Go @destiny95 !!!
And to elaborate, I think that everyone deserves an answer in a timely fashion…even if it’s no or we are still thinking of you. I believe that a thank you note should be returned even if it is just one line…and especially I think that if you travel all the way to a school or unifieds, that the auditors should be kind and thank YOU for coming. I don’t like to hear about schools that dismiss kids in a room, while asking others to stay. That is just not the way to treat 17-18 year olds who have traveled that far. I don’t like to get an answer on a portal saying my child’s artistic talent didn’t match up…that’s just rude. Some of these places have no class to match their status and I would advise future applicants that there are plenty of places (including top programs) who may not take you, but will not insult you. Sorry–had to get that off my chest!!!
@mtmarmom All the places D auditioned for on campus rejected her. She would have been happy to be at any of them. No change after the audition in terms of the program itself. Only one, Ithaca, did she not feel a fit for before she went. And she did not change her mind after.
@claire74 - agree with you. People think boys may have it “easier,” but rejection still stings the same!
@mtmarmom, While I agree with you to a point, if a teenager can’t handle that kind of frankness and rejection, this probably isn’t the best business for him/her.
I know what you mean, but I am talking about looking back and realizing that some programs understand and know how to “reject” without making you feel rejected. And for us, those are the programs that stood out in the end and the type of program I would like my child to be in …
@mtmarmom now on that I could not agree with you more. I think we all want teachers who will challenge our kids but still nurture their development, not crush them like bugs.
@mtmarmom, crushed feelings aside, as a consumer, I feel I’ve been scammed if I don’t even get so much as a thank-you from a school where I’ve spent $100 or more in fees plus travel/hotel costs, and the time taken to visit. The schools set up the rules and have the upper hand throughout. The least we deserve is “thank you and good luck”.
@claire74, I didn’t say it was EASY for boys…I said it was EASIER. By all means, this process isn’t easy on anyone. Well, maybe it is easy for a select few. But for 99% of us, it is not easy, no matter what your sex.
But, get used to the radio silence…once the kids start auditioning for professional theatres (e.g., summer stock), they RARELY get a “thanks for coming sorry we’re not hiring you.” It is the standard for the business. You simply hear nothing if you don’t get cast. (Yes, there are exceptions to this rule…but generally speaking, it is just silence.) And sometimes this silence comes after one or more call backs.
@monkey13, we know all about radio silence, ha ha. But I think the fact of money passed from hand to hand makes this a little different. . . Love the schools that didn’t charge fees. . . . and were the nicest of all!
@mtmarmom my daughter went into one audition with the director of the program who belittled her for not knowing what other plays the author of her monologue wrote. She left saying she would never attend that school no matter what.
@mtmarmom my S had a similar experience to @bisouu D at a top MT program. The auditor came out swingin’ so to speak. Going in, it was second on his list. Leaving, he said if it were the only acceptance he received, he’d be taking a gap year.
Luckily I do not think my child had any negative experiences with any of her college auditions. Some were a bit more warm and fuzzy and others more short and simple, but no one who was dismissive or rude. I am sorry for those kids who ran into the rude faculty member during such a stressful time. Oh and the warm and fuzzy or short and simple did not correlate with the offers of a BFA, I had warned her about that.:)
It doesn’t cost a dime to be nice, even when rejecting a child. Sometimes, these people are not parents who are in that audition room. That matters. I think. Yes, these kids are choosing a very cut-throat profession, but at this point they are still children. And, rejection, no matter from whom or where it comes, makes us all feel like a kid, cry like a kid, and hurt like a kid. Adults included. Hurt me, and I’ll be upset and get over it. Hurt my child, you hurt me twice as much and you probably just made me your enemy. I am so sorry for everyone still waiting during this horrible time. Praying for everyone.
@CTDramaMom I get where you’re going with the “if your teenager can’t handle the frankness and rejection then this probably isn’t the business for them…” statement …HOWEVER, these teens are just that right now …teens. They aren’t adults, they aren’t college students yet, some are very young and perhaps even younger then others auditioning if they have late birthdays. They don’t have to treated in a rude manner just because “it’s theater” and that’s the way it is. I don’t see a big problem with schools simply possessing good manners. It’s not that difficult to remain a civilized human being. We have encountered some instances of this already from schools and my D is only a junior.
My D summed it up the one day we were talking about this. She said " I’m not quite sure why everyone feels the need to treat us like we’re 25, were not quite there yet…" She takes criticism well and rejection etc but there is no reason to be an -ss. In adult life as well! It’s all about the delivery and treating others how you want to be treated. Actors are expected to treat others well when auditioning, taking roles and during shows as well as rehearsals. If you don’t you get booted. My D is always being taught “no one likes a diva” etc …So it goes to say that that goes both ways…
FYI- some Syracuse emails went out!
@monkey13, radio silence seems to happen even if you made it all the way through final callbacks. Le sigh… I am greatly appreciating that during college auditions we were notified of the no’s.
That long slow diminishing of hope that follows a great audition…
I like to jump in on the conversation about auditions, attitude, rejection etc. I agree that this is a tough profession our children have chosen. Disappointment and rejection will be more likely the norm then in any other line of work. My kid seems to handle it much better than I and I am sure most of you experience the same with your child. No parent likes to see their child rejected. It is heartbreaking. Seeing how well they handle it helps us to understand that they are on the right path. Now as for auditions and this whole process, we all know the odds, we all know there will be rejection. We know that this is something they have to be prepared for and that there will be uninterested and down right rude directors etc to deal with in the “real world”. But the difference here is that these kids are not looking for a paycheck, its us paying the schools. College is a business and PR is a part of that business. My kid didn’t experience any negative behavior in the audition rooms, but shame on any program that is rude or has an attitude in this process. That’s just bad business. I don’t care if you are a top program or some place no one ever heard of you should never risk a bad reputation. Word spreads fast in our current society and what is the best one day can quickly become the questionable.
We have not heard from Ball, Coastal and Viterbo… I am assuming all 3 are "no"s but a response would be nice. I don’t expect a thank you… I figure they were interviewing d, not vice versa. Companies don’t thank people who are interviewing…but a response would be nice