sam.hunt Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Hello everyone As part of the third year of my degree course at Central School of Speech and Drama, I am doing a disertation on diversity (in terms of race, gender, and disability) within the live entertainment industry. I am try to collate statistics and opinions from people in the industry, and so would like some responses from this forum. I have created an anonymous online poll which I would like people to take a few minutes to fill in. Your help would be greatly appreciated! Poll via this link If you have any comments about this topic, please feel free to discuss them here too. I am looking at the range of diversity of race, gender, and disability in the live entertainment industry, and specifically technicians and back-stage crew. I am investigating statistics of our industry, and comparing that to the wider population. I am then going to be examining at why our industry is composed of the demographics that it is, looking at how people get jobs and get into the industry, and if these methods specifically exclude certain groups of people. I shall then be looking at ways we can increase diversity within the industry, and who could be responsible for this. Thank you for your time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Actively attempting to "increase diversity" in the industry by using any criteria other than those that are directly related to the ability of a person to do the job when considering job applications and conducting interviews - e.g. making decisions on the basis of race, gender, etc. in addition to the traditional criteria of technical skill, personality, and so on - is wrong and discriminatory, in my humble opinion. There's far too much kow-towing to the god of political correctness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamtastic3 Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Isn't sexuality considered a diversity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam.hunt Posted February 15, 2008 Author Share Posted February 15, 2008 Isn't sexuality considered a diversity? Yes, however that isn't what I am looking at in this essay. Socioeconomic class, educational background, and location could also be areas that apply, however, again, that is not something I am investigating in this case. Thank you to all the people who have responsed thus far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 What makes you think you should change the "diversity" from the status quo. We have very strong statute law governing selection on grounds of race, ethnicity etc There is vast case law on selection other than on merit competence and capability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Since when has dyslexia been an official disability? Imagine the disabled badges being handed out for this one! Dyslexia - and I mean real dyslexia (for which I have great sympathy) is often used as a prop, or an excuse for a couldn't care less attitude - usually with "I am dyslexic, you know!" tagged on the end. Most people with a good attitude can overcome almost any disability in our industry IF - they are right for the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Coker Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 How do you define "our" industry - and in using that phrase are you not making certain assumptions? I realise that this online survey is only part of your study, but how will you contexualise the BR and its participants/members in the broader industry? What you might want to consider is how representative the BR is. Anycase, good luck. If you want some books on quantative analysis, then I have several I'm about to set fire to. Oh yes, don't set your aims and objectives too wide - although I'm sure your supervisor will have talked to you about that. Cheers KC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam.hunt Posted February 18, 2008 Author Share Posted February 18, 2008 I'm aware of the discussions surrounding dyslexia, and that is one reason that I chose to give it a separate category in the question about disability. The high level of dyslexia in creative industries does maybe show that, rather than being a disability, can in some instances be an advantage. The Disability Discrimination Act defines a disability as "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [a persons] ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities". From this definition, mild dyslexia does not count as a disability, as people can often employ coping strategies in order to prevent "adverse effect" on "normal day-to-day activities", however, severe dyslexia can fall under this description. Dyslexia is an issue that I am covering separately and in greater detail in my dissertation, and especially how it applies to the creative industries. I have defined "our" industry as people who work in producing live entertainment events. I am focusing mainly on technicians, however I am also making comparisons to performers. How representative the Blue Room forums are is, as with all my research, something I am taking into consideration. I am using a wider range of sources, however with our industry having a higher-than-average self-employment rate, obtaining statistical data is made somewhat more difficult. The Blue Room forums are forming a part of a larger research element that I will be using for my dissertation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Coker Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 The high level of dyslexia in creative industries does maybe show that, rather than being a disability, can in some instances be an advantage. So, dyslexia causes creativity? Is that what you mean? I'm not sure that you do..... KC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Hmmmm! Tricky one this. As far as dyslexia is concerned I have pointed out in other threads that dyslexia is a "differing ability" rather than a disability. Research has indeed shown that mild dyslexia "CAN" have a compensation in the creative faculties and the only person I know personally with fairly severe dyslexia has an honours in lighting design. From Central of all places.Back to the original topic, however, assuming that one has read "7 Steps to Community Cohesion", Ted Cantles reports and the work done at Coventry University among other centres for community cohesion before attempting to address "diversity" then it is a good subject to tackle. Addressing the subject of diversity, positive discrimination, empowering minority groups and all the other buzzwords without some knowledge of recent and current work on cohesion can be counter-productive. Giving any form of preferential treatment to any group because of a category they may fit into is in itself discriminatory and absolves them of personal responsibility to some extent.Our "industry" has inbuilt physical difficulties which often preclude some individuals from participation and the cultural environment of technical production (long hours, poor rewards, etc) makes it hard for anyone. If anyone has talent/ability they can get along in the industry as well as anyone else, if they have that talent/ability combined with a positive attitude. If they do not have the ability I presume you would call them disabled?The "disabled" women at the Womans Festival in west Wales seem to manage with minimal "able-bodied male" help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 With due deference to the real dyslexics out there, my own experience is that our industry seems to have a higher than average number of people who think that poor spelling isn't at all important, and 'claim' dyslexia when corrected by others. I'm pretty good now (I think) at spotting it. I had this year (sorry for the OT detour) a middle aged ASM who's work was of a really high standard, and he had all the attributes age brings - apart from he couldn't do book cover as anything he wrote down quickly during the show couldn't be checked and corrected - and the stress of the job made it much, much worse. He re-wrote a load of Birthday requests, handed in late, and nobody, including him, could make any sense out of them. However - he certainly does not, under any circumstances, consider himself disabled - AND it was only when he couldn't spend quiet time re-writing, that we found out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceecrb1 Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 On the dyslexia front I was "diagnosed" as having it (although I dont treat it in any way as an "illness" or hindrence).I have mild spelling problems but the thing that really annoys me is that when I need to do mental arythmatic, the brain just freezes up. I CANT do it unless I do it on paper, no matter how simple. Its a real pain in the butt when ballancing phases, and other basic electrical calculations on-site, I have to specifically stop what I´m doing.. pause and work it out.I have learned ways around it though. I have worked out ways to mentally simplify it.EG. When working out loads on a phase and wether I can connect another light etc.. I have to work by "reading" ceeform connectors and working it out that way.Eg.. in a 63A, I know I can put 2x 32´s. So if I need to connect a 16, I know I can have a maximum of: 1x32 + 1x16 already connected but not through their numbers, but by visually recognising connectors. Best way I can relate it is learning to play an instrument, by repeating movements, not by reading music. Like I say, it can slow me down but I´d never say I´ve been "held up" by it or found that it held me back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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