My son’s year it was one @ a time
Someone we know just had a CMU audition last week. Said it was tricky to find so leave enough time. Everyone was put in a room together and I think there were 2 music rooms and 1 acting room (no dance call). You are assigned either acting or a music and individually taken back. You only go to 1 music room unless you are passed on. It sounds like it took forever but mostly you were just held in that room.
My D went to CMU on campus and it was run in a really organized way. Do plan on the time as they had everyone waiting in a room and took some to acting and some to sing and then they came back to the room to go to the alternate room. I’m not sure if Unifieds will be run in the same way but we were on campus the full 4 hours between the voice and acting auditions.
Break legs to all of our kiddos!! We are their biggest fans & cheerleaders and we will be their rock and their shoulder to lean on through this crazy, adrenaline filled weeend!!
Dropped off D for guitar and AP English this morning. She’ll miss her other classes as we jump on the Megabus from Maryland to NYC… see you all there. BAL!
CMU at LA Unifieds had a central waiting area and everyone for the morning or afternoon session was there at the same time. After an introductory speech everyone waited to be called individually for acting and voice. After your auditions you could leave. They had you reserve four hours so they could see everyone - most of it was waiting. If you wear heels be prepared to take them off to sing!
I know this is probably a school by school decision, but does anyone have any insight into what happens when inclement weather makes it impossible (for either the student or the school) to get to the audition? Sunday is shaping up to be quite a mess in the NY area.
@nyart15 Unfortunately, there isn’t much that you can do except travel to the location early and hope for the best. Two years ago my D missed an audition because our flight was cancelled due to weather, and the school would not reschedule. Last year, Point Park cancelled an audition on campus due to a snowstorm and did not reschedule it.
My D auditioned the year of the infamous NYC Unifieds 28" blizzard. We had planned on commuting from a friend’s apartment in Washington Heights, but at the last minute (Tuesday of audition week) managed to get a room at the New Yorker. Thank goodness we did. Pretty much the whole city shut down, even Broadway theaters, which is virtually unheard of. Lots of kids didn’t make their auditions who were flying in from out of town (we live in nearby CT, so we just came in before the snow started). The one plus for those of us who did make it in - lots of walk in availability, even with schools that normally didn’t offer them.
In 2014 a big storm hit the last day of Chicago Unifieds. There were a number of schools that left early so faculty could get home. No idea if they rescheduled those auditions or not (didn’t happen to be any of my D’s schools)
In the sad, but true sense; if a student can’t get there - or even if the school drops an audition day - it’s not like they won’t be able to find enough other people to fill the class…
With that said - safe travels to everyone headed to NYC this weekend! (esp my all time favorite student!) May your flights be on time, your TSA line short, your roads clear, and your subway line working…
@Gapyearguru @CTDramaMom @toowonderful
Thanks!
We’re a train ride away so hopefully it won’t be a problem but Sunday looks messy.
Just trying to help those out of towners who might be worried & less familiar with NYC…it does look sloppy this weekend w 3-6" of snow over the weekend but that will definitely not shut down any rail roads or subway lines, so my guess & hope for all of you is that if you are in the NY area by Friday evening you will be good to go. in my experience they won’t even consider shutting down mass transit till we exceed 10-12 “…Good luck to ALL BAL!! send us " juniors” info to learn from about all ( walk ins who was there etc…Thanks)
@NYYFanNowMTdad - I was referring to repair/construction on various subways lines that can be confusing to people unfamiliar with the system. I have ended up with challenges on more than one occasion. (probably b/c though they post signs at the stations, I don’t know what all the various letters represent - I just know the colors of the lines) Even my D, who has been living in NYC for 5 years, and is fairly expert, has ended up confused by what trains are running to where at what moment. She was late to work the other day b/c her train was stopped in the tunnel for 30 min for one reason or another.
Just leave yourself plenty of travel time, and you will be fine
Also, if it is going to be sloppy (and this goes for Chicago as well - where it is almost ALWAYS sloppy in Feb) wear other shoes/boots, and change into your audition shoes when you get there. Yet another thing for the parent to Sherpa while the kid is performing!! :))
You can get pretty good Subway maps at convenience stores… especially in places like Penn Station. I bought a laminated one and used it for several years. It has the different lines numbered/lettered including which are local and express (and stops).
I think the MTA subway app is better than a hardcopy of the map b/c it is updated regularly. Confusion can still happen 
But maybe it’s just me. I am known for having a STRONG sense of direction in ordinary life… but it seems to disappear underground… (maybe b/c I really really really hate riding the subway. It is for sure the smartest, most convenient and economical mode of transportation - but there is the possibility I will see a nasty furry creature down there)
Downloading MTA app now… well, started to, but there are so many! Do you have a preference @toowonderful ? Maybe describe the icon? Thanks!!!
My suggestion for those not in NYC, to make it easy is this…Open up Google MAPS (download that app) on your phone and type in Pearl studios (500 8th avenue). Google will give you not only the train line to take, but also the times for each distance between train lines. Point of reference, Pearl studios is just 2 blocks north of MACYS Herald square (a great place to kill time if you have long delays between auditions).
My older D, a college student in ny, recommends the citymapper app to get around.
@CaliMTdreams - the one I like is (i think) the official one from the metro transport authority. It is a black square, with a red circle inside, and a white subway car as the center 
Did anyone that contacted Hartt hear back from them regarding the extra $40? Just curious.