<p>As we will soon move into the next phase, evaluating programs and making choices, one of the questions I have is that shift each program makes from “process” to “product” and preparation for life as a working actor. One objective measurement might be the percentage of seniors who complete showcase and are signed with a talent agency. Does anyone have actual information on different programs’ reputations regarding that? The Juilliard website seems to be the only one that shows which agency a showcase student is represented by. At the BU audition, Paolo said getting an agent wasn’t the goal at showcase. I asked the alum helping out at CMU and he said most students leave CMU with an agent. This is fairly anecdotal, but something. Do others have more information on the agent upon graduation thing? How about Fordham and CalArts - do those kids generally leave school represented? Thanks!</p>
<p>sparkleshirley - That was my question about CalArts. From what I understand many agents attend the showcase and some students do get signed right away, but it’s not as common as it is for Juilliard showcases. Unfortunately - and I think that goes for many schools, not only CalArts - a lot of graduates need to start working daytime jobs right away to pay off their loans. I know that the graduates from last year are doing some amazing work in LA, though. Some joined existing companies, others created new companies (like <a href=“http://speakeasysociety.com/#/id/i6905395”>http://speakeasysociety.com/#/id/i6905395</a> ) and some are trying to go into film/TV. One group of alumni just won the national College Improv Tournament last week. Recent alumni from CalArts are doing really well though. We have Alison Brie ('05 - “Community” and “Mad Men”), Eliza Coupe ('03 - “Happy Endings” and “Scrubs”), Cecily Strong ('06 - “Saturday Night Live”), Condola Rashad ('08 - “Romeo & Juliet” on Broadway), Dana Gourrier ('10 - “Django Unchained” and “The Butler”) to name a few, and many others like The Poor Dog Group who are doing very cool stuff in theater.</p>
<p>CalArts alumni are sort of like a “mafia” in LA. I don’t know how that works in the rest of the country, but everywhere I’ve been to - from a Wooster Group play to the Samuel French store or LACMA - people know CalArts and have worked with a lot of our graduates.</p>
<p>Thanks, milkshakespeare. I would think agent or no agent, most graduates from any school will need to get a day job. I’m just trying to get a feel for how many students end up with agents (though obviously that is not the only way to work as an actor) as a method to evaluate the schools’ success at preparing professionals. I especially appreciate your references to the CalArts alumni theater companies - I’m going to check those out for sure.</p>
<p>If you have any questions about Fordham, PM me and I’ll (try to) answer.</p>
<p>My S is a graduating senior at Fordham and will be participating in showcase. They take a two semester course which centers on the business of acting and my S has really loved it! This was quite a surprise bc he was a child professional actor and he really did not want to take it but he has learned so much and many things have changed over the last decade.</p>
<p>He has not focused on getting an agent yet bc he has had so many other things going on. He is a double major in Playwriting and Performance and he has been busy all year with projects both in and out of school. His roommate is also a double major in Performance and English and tells me he isn’t focused on it yet either bc of other commitments. His gf graduated in December as a Performance major and DID start the process while she was in school. She signed with an agent in January and she is currently performing Off-Broadway, working a day job and auditing the second half of Senior Audition. Another classmate has been accepted to Yale’s MFA for acting. And still another classmate is not planning to pursue performance as a career in spite of majoring in it.</p>
<p>So really I think the answer to your question will vary. When my S was represented we lived our life based on having to be available at all times and all plans were subject to change. Ok that’s a slight exaggeration bc over the years we did develop a relationship and could “book out” or pass on some things without fear of being dropped. But my point is that you really have to be committed and ready. And my S just isn’t there yet…PRE-graduation. But, yes, the Fordham faculty is doing what they can to make sure that their seniors have post grad plans and that includes industry professionals attending showcase. </p>
<p>Any good performance-focused BFA program will prepare students to go out and do professional work. But not all of the graduating seniors want to focus on acting. There are many other ways to be a theatre artist. At my son’s school, showcase is optional, and some students choose not to do it.</p>
<p>My S had a class called Intro to Professional Acting fall term where they brought in people from various parts of the industry to talk to the kids every week. CCPA Roosevelt has a Chicago showcase, and I believe some kids get agents out of it, but no idea what percentage. The school really does emphasize working, though. Junior and senior year, kids can get college credit for performing in Chicago-area plays. My S’s “big” was in the ensemble at Chicago Shakespeare’s Cyrano de Bergerac. </p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I love hearing what these kids are doing once they get in to programs as well as once they leave. I guess data is helpful to a degree, but the choice will probably come down to “fit” and her gut reaction about where she sees herself (and I’m purposely leaving finances out of my obsessions right now until the award letters go out).</p>
<p>Yes, if she’s happy and thriving, she will make the connections that she needs to make. good luck with all that. it’s very exciting and very scary. </p>
<p>UCLA has a showcase, which my daughter was invited to be in, but she had already graduated a quarter early and was in a show, so she did not do it and got her agent on her own from a mail out. Several of her other friends got their agents on their own through mail outs as well. She has since “upgraded” to a better commercial agent and is looking for a good theatrical rep. UCLA had a class in the last semester that taught the business. It was taught by a prominent casting director in LA. One thing they were taught was how to use the internet sites to get their own work as well. My daughter has been very successful with her own self submissions and gotten lots of work taking care of herself. She got herself SAG-E in less than a year out of school from such projects. Getting an agent won’t always lead to work. A good actor will try to get work on his or her own as well and won’t rely solely on the agent. </p>
<p>Thanks. Much to learn on this journey.</p>
<p>The CalArts graduating company just finished their NYC showcase and apparently every single actor got interest from casting directors, agents and/or managers.</p>
<p>Yesterday Cecily Strong from SNL came to talk to us and said that she was one of the few people who didn’t get an agent after graduation, but it was one of the best things that ever happened to her. She realized she didn’t want to stay in LA and moved back to Chicago to take some improv classes. A few years later and she’s doing Weekend Update.</p>