Applying to be a technician at Wimbledon, UAL

I have recently obtained my new visa which allows me to stay here in the UK for the next five years (BNO). This visa also lets me work full-time which means I can start job-hunting, which led me to find this new job available at Wimbledon College of Arts.

This is a bit of a leap for me it feels, to suddenly apply for such a permanent-full-time post, especially a tech-related one. But I should try and go through with the process as a first step towards my graduation as a back-up plan to being an artist. This would be quite a good fit for me as a stable job since I have experience in theatre and teaching as well as the skills I gained from studying sound arts.

The process was very straightforward in terms of gathering all the information I need, it didn’t ask me to provide a CV, but instead on the online application form, I had to break down the CV and put them into different sections on the form itself. The most time-consuming bits were “personal statement” and “references”. With personal statement I have to write from scratch to fit the brief, which took me a few hours to knock up something that sounds professional and all-rounded. I sort of saw it as an opportunity to fill in all my experience and interests as a person, kind of like the one I did for UCAS but specifically for this job. This is my statement:

Throughout my study at London College of Communication as a BA Sound Arts student, there has been a focus on technical skills but, more importantly, utilising these skills to broaden the imagination of sound in a gallery/live performance context. These skills include DAWs such as Protools, sound design for screens, multi-channel setups and sound engineering in studio and live environments. They have led me to exhibit my multi-channel work in Gallery 46 in 2022; and a radio residency on Resonance Extra in November last year.

Constantly bringing my background in theatre into my work, I blur the lines between theatre, music and sound. In my opera series, I employed an octaphonic sound system and experimental theatre as the framework to depart from, to create an immersive gallery experience as well as devising a radio-based opera piece where live performance is translated into radio broadcasts. Currently working on a performance as part of the tail of my degree, I will be performing at the Well Gallery at LCC in May with a custom ambisonic sound system, mixing contemporary dance with experimental noise music.

I have been actively engaged with collaborations and self-initiated projects as an artist before I joined the course in 2020. Previously based in Hong Kong, I have worked and taught for Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Arts Council Hong Kong and Hong Kong School of Creativity, with a wide range of collaborations with artists such as Agnes?, Magnus Westwell, Lucinda Chua, Bianca Scout, New Youth Barbershop. 

Currently finishing my study at UAL, my degree has led me to write and reflect academically about sound studies and conduct practice-based research for my creative work. I am interested in listening theories and how we can effectively bring them into an accessible live performance environment. With a background in teaching and working in Theatre, I believe in a merger between knowledge and practice. While as a teacher I could provide my experience, it is very important to experience the learning process fresh every single time together with the students. Through active experimentation and reflection, students learn with staff members together as equals. While I can share my experience, the student’s input is just as valuable.

As a student rep for my course and a student ambassador for UAL-wide and LCC locally, I value the student’s voice within UAL. Through working for the school as a current student, I discovered the importance of the student body and the positive effects it brings to the school when we are included in the conversation. Working collaboratively with LCC staff members as the curator on my course for our graduate showcase, communicating priorities, limitations and expectations, I helped utilise the resource LCC can provide while meeting the needs of the students in a mutually beneficial outcome.

If I were to become the new specialist technician in sound at CCW, I will be able to apply the technical skills I gained in my degree to help students achieve their creative goals and more importantly innovate the uses of technologies in the theatre. Even as a technician in an art institution, I believe my role is just as effective in making a change in the industry and setting new standards for peers around the world. As a proud student of UAL, I wish to aspire people with a high standard of technical skills, as well as an urge to stay inventive. This job would be an exciting opportunity for me to inspire, but also continue what I have learnt, and continue to build my experience as an all-rounded practitioner.

They gave me 1500 word limit and I think 600 words is rather a good length that basically covered my “experience” and “skills” section on my CV.

The other thing was the reference, originally on my CV I have some other artist’s friends and Cathy Lane as my more ‘general’ reference. But for this specific job, I think it would benefit from having the current course leader and the specialist technician from an UAL course. So I contacted Mark and Rory and both of them said yes fortunately.

So after a few days of marinating the application form, I sent it out today and I shall receive notice if I get the interview or not. Let’s hope I get further than applying online.

This is definitely a precious learning opportunity for me, to gather all the information I need to apply for a proper formal job. This is also a bit of a challenge as well since I am not the most tech-oriented person ever. I think this prepared me to adjust my CV according to the job and be focused on what they want to see in me. As well as preparing me to find a stable backup plan for my ‘ideal goal’. It honestly takes a lot of mental energy to fill in the form and it feels very stressful as to if I am filling it the right way, but I think it will get easier (hopefully).

Having something solid to work on also makes me feel a bit more secure, logically I either get the job or I don’t, which prompted me two paths to make life choices from straight after graduating. Which is less anxious than working on my art projects, where uncertainties are completely unforeseeable and I can’t really prepare for it. I think being in UAL really drove me insane and some stability would do me well in the long run. I think that is why I either want to be signed as an artist or I just get a stable job. I think being artist (no matter what kind) is extremely privileged, and a person needs to be able to feed themselves before they can start thinking about things that are outside survival. Becoming an immigrant from an international student further burdens me from thinking freely about my future. I can’t travel and explore the world like some of my classmates, I can’t afford that at all with my state-lessness. That is sadly the truth and so in order to be creative, or rather prior to me being able to make work. I need something to calm my nerves, something that allows me to not be scared of being evicted or deported.

I am quite proud of what I have achieved so far. Being so hardworking with my school projects and working towards being a singer-songwriter, while at the same time sorting out immigration and all the adult stuff. I am not a naturally organised person, my ADHD and Dyslexia are really working against me functioning from day to day. This is why it is really amazing how persevering I have been and manage to accomplish. Good job Travis.