<p>Mind is made up on what?
Yes its very clear to me that she is going to make a run at her dream. But that does not mean she is not going to college…we are just sorting out options.</p>
<p>As far as instruments go this info is very beneficial…I will share that with her. Perhaps it will incent her to get that guitar out more.</p>
<p>OR perhaps she should go back to piano? How about thoughts on that?</p>
<p>Angst- your daughter sounds great and talented and we all wish her and you the best of luck.</p>
<p>Why continue to post here if you don’t want to at least consider an alternative point of view? Nobody here has an axe to grind… just trying to be helpful, but you seem almost hostile that we’re not all jumping around excited by your plan for your daughter. At a minimum, you might want to review the following:</p>
<p>1)NY and LA not the only places to go to college
2)If your daughter does not become the next Brittney Spears, a strong grounding in a musical instrument and continued training in music theory will, at least, allow her to have SOME career in music;
3)While single-mindedness is a great thing in a kid, and is surely a requirement for success in the arts, your daughters immaturity (not practicing guitar, wanting to perform in order to perform and be a star vs. the love of her craft) might be a signal to you that she’s not ready to skip college and embark on a professional career.
4)For every “star” you’ve ever heard of, there are thousands of equally talented people working as dancers and singers at theme parks, teaching percussion to Kindergarden kids, or working as “voices” and voiceover artists for commercial television. Nobody chooses those careers… they end up as plan B or C when “stardom” doesn’t happen. As focused as you all are on Plan A right now, which is terrific, I am alarmed that you are in denial that the odds are significant that you will end up with plan B or C.</p>
<p>Angst, I certainly do not want you to feel attacked for believing that your daughter has a chance of being the next Brittany, JLO, etc. I am curious. Has she ever auditioned for American Idol? We went down to DC for that purpose and I will tell you that America is filled with people that dream that same dream. The truth of the matter is that there are few stars and even if your daughter is extremely talented (I know mine is…lol…and I’m sure yours is as well), the odds make it a tough feat.</p>
<p>I do not want you to think that any of us that have directed our children to pursue degrees in either classical or musical theatre maintain a snobbery to the pop genre. Actually, I do not know of any pop music programs, but I do believe that many that do not go to college directly from high school never go at all. Candidly, I have previously expressed it as a fear of my own if my daughter was cast in the Broadway show that called her back last week. </p>
<p>In hindsight, I will tell you that I graduated from school with a degree in Journalism. My dream was to be a famous writer. Although I did publish a legal practice guidebook, I assure you that you have never heard of me. LOL…interestingly enough, I sell legal books in all media for a living. My point? Whereas I didn’t write a world famous novel and get name recognition, my degree enabled me to secure a rather profitable job.</p>
<p>Again, don’t take any of this as anything other than a realistic approach to the world. I am sure you will give your daughter the best advice you can.</p>
<p>Stephanie</p>
<p>Gosh, Susan, I chased you over here because “Soozviet” was the title of this thread. Funny, I had seen this but did not read it as “Soviet” up until right now. Did not want to hijack Momdream’s thread anymore, so I’ll borrow Angst’s</p>
<p>Yes, we are done. And I am glad. I had some misgivings about the MT pursuit from the beginning as I felt that some of the school, though they have an excellent MT program, were not going to be good fits as far as total package and environment for my son. When he initially visited the schools, I don’t think he really paid much attention to that factor, he just had so much to absorb. When he returned to audition, this became somewhat of an issue. I don’t think it would have been a disaster, and I feel that the MT program is one heck of a solid course of study. No qualms about the relevance of such programs at all. I really believe that kids should enjoy their 4 years at college and study things that they want to study, and if this was something he liked, fine with me. But frankly, I felt he was all over the map on what he wants, and a more general liberal arts curriculum with theatre and voice would be just fine.</p>
<p>I did have safeties built into his list, however, which many kids do not even going into this program. When you said it was the kids who had “talent” issues that needed the safeties rather than the ones who with less solid academic profiles, I don’t think I agree. I can’t really pinpoint talent, and with these admit rates base on a few minutes audition, I don’t know how any of us can. There are kids who have been told by people who do some of these auditions that they have the stuff, but if you don’t hit the sweet note in that couple of minutes, it could be it. There is too much of an element of chance in all of this to rely on talent. Someone like your daughter, however, has a safety valve in that her academic profile is strong enough that many of the schools will not only give her points for that (and it does count at some schools along with the audition), but she could gain admissions academically as she did to Emerson, and come up with some program if it comes down to it. Several of the schools do offer dual type of admissions. I did not know that Emerson automatically did, as with some schools you do have to specify, but there is always that possibility with strong academics. I saw one young lady at an audition with an absolutely sterling resume, but her test scores were not 1000 and her grades were at the B level. Well, to just have the list of schools that she has, is really risky as the likelihood of an academic admit goes down when the numbers are not up there. Though from your posts, your D has so much going for her that I feel that she will get at least one program, she is also probably going to have some academic choices too at some of her schools. I would have thrown in at least one nonaudition choice like Muhlenberg or Vassar or Wesleyan as well, but I am over cautious. </p>
<p>So, Angst, sorry to borrow Soozviet’s thread. But am glad to read that your D is embarking on an exciting life. Have fun with it and see where it leads. I did think about you when H’s office manager’s son reported back on Five Towns. This kid has been doing the rock band circuit for a couple of years out of highschool, taking a few local courses, actually moderately successful. Definitely does not want to go to a traditional colege. He thinks that Five Towns is exactly the next step for him as it has all sort of music technology courses, an area he wants to learn. And it’s within an hour or so from NYC, I believe. Shares resources with a SUNY and the price is right, I understand. So that’s maybe a school you want to check out. And I think the “American Idol” suggestion sounds pretty good. S is getting info on that himself with a bunch of friends as they think this would be a great project to pursue and a lot of fun.</p>
<p>Blossom…I dont know how you can take the fact that she loves singing and loves performing in front of an audience and turn that into a lack of love of her craft. YES she loves singing on stage more than practising guitar or learning to play the piano…
She is a performer…she loves being on stage…she also LOVES singing…she sings all the time anywhere…alone or for others.</p>
<p>And she wants to go to school in LA or NY because she feels that suits her best…just like my other daughter wanted to go to a large school on the East Coast…we all have preferences.</p>
<p>She has not tried out for IDOL because she is under the age limit. She would love to though!
Regardless now that she is finally going to have the chance to go for it…we will see what happens…
You all have GREAT ideas and I appreciate the input! Thanks!!!</p>
<p>Jamimom
What is fivetowns? never heard of it…sounds interesting…</p>
<p>Let me know if she gets the broadway show Divamommy…how exciting for you!</p>
<p>Doesn’t it though? I know several kids who have checked it out and found it fit their goals. I have never been there personally, and if you do go, let us know about it. You still have plenty of time before doing any of this stuff. I keep forgetting that she is still a sophomore. </p>
<p>None of mine went the rock music route, but if they had, I would have let them have fun with it and seen where it led, looking for the best venues along the way. So I have done with each of my kids’ interests. Some times the activity dead ends itself; sometimes it takes on a life of its own. I always was on top of them about getting that schoolwork done, however, as that can always be lower on the priority list than the big interest. Their primary job is the academics. But I am always glad when they have some other activity that they love as well. My freshman right now concerns me because he doesn’t seem to like to do anything much other than what he has to do.</p>
<p>Concerning that Brittney Spears topic, she certainly has paid her dues. When she was young she was in Tx training to be an Olympic caliber gymnist. She took tons of jazz lessons too, and when burned out her coach said something like,’ well, can you sing? ’ So she did and next thing you know mother had an agent for her and they were in N.Y. and the child was singing at every fair everywhere. By this time she was only 12. There is a mentality here I could never identify with, the way some parents respond. Also, I know parents locally who are so obsessed with their child’s successful tennis performance that the parents do not work, simply find commercial sponsors to support them while they train their child to become a pro tennis player. Isn’t that putting a lot of eggs in one basket?
My own sons performed with a large local ballet company for a while and when you find success it IS easy to become wrapped up in it.Of course, it was the wrong thing for my boys. They were out of it by the time they were 11.But if someone is talented, I say sure, try the professional route while young. How can you know if you don’t try? Plenty of time for college later, I suppose.</p>
<p>Angstridden, I am not totally sure how else to help you at this point because a lot of these issues have been discussed in depth before, besides the fact that I don’t have a child trying to go into the pop industry so it is a bit different. </p>
<p>I think every poster above gave you great advice/thoughts. Many of these posters have kids who are in the performing arts so I think they are well informed. NONE of us are the type who would discourage a kid from going for their dreams in the performing arts. As you can see, many of us have supported our kids in “going for it”. Most of us, however, have not taken the same path as you are pursuing with your daughter and that is fine. But be assured we all support a kid trying and would not say “don’t go for it, you’ll never make it in the field”. But we are also realistic and know that being a “pop star” is very very very difficult to accomplish, and in fact, even more difficult, I would think, than trying to make it on Broadway (which I already think is very long odds) as fewer become a pop star and there are more “connections” involved than in the theatrical audition world, as well. I also think few of us can relate to the goal of being a star. I know my own kid has never talked of being a star. She merely wants a life on the stage, if possible, as that is her deep deep passion and she cannot refrain from doing this stuff (not that we’d want her to). If she makes it at the top levels of Broadway, that remains to be seen but she might get work on other stages and that is the main goal. </p>
<p>As many of us have encouraged you in the past, there are things your D can be doing now to pursue her field. I am not discouraging you from developing a demo and trying to get representation and marketing the demo to record producers. But simultaneously, I would look into other performance opportunities. As mentioned in the past, if she could get gigs or develop a band, locally and then regionally, she might eventually have one thing lead to another. I told you of a local girl here who is doing that right now and has CDs out with her band and solo and also has many regional gigs on her docket. Ya gotta start somewhere. A summer program for kids in that field is another way to go, both for training and performance opportunities but maybe even possible networking, contacts, and advice on how to pursue the next steps. </p>
<p>I also think, and PLEASE take this in the spirit I mean it, that while I am certain your D is very very talented, one thing you might want to do is see how she can “compete” outside your local area, in order to get a handle on just how good she is in the bigger pool of talent. I will speak from personal experience. And it is very awkward as it might come off the wrong way. But I think many of us can relate to having a very talented kid who stands out locally as it sounds like your D does. That means she is the kid who is always cast or the one in the limelight, etc. For us, as parents, we started to get a handle on what we were dealing with, once our child was involved outside our local/regional area. For instance, when she began her summer program out of state at age 9, where it appeared that the most talented kids from every state were congregated in one place, she was standing out. We had NO idea she would in such a selective group of performing kids. She had several agent and manager offers from NYC. She has auditioned on Broadway and while never cast there, she has gone far into callbacks for various roles on a national level. That was an eye opener. Once she got cast in a job in NYC on her first agent submitted audition there. In high school, there are state level music things, like All States and scholarships and she has won those. She recently got a national award from NFAA (which your D should enter senior year in the pop vocal category…mine entered for musical theater). This kind of thing let’s me see that she is in the ballpark of talent on a larger scale outside of our immediate area. You might want to venture past MD and see what happens too. Though your D is too young for American Idol, she could try for Star Search. My D did that once and made the cut in the round she was in but it went no further than that. Once you audition at higher levels in places like NYC, you can see how utterly tough it is among many equally talented kids as your own. So, you can stand out at home but it is harder to do so in the larger pool or in NYC and such. </p>
<p>I also wonder if you know the difference between an agent and a manager. It sounds like you only spoke to managers. There is a difference. If anything, I think it is harder to get representation by an agent than by a manager and also you pay more with a manager. We have met with managers in NYC, top ones, who have offered contracts and again, these were not for five years. Your D would have to audition for a manager, not just call and get one. Often blind submissions of resumes and demos are difficult to get an appt. for an audition with the agent. Often it is through networking or if the agent has heard of your kid in some way. Each of my child’s offers for representation never came from blind submissions (we never submitted a packet to any agents/managers) but through being asked to come in and audition for them. My daughter is with one of the better known agents for children in NYC, not a manager, and she does not have a contract. She never pays a dime unless she gets work. If you get a manager, be prepared to have to fork over 10% for the agent and 15% for the manager. </p>
<p>You asked about my child and NYC auditions and if those meant drop everything and go. Yes, NYC auditions DO involve last minute calls often and yes, you must go when called. It is hard to plan for. For us, being that we live nearly six hours from NYC, we rarely did auditions. My D’s agent knew that we would only come in for major auditions and never sought to go in for commercials and things of that sort. As well, as parents, we have had mixed feelings about pursuing it at that level with a child because we do not live near NYC. If we did, it would be easier both in terms of auditioning and also in terms of how to handle if the child got work. But for us, we are not willing to break up the family and have one parent in NYC with the child and be away from the other child (when she was still living at home). My child with the NYC agent, ONLY got one because she begged to get to go to the agent’s appts. she was offered and we let her. It was all her idea but we said all along, if she got a show, she would have to have a chaperone and have us visit routinely because that was the only way it would work and she didn’t care. But we never have pursued it that heartily at that level because of the difficulties involved. If she got something, we’d make it work but it was mind boggling to consider from here. Also, a big factor has been that she is ALWAYS in a show 12 months per year and once she committs to a show locally, we can’t let her back out if some bigger opportunity comes along. And so that means we have not vigorously pursued auditions in NYC too often. We have barely done so in the last couple of years, though she went to more when younger (never as regularly as NYC kids would go to). Some handle this by not getting into local shows so as to remain available but we never took that route because we thought she could be waiting forever and it was more important to keep training and performing constantly as that is what she loves to do. All in all, our NYC experience has been worthwhile, however. I think it has meant that my child has been in high powered auditions which has been a good experience in and of itself for anyone going into this field. She has seen the competition and how once you have the talent and make it through many cuts, lots can come down to height, skin tone, “look”, “type”, etc. at this level, unlike how this is done to a lesser degree in regional/local casting. She also has the audition experience down pat and I’d say she has auditioned SO much in her life (over 50 times easily…overall, not talking NYC only), that when she must audition to get into college, it is not a totally new experience to put herself before a panel of judges. Also the one job my D did get in NYC gave her a taste of a very professional level of experience and she has gotten to perform in 10 states and in some major venues before very big audiences which is something coming from a rural town. The nice thing about that job was that while it was over a three year period, it only involved a couple long weekends per year and never disrupted our lives one bit and she could still be in local shows. So she got that higher level experience but never had to live away from home to get it. So, now she can wait til she is a little older to keep trying for bigger things. She is in shows now, auditioning for college and so we have laid low in staying in frequent touch with the agent as I can’t see how she could go to any NYC auditions or do work there now. Too much else going on in her life. She is only 16 and her time will come. Meanwhile, she has been able to amass a resume and that is what I would suggest your D do while she is simultaneously trying to pursue the BIG stuff. She should still be performing, going for awards, training, etc. </p>
<p>To be continued…</p>
<p>As an aside regarding the “drop everything in your life if you get a NYC audition or a job”…is that we want our child to have a fairly normal life (whatever THAT is) and often as much as they want the BIG stuff, it is hard for kids to give up things and indeed, that is what happens when called to audition in NYC or getting a job. I won’t get into the details but I had my hand on the phone literally to turn down my child’s NY debut at Lincoln Center once because she was beside herself that she would have to switch her usual session at her beloved theater camp and she did not want to do that but had this dilemma that Lincoln Center was calling. I finally could not put up with the back and forth on this and was ready to turn it down until she begged me to stop dialing and her agent talked with her about these kinds of decisions and what it means to miss this or that thing she loves and so forth. She took the job, switched the camp sessions, and then at the last minute, months later when it was time to perform, the orchestra went on strike and the show was cancelled. I can’t tell you what all this meant as we got the call from the agent enroute to parent weekend at camp. Long story. So keep in mind, your child is still a kid and there is a lot of missing this and that if you do the NYC thing with her. </p>
<p>Also while you mentioned pop artists who have made it who do not play instruments, I don’t think anyone would argue that that is possible. You do not HAVE to play an instrument to get work as a singer. What folks were saying is that IF your D played piano or guitar and could accompany herself while singing, it gives her more versatility in performance opportunities as it is one more thing she can do and not just sing. Also playing an instrument is very beneficial to being a singer even if you never play the instrument on stage. Anyone going into music should be able to play basic piano even if not perform on piano. I can tell you that the program head of Musical Theater at UMich, one of the top programs in the country, just told all the parents/students at recent college auditions that very point. That is why I suggest it for your D.</p>
<p>I think if your D does pursue a college degree in this field, she needs to find the very best programs where the training is great and future opportunities might arise. The idea of the college being in the city where she wants to get work is not a realistic viewpoint. She either needs to pursue college OR pursue work (like time off from college in NYC or LA). I am not sure she can do both at the same time too well. </p>
<p>As far as Five Towns, I know this is not the first time it has been mentioned in threads regarding your interests. If you recall, I, as well as others, mentioned college programs that met the criteria you had for contemporary music training near NYC or LA and I researched this quite a bit for your D and listed schools and in fact, Five Towns was on the list I posted to you as well. I would get my hands on as much resources about colleges and routes into this field as I could. I would network with and talk to others in this field as to how they went about it. </p>
<p>This forum can help you but it is more aimed at college admissions which is not necessarily what you are looking at, it seems. I hope you have found some in the industry to also guide you as you pursue your D’s dreams. I encourage you to keep at it but also simulataneously be researching college programs in vocal performance or contemporary music so that she may have various options if her heart is in this. Getting her demo and getting to be a star is a cool dream but there are many other avenues to keep pursuing her passion to sing, if indeed that is her true calling/passion, and not to only be a star. In other words, if you try the demo promotion thing for a year and nothing happens, I would not chalk it up to not making it. Rather, if she loves this field, she will find a way to pursue it at ANY level as she won’t want to NOT be doing it. That’s how I see it.
Susan</p>
<p>BHG, Brittny Spears’ first NYC agent as a child, ironically is the one my D has. </p>
<p>And since you bring up Brittny, this is a good example of someone who had a talent besides singing, as she is a dancer. So, that is why I encourage Angstridden’s D to also be well trained in hip hop and jazz dance and/or piano, and even songwriting. The more she can do the more possible opportunities.</p>
<p>Also, Mandy Moore, who attended the same theater camp that my D attends, started in musical theater. One thing led to another. Same with Natalie Portman, the actress, who also used to go to my D’s camp. People work their way UP. It is rare to start out at the top.</p>
<p>Susan, looking at your younger daughter’s accomplishments, the schools would be stupid to pass her up!! Wow!!</p>
<p>That’s what I say. I don’t think I am sticking my neck out saying that she will get into at least a couple of programs. The nature of these programs, Achat, are that they base the decision on just a few minutes of auditon and the needs of the program. Though resume and training does count, the biggest determining factor is that audition. And with 300-500 kids auditioning for just 20 spots, it becomes a real crapshoot. She is also an excellent student with high test scores, so even if the school does not “need” her type in a program, they are very likely to offer her a place in alternate program, and with her determination, she could find her way in once she is there. Not as simple as it sounds, but she does have alternatives. But ideally she will get into the full slate of what she wants so she does not have to worry about those things after she is in college.</p>
<p>I feel the need to add my 2 cents. I was married to an attorney/agent to pop stars, among others. The chances of making it to the Brittney level are miniscule, and talent is only a small factor. If you are more talented than the slew of very talented, very pretty, very trained kids out there, you may get the attention of a decent agent. After that the grueling 24/7 work begins, this is the stage most don’t make it through. Their egos are busted, they are not as talented as they thought they were. They get tired of the hours and hours of drills given by people not as cuddly as their hometown music and dance teachers. Then they’er told how to improve their looks which often means plastic surgery, exercise that makes Arnold look lazy and strict diet. If all goes really well they get to open for a second rate band for a year in 364 towns in 365 days. Only when they have had this exposure can it be determined if they have the magic, if they can connect with audiences. The few that do then maybe get pitched for radio time. Again, you can die here. Look at all the American Idol finalists that were one hit wonders. The stress and pressure would break most teenagers. Brittney sure looks like she’s having fun, only 99% of the people in the business really are not.</p>
<p>My guess is that of 50 who get to work with a real agent, having been identified as having real talent, one may become a star, 2 are well employeed in the business, 2 marginally employeed, the rest…</p>
<p>All this to say, encourage her dreams and college too.</p>
<p>Folks I really really learn so much here…Thank you for your insites. AND YES I take it all into deep consideration as we enter the college, career planning stages here.</p>
<p>Susan, I am curious,did you have to sign with your agent for a length of time? or just go via commissions? Also are there agents in NY specific to say a singer like my daughter is or are most general…ie modeling, acting etc. My daughter likes acting but singing is the main thrust.</p>
<p>I definately appreciate the points made here about instruments!! And it makes much sense.</p>
<p>Five towns…I do not recall reading that name. Suny Purchase but not Five Towns I must have missed it…sorry.</p>
<p>Kirmum thank you kindly for an insiders view. YES YES we are looking at college but taking some shots here and there too and seeing what happens.
As for plastic surgery…I went to the site awfulplasticsurgery.com and showed it to my daughter…why these pretty people mess themselves up is beyond me.
I guess there are a lot of deepseated insecurities in this type of business.</p>
<p>I noted many of the names mentioned here are pictured at the awfulplasticsurgerysite!</p>
<p>Jamimom, thanks for the vote of confidence, but as you say, the worrisome thing is that SO much rides on those few minutes in the audition and on the needs of the program slots. Yes, the child still submits the whole application stuff and yes, a resume is looked at but I think some of that is looked at once they have narrowed kids down from the auditions and then are determining the final cuts and looking at the whole picture. I am not sure about your point that you can get into the college if denied to the program, though on the other hand, at Emerson, that sorta is happening, well, she is into the college and waiting to hear on the program. But I cannot see her going to these schools if not in the program. I mean some of these schools otherwise from the BFA program, are not necessarily colleges she might have picked. Some are not that selective as colleges themselves (not talking CMU, NYU, or UM right now) but are highly selective for the actual BFA program. But you and I both know, for instance, at NYU, if not admitted to Tisch, you are not admitted at all. And frankly, right now she is only looking to go into BFA for MT. Yes, I hear ya on having had some “safeties” that were non audition like Vassar or Muhlenberg but she did not choose that. If for some reason none of the 8 work out, there is no backup plan at the moment but I suppose a year off could happen, as afterall she is young, and so could try again at age 17. I don’t wanna think about that. I think it is reasonable that she should get into at least one even though the odds seem against that, and even though I am obviously biased being her mom, but professionals in the field, as well as others who know her work, all seem to think so and I guess based on how she has done among other talented kids outside our immediate area, I have to think she is an appropriate candidate to be trying to get into these and is in her league. I just know that that won’t be enough but it is at least reasonable to try. It is not that unlike my other D trying for the top colleges in the country. She had what it took to get in but we knew the lottery nature of that game. We felt she would never get into them all but should get into some because of her qualifications and she did quite well in her process and I hope and pray the second child has a decent outcome. But as you know, there are TONS of talented kids out there. Many have just as good a resume if not better. Just among her theater friends from out of state who are also auditioning, they look just as good on paper, pretty much and definitely are very talented. And that does not include the thousands of kids we don’t know at the auditions, like, well, YOUR son! </p>
<p>Angst, as mentioned before, my daughter did not have to sign any contract with her agent. If she is cast in something, she gives 10% of her earnings to the agent, that is it. Some managers who offered representation did have a contract to sign but these were not for five years, if I recall correctly, though it was a while ago and I would have to look at those contracts. She stuck with an agent. If you have a manager, then 15% of earnings to go the manager and another 10% will have to go the agent that the manager got the audition through. </p>
<p>My child does NO modeling or commercials. She almost exclusively auditioned for theater. She did one TV audition for the lead role in a pilot and my understanding was that she was the finalist for the role in NYC but then they chose to cast it with LA kids. That is another thing that can happen. It is NOT all talent. Yes, you MUST have talent to get far but then many other factors come into play…looks…networking, connections, resume…for instance, when auditioning on Broadway, as she has done, it can be hard to compete with a kid that already had Bdway credits though not impossible but harder. Once my child was seen five times for a lead role on a tour, and when it was down to the final three, they said her complexion, which is not fair/blond, was the deciding factor. I am glad my D has had that kind of experience because if she goes into this field, that is what can happen at this level, whereas locally the most talented kid often is cast, and that is not like in the big leagues. </p>
<p>I think Kirmum hit on a point I was earlier about how lots of making it in the pop world is not just the talent but other connections and breaks. I think the notion of trying to be a pop star is hard to fathom. I think you gotta start smaller and see what happens. I don’t discourage dreams cause if you don’t try, you don’t know. But the dreams might need to be broadly defined…maybe “performing” might be what she wants to go for…and look at all sorts of opportunities, big and small, and include education in that picture. </p>
<p>Again, I think you need to be advised by someone in that exact field of what steps to take. I also think while pursuing the BIG stuff, your child might want to pursue things right in your area…gigs and such. Just getting an agent or manager is not that easy but not unheard of either. But she will have to audition at the agent or manager’s office to be represented. They don’t just offer to represent you based on the resume. There are also agents in your area who you might want to talk to…Baltimore, DC. You need someone to assess her talent in the bigger pool of kids out there. Like I said, it is one thing to be the star kid locally and quite another to be among many talented kids outside your area. That is another reason why a summer program that is aimed for kids passionate in her field where kids from all over the country gravitate, might give you a handle on her talent in such a competitive pool, as well as assistance from staff in the “know” on how to proceed with your daughter. I can tell you that we NEVER EVER thought of an agent for our child or taking her to NYC, farthest from our imaginations. The first summer she went for six week to this theater intensive program out of state, brought the notion of agents up (she had some contact her), and staff there were advising what to do and how to do it and calling up folks in NYC on her behalf. It is not like we ever thought to do this. She got the idea from there and the rest is history. This pool of kids is NOT like at home. It is like taking the top kids from all over the country and some out of the country and putting them in one place, to give you an idea. Her boyfriend from there, had an audition for a TV show in NYC today, and is a fine actor and is already admitted to Tisch. Putting your child among that pool of kids in your D’s field (contemporary music) will give you an idea of what you are dealing with…lotsa perspective. Plus more intense professional training which even though your D has been “trained”, I am sure she can benefit from further immersion in the field. I know my child has been training and participating and performing on stage since preschool, but has benefitted immensely from her intensive summer program (going on her 8th year there) and will learn much much more in a professional degree program in college. Training is nonending. I hope you are connecting with some folks in this field to guide you because we here are more knowledgeable about the college process or performing arts but not necessarily the pop music industry and I believe you need to get your hands on as many resources as possible and learn learn learn what you can and then consult with pros in the field. Is you D’s voice teacher knowledgeable about the pop music industry? How about those who are helping on the demo CD? Sometimes a manager arranges for a demo CD to be made and sent to record companies too. You don’t even need a CD to get an agent or manager. You could get representation and then let THEM market her career and send her to auditions. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Thanks Susan, you are so helpful! I think I know who your daughters agent is and I am glad its working out so wonderfully for you!
Your daughter is obviously awesomely talented!!!</p>
<p>No, you are not auto admitted to NYU if you do not get into Tisch, but I think that if she leaves the door open for other studios such as Strasberg, her chances will go up. CAP is the most selective, from what I understand. No official word about it but I think that is the case. Also, Ithaca which is a fine college as alternative programs to MT which they offer to the better students. Not to mention, Emerson, right in Boston’s theatre district , and she is already in there. Don’t know how the other schools work.</p>
<p>kirmum hits the nail on the head here.</p>
<p>Also, there are lifetime rewards available for folks that focus on music (or dance, or drama etc.) rather than stardom, regardless of their level of financial success. The failed “star”. . . .well. . .generally not a very pretty situation. </p>
<p>I played in a band during and after college. I didn’t want to be a star. All I wanted to do was avoid a real job and make a bunch of money. But along the way I did get engaged in the actual music, and today I am able to get a lot of pleasure from playing and listening to music, the latter in a more satisfying way due to paying more attention to the art than the attention during my “career.” </p>
<p>Angstridden - this is not a knock on you or your daughter, only a caution regarding the “what if this doesn’t work out” scenario. And it would appear that your D does have one key qualification for success - determination. Most stars would chew through concrete to get what they want, and many have had to do so.</p>