In 2020, the practice of networking was elevated in the performing arts world, as countless creators turned towards the digital realm for solace, connection and industry building–not to mention for survival. After 11 months of near-isolation in the wake of the shutdown of live performance, some organizations and individuals have come away with stronger and deeper connections to their work, while others have drifted into bankruptcy or sought other fields of employment out of necessity. While the necessity of those changes is often related directly to each region and culture (depending on government or institutional support for example), there are some networking principles and practical steps that could be helpful to those companies and individuals who intend to remain in the circus industry. (Main Image: Courtesy of  Social Ninja.)

Weigh In & Influence in Your Area of Expertise In the article called “The Art of Networking”  in Forbes, author Soulaima Gourani advocates for starting with the big picture and then filling in the details, stating “To figure out who you need to know, you must first determine where you are attempting to go. This process is called strategic networking. The alternative is unstructured networking that will never produce great results. When you begin to reach out to people to build your network, ask yourself what your mission is in your career an...