JIJane

Lol NotMamaRose. At some UK drama schools, especially those with MT courses, you are allowed to take part in outside performances if organised by the college itself. This means you rehearse from say 7-11pm after your usual college day (with your year/school/staff) and do the professional stuff on top of your regular term timetable. These outside performances are usually group/medley/chorus type with a few solos given to some students by audition. They are however not guaranteed when you audition for the school, can vary hugely from year to year, etc and can sometimes by mandatory if the head of the course insists so. During my time there I took part in three such performances. One was a 2 hour show of musical medleys at a theatre in a town 2 hours from London lead by a well known UK MT performer. We only performed for 1 night but rehearsed for weeks in the evenings. We also performed a 15 min medley to the Queen at an official banquet and did various small spots at other functions. You do not get paid for these, all earnings go to your school and (apparently) your training, facilities, etc.

NotMamaRose

Jane, I actually think that the English system makes sense, pedagogically speaking, because it obviously attempts to limit students' exposure to training/performance opportunities of unknown quality. (In other words, the schools don't want people who have just been exposed to good quality training to spoil it by being exposed to that which may not be as good and could potentially undermine what the student has just learned.) I was just commenting that that kind of control might rankle us sometimes overly independent Yanks!

khsstitches

Quisisana on Lake Kezar - Maine. Music. And a touch of Magic It is Quisisana, located in Center Lovell. As alwaysamom mentioned, it is rather remote, not high on the amenities end but gorgeous. Portland isn't too far away but you would need a car. Also North Conway, NH, to the west. If you're interested in more info, PM me and I can put you in touch with my friend who worked there. He still talks very fondly about it. It was great experience for him. Good luck!

khsstitches

Ok, my link printed oddly.......but they have a website quisisana resort (minus the space) .com

Sorry for the snafu!

freedom_fri911

chelle, I don't think you really know what they do at cold stone. My best friend worked at cold stone for about 2 1/2 years, granted she loved it there, but she was underpaid. She got paid under $6 starting, plus tips (not usually more than $10 a night in summer). She eventually ended up as a shift leader and got paid $6.85, but they aren't the "singers" you're thinking of. Whenever someone puts a dollar or more in their tip jar, they'll sing a very brief little jingle, all of them being ripped from popular tunes with different words. It does not involve any good vocal work at all.

Just thought I would let you know.

chelle

Thank you, Freedom. I have never been to a Cold Stone Creamery. I just heard about it and it sounded cool. Perhaps D. would be better off waitressing elsewhere. She really needs to earn some "book" money for college.

Melsmom

Not to mention the wear and tear on your wrists from scooping/mixing that hard ice cream. I understand it really hurts & wonder about any permanent damage?

cartera45

I think you get carpal funnel cone syndrome.

Melsmom

lol!!!

(ok here goes...) Ice creamed when I read that!

cartera45

I guess we should ask what the scoop is on paying summer jobs.

khsstitches

You guys are BAAAAD!!! Great laughs for an end of the week Friday night, though!!! :-)

NotMamaRose

I spent the summer between high school and college scooping ice cream at a well-known national restaurant/ice cream chain and yes! it's hard on the wrists, arms, neck and back, especially when you are forced to use a technique that has you use the scoop to sort of "curl" the ice cream so that it is just open air in the middle, but looks large on the outside. We were made to practice this special technique over and over during slow times, so that each scoop weighed a certain amount. (We put the practice scoops on fresh waxed paper to weigh them, and then put them back into the ice cream freezer.) It's not digging ditches, but it ain't easy, either. That said, I think it benefits teens to have experience working with the public as waiters/waitresses, etc. Teaches patience and courtesy in the face of, well, often trying circumstances.

cartera45

NMR - when D and I visited Westminster Choir College, we had ice cream at "The Bent Spoon." I love that name and anyone who has scooped ice cream can identify with it, but my D didn't get it right away. She's a frozen yogurt eater so no bent spoons there.

khsstitches

For me the hard part wasn't the scooping....I played a lot of tennis so the strength part was OK. It was getting the scoop on that damn, hard, crisp CONE without it breaking!!!!! Now that took practice, practice, practice. I wrecked a lot of cones in the beginning........

NotMamaRose

If I wasn't so cold (not a winter person!), you guys would be making me hungry! I do love those waffle cones ...