@CTDramaMom is absolutely right. I could tell some outrageous stories about D and her audition experiences since graduation. If you think it’s competitive now, just wait.
Did anyone audition at Combines last Friday? What is the protocol? My daughter heard from one school that evening, but nothing else since.
I don’t buy into the “just like the real world” excuse for auditors behaving poorly.
If they’re bored and don’t want to hide it… that’s ok. I can live with that.
But the kid should have their focused attention. These are (1)auditions that kids are paying for, and (2) auditions for programs that will ultimately costs tens of thousands of dollars for the successful auditioners. That’s not like the real world at all. The fact is that if a kid acted so preoccupied or distracted, they’d be rejected or even kicked out of the programs these adults are representing.
My D had the same experience. They were both looking down the whole time, seemingly not interested. That experience changed her mind completely about their program. We heard this story multiple times from kids. That was the only school who seemed disinterested. It’s a shame.
New poster here… been on BFA Acting 2023 thread. DD auditioned on campus at CCM last weekend. Those of you who have heard, were you all MT or was anyone acting? We just auditioned for acting. And how were you notified?? Thank you!!
@NYAndOne - I get what you are saying, and you have a valid point. But let’s face it - while these auditions are a momentous occasion for the kids - they are another day at work (in fact - they are a weekend of working on TOP of their jobs) for the auditors. Of course every person deserves courtesy, but one never knows what is happening on the OTHER side either. Maybe the people were talking about how fabulous your kid is… maybe they were talking about what to have for dinner, who knows. The only person the you can control in an audition room (before or after college) is YOURSELF. Go in, do your stuff, and then give it to the universe
It looks like Otterbein does a round of cuts after Unifieds as well. My D got an email that “she’s still in the applicant pool” for one of 16 “coveted” spots. I don’t think I realized their number was so low… I wonder what we’ll hear after Chicago and LA are done. This process makes me crazy… 8-} Interesting notes about Rider. My D has an audition with them in LA. Wonder if it will be the same…
@toowonderful ultimately, I agree with you that the kids need to push through, give it their all, and then move in to the next one. It’s the only way to deal with it. My D hasn’t had that type of audition experience (yet!), and if she did I would make sure she was focused on the next audition rather than whining about the last one.
However, there are zero good reasons for being on a phone while a kid is auditioning. If the call is that important, then the auditor should excuse himself/herself from the room. It’s more than just courtesy - it’s professionalism. If I was responsible for an auditor who pulled out a phone during an audition, I’d be angry… that’s not how I would want my program represented.
LOL @toowonderful about the auditors discussing dinner. It is another day at the office for them. I totally get the point about the program being represented by the auditors and my D had one audition last year at Unifieds that totally turned her off a school… so we’ve been there. But parents and applicants both need to get a reality check that the auditors don’t really care if you like them. You can have the “well, that takes your school off our list” attitude towards a school but they don’t care - there are others standing in line behind you. I am grateful that most auditors my D encountered were respectful, friendly and kind. Because they truly don’t have to be. They’ll still fill their class with talented, hard-working and ambitious students, which is what they are there for.
Congrats on D still “being in the pool” @CaliMTdreams! Is that a school she’s very interested in attending?
@morgan830 My DD’s ‘no’ from CCM was for MT. We received an email last night.
@hfstt201 thank you. Sorry for the news but like everyone is saying it only takes one.
@hfstt201 My son auditioned for Rider on campus and said same thing. They were talking during audition and not paying attention. He felt they were very rude, not at all friendly. It was one of the first auditions. Thankfully most since then have been much more positive experiences!
I know others have commented on considering adding Molloy/CAP21 to your lists, so I won’t take up too much more of your time. But, I thought I would share this OnStage blog article that highlights Molloy/CAP21 as a “College Theatre Program to Keep an Eye On”. 
https://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2018/12/17/college-theatre-programs-to-keep-an-eye-on-molloy-collegecap21?fbclid=IwAR1pxYNeKm8X9LtGdJkUDi_ncOJ7OAPyHj-bc-sbaoeg_4QQbfWFfeyQ36E
@onepercentmom Maybe it’s some weird tactic to see if students can hold their focus. We have not experienced that anywhere else, so I found it odd. I can say with certainty that the atmosphere in the audition room caused my DD to reconsider her interest in the school.
@CaMom13 I hear what you’re saying, but -if I was running a program - I’d be very much aware that, at this point in time, the demand for our product greatly exceeds the supply. I’d also be aware that new programs are popping up every day to meet the demand (MS at Rutgers is a good example). It won’t be too long before unprofessional auditors start impacting yield.
When it became clear a few years ago that “cut” programs were hurting programs’ abilities to attract the best, they changed their behavior (or, at least, became less obvious about it). I’m convinced that in 5 or 6 years, you’ll no longer be hearing about auditors on phones. Why? Because behavior like that only opens the door for competitors.
There’s zero good reasons for being on the phone or otherwise inattentive during a professional auditon as well. But, sadly, it happens. I’m not saying it’s right. I’m just saying that our kiddos need to learn how to deal with unprofessional behavior in a professional manner, as it’s going to happen to them again in the future, guaranteed.
@CaMom13 Thank you. Yes, she’s interested in that one. She likes their dance minor option and liked their audition process. I don’t know if it was the same for everyone, but they kind of “tested” her preparedness - had her sing a random song from her book, asked a question about something on her resume. We’re west coast, so haven’t seen the campus yet, but will put it on the list for spring break travel if she makes the final cut. Honestly at this point we can say that ANY school she gets accepted to is one she’s considering, since it’s so competitive, but she does have her top half and bottom half of her list…
Regarding the Rider comments, are any of you considering contacting the school and providing feedback? I’d be curious then if things change for Chicago or LA Unifieds.
Be aware that what auditors say or do often has zero correlation to their decision. Every year, there are stories about kids perceiving that their auditors were indifferent, only to get an acceptance - and the opposite, where auditors gushed about a kid’s performance and seemed to take a special interest, and then the kid receives a no. There is no rhyme or reason to this crazy process! When my D auditioned for Molloy/CAP 21 in 2014 (her last, BTW), the auditor must have seen that she was nervous and a little desperate (we had only one acceptance and two redirects at that point). He gave her time to warm up and told her: “show me your soul.” She told me later that his patience and those few words helped her relax and do her best. The rest is history. Wish that all auditions could be like that one, but they’re not. When the magic happens (and it will!), your kid will know he or she has found “home.”