@Barrie08 - I know it can be stressful, but tbh- I think it is incredibly cool that BFA schools offer kids the opportunities to see so many programs in a concentrated fashion. I know a student seeking entry to a classical VP program…auditioning for 12 schools, and she has to go every campus… talk about a pain in the backside!
It would have been nice to meet you @Barrie08 I was there both days. I too was evaluating fashion choices and many of them were not good! I heard an interesting story about Penn State at my D’s mock auditions. There was a dance class going on next door to the mock which was unrelated. It was a NY Theater company I believe holding a boot camp for its members. Another mom and I were chatting and we overheard this man sitting on the bench mention Penn State to someone he was there with. I didn’t hear what he said but somehow overhearing “Penn State” started a conversation about the school between myself and the other mom. Well then he overheard US talking about Penn State and began talking to us! He tells us that he wrote a musical and that Penn State contacted him with interest in having it performed by the theater department. Apparently they had read through several plays and his was the one they chose. It had never been staged before. He was excited to go see it but he was really disappointed. He said that they had three actors playing each of the main roles and they switched off in the middle of the show! He said it made it very confusing to watch and in the end he was very disappointed. In fact he used stronger words than that which I will spare. And on another note, my oldest D is a senior dance major at Pace so if you have any questions I can try to answer them.
congrats for great NY Unified auditions @marg928! Thanks @Barrie08 for the great info about auditions! My D does Pace at Chicago Unifieds.
I’m at CMU today with my D, someone on this thread a few months ago, I’m sorry I can’t remember who, said, “get flu shots!” After that post I took my D for her first one ever, because of that comment. I, however, passed on it…my daughter is heathy and guess who is sick? Thank you so much for making that suggestion, it saved her from getting sick, I’m sure of it! Shout out to the lady on the plane sitting next to me with her theraflu, Kleenex, Vicks and NO Mask!
@Barrie08, I was thinking the same thing, this audition stuff is something else…but a necessary evil. Lol! I enjoyed reading your journey and perspective. Thanks for sharing it.
@followurheart we don’t do flu shots so I didn’t consider it but of course…as bad luck would have it…my husband who hardly ever gets sick came down with a nasty cold the week before last. My D was freaking out. Then my 13 year old had fever on Wed, Thursday and Friday right before Unifieds! I made the sick one sleep in the guest room!
@marg928 I literally shielded my daughter during a 5 hour flight! And I have been taking so much vitamin C and vitamins and water my eyeballs are floating! The week before this audition I was a mess trying to keep everyone healthy and avoiding sick people. I feel like a crazy woman! and thank goodness you had a guest room to put your son/daughter in!
The whole week before we went to UNCSA, I drove my D crazy telling her to drink water (more than usual), wash your hands, stay away from sick people. AND she works for a princess party company and had to work a party with a bunch of little ones! I was like “can you not touch any of them, haha?” Luckily she stayed healthy!
Someone asked about CCM – they have always been known as the school that will notify you “no” before you get off the flight home. My D was lucky to be put “on hold” and remained that way for weeks until it ended up being a “no” – she felt pretty lucky to have been in consideration that long. They are usually very quick to respond.
@Barrie08 I live not far from Shenandoah. If you’re there for an overnight etc there is a mall right across the street from the school. FYI
Also plenty of places to eat and the school is right off the interstate Easy peasy ! 
@stagedoormama this morning a guy that auditioned with my D on 1/21 at CCM was notified via email that he got in!!! Crazy! This is so far the only yes we have heard but it was a yes. It is a friend of my D and it was his 1st audition:)
@Mtmomkbh perhaps he is the unicorn of 2017 auditions… aka a BOY who can sing dance act and who will receive numerous offers…congrats to him!!
He can definitely and he is a nice guy… so happy for him~
@mtmamma2020 No Unicorn. There are quite a good number of young men who are triple threats each year
I can say that I’m stunned at the skill level of some of these kids. Simply amazing! Headed to Nashville this weekend & Chicago next. D is nervous about Unfieds and despite prep still isn’t sure what to expect. Time is flying by currently but guessing it will slow way down when the waiting begins. Hope everyone is staying healthy & having (some) fun on this crazy ride!!
how was CMU audition? Says 1min monologues and for everyone else its 90sec-2mins. Do they really want 1 min?
@kaf011, if they say one minute, they MEAN one minute. They’re among the most popular schools (if not THE most popular), so they probably want to be able to fit in as many auditions as possible.
@MTMHopeful all the best to your D! We are in Nashville in Feb. I may be asking what it was like! They seem to want more than other schools. Anxious about the theory test. Ugh.
Question: When auditors give your kid re-direction to do the scene or song in a completely different manner (e.g. louder, less dramatic, more articulation/less articulation, more conversationally), does this usually mean he or she is not at the appropriate level for that school? Seems to me as a lay person, if they need to correct a monologue or song, even if you follow the direction and do a good job on the second try, they are just being helpful so that you can do better in another audition. I am assuming that this type of re-direction means your kid still needs some serious improvement to be at their level. Has anyone heard differently? And yes, I know that of course they are looking to see if you can follow direction, but if the direction is completely change the tenor or presentation of the material because the first one was not good, can I assume bad news? Happened 2x to son at unifieds (once for song and once for monologue).
@MomofMTBoy Not at all. While it is very difficult to judge what feedback in the room really means, feedback is generally a good thing. Auditors are often looking for “coachability” - can we work with this student? I think you will find some of your child’s favorite/best auditions will be ones where they are given direction and asked to make adjustments and re-do songs and monologues. I’m not sure an auditor would take the time on a student they didn’t have some level of interest in.
Second Question: For a school that is considered (by most) to be a top 15 MT program (not the big 5, but close to that level), if your kid was given feedback that essentially his vocals and acting were really, really excellent, and they made a point of remembering his name and asking for additional work just because they enjoyed listening to him, but he absolutely bombed the dance portion, what are chances? I know this is a really broad question that will be answered one way or another in then next 2 months, but what are others’ experiences? That is, do you know of people who got in despite bombing dance when everything else was a clear home run?