourself out there and get recognized. Opportunities don’t just come your way; you have to create them by marketing yourself.

In today’s world, one of the best ways to get recognized is through social media. I’ve been marketing myself mostly using Instagram and YouTube. I follow a bunch of people in the circus and entertainment industries to increase my chances of getting noticed by them, and I post everything from my performances and professional photos to my training.

How you present yourself online is very important when trying to create opportunities for yourself. It’s not just about posting a photo or video; you have to take the time to edit the content before posting, thank the people who gave you the opportunity, reply to comments, and like and follow people in the industry. People who view your profile will sometimes reach out to you themselves if they really like your work, but other times you have to contact them yourself.

Last year, I came across an Instagram post for a show that was happening in my city, and they were looking for young performers. I filled out and submitted the application, but when I didn’t hear back for a while, I decided to contact the producer directly. I sent her a message on Instagram saying I filled out the application and was super excited about this opportunity. She messaged me back a couple of days later and asked to meet and talk in person. We talked, and before I knew it, I was going to rehearsals, promoting the show on my Instagram, and just two weeks later, I was performing.

After we finished the show locally, they went to the next city. I kept in contact with the cast and producer, staying active on Instagram by liking and commenting on their posts. A couple of months later, the producer contacted me asking if I wanted to join the show in Canada or San Francisco. I wasn’t able to join them in Canada, but I was able to join them in San Francisco for two weeks.

It was a new but incredible experience. I traveled there alone and lived with the cast. I was responsible for taking care of myself and also had to manage my schoolwork during the two weeks.

This experience taught me that just because the producer didn’t contact me right away doesn’t mean she wasn’t interested. Putting yourself out there and making the effort to create your own opportunities through social media can open up many doors you never expected. It is one of the most important steps in building a performance career.