Agreed, we have also done one walk-in here at Chicago and we paid $30 on the spot and then when my daughter was encouraged to submit an application we paid for that as well. So it’s not like walk-ins are getting away with not paying, and they are also only filling open times with people that request walk-ins. It’s not like they are double-booking the room, which would be infuriating to people with appt. slots. Most schools are running on time so I don’t see the harm. I also don’t think kids are auditioning for programs they have zero interest in. I think that they may be schools that people were initially interested in but did not get the app in or decided to cut for whatever reason. My advice would be that you can’t beat 'em so join 'em and do a few. You never know! Break legs everyone!
I’ve been following this thread for a couple of weeks now. This whole process is so overwhelming and it’s nice to see others experiencing the same stress. 
Question: my son and his Dad are on their way to Chicago right now. He has an audition with Pace tomorrow and Roosevelt on Thursday. My question is does anyone know how early he can go to Palmer House tomorrow to see if he can schedule some walkins while there?
@HancoK01MT I think some schools are starting as early as 8. I’d suggest coming in and getting the list of rooms from the Concierge desk. The schools up on 9th and above in hotel rooms are probably more likely to have walk-in slots - the post a schedule on the door and you write in your name. In fact if they get here today they could check about signing up for slots tomorrow or Thursday. Unfortunately many schools appear to be taking off before Thursday though. BAL to your S.
It is not the competition, but the time. We have had 2 programs cut auditions to one song and one monologue to stay on time and meanwhile 2 or three of the kids waiting were walk ins whose parents said that they did not have to pay and that they have done 6 and 7 walk ins. I don’t mind walk ins I think they serve a good purpose. But I think they have gone overboard with it and it seems to really jam up the schedules and I cant help but think that those doing the auditions have to get fatigued. When the original audition was supposed to be 2 32 bar songs and 2 contrasting monologues and they have to move it along to fit everyone in there is a problem
@ZukAndSowash re: Temple - last year my D got a quick “no” for MT (was redirect to other major) after Chicago Unifieds for artistic and academic/scholarship acceptance on 2/27. She really loved the audition and was disappointed! Was not interested in the redirect.
@WeRnutz I understand your frustration. That said, these auditors are professionals and know if they’re interested or not within 5-10 seconds of the kid opening their mouth. (I’m hearing that some professional auditions are cutting down to even 8 bars which is kind of wild.) It may seem perfunctory, but they are getting what they need to make the decision. Sometimes when you get asked to do more rather than less, it’s because they need to hear more to make the decision - they aren’t as sure…
I’ll also add that, on our travels to unifieds, I had my son look at a list of about 12 schools that were going to be there that we had not looked at previously - and that I thought he’d be interested in. He picked 6 to try to get walk-ins to - and was able to get into 3 of them. He fell in love with one of those walk-in schools and that’s where he is today. I will always encourage people to take a look at those opportunities because you just never know.
My first post and agree!! Too many walkins unfair to those who paid and planned
I’ve said it before and will say it again - wait until your kids are out of school and waiting on the street for hours trying to get seen at EPAs and ECCs. Nothing in this business is fair.
So it worked out great for you. Nice. But you can understand frustration for those who 1) applied to the schools 2) filled out the questionaires 3) paid application fees 4) did the essays 5) paid audition fees 6) researched the schools and their programs 7) scheduled the auditions so that they would have the time only to be sandwiched between kids who “hear that that were taking walk ins and will apply to the school if they get an offer”" . I am sure that there are some kids who find their school through the walk in process but to many who really have worked through this process it is a bit of a kick in the teeth, Why did I spend nearly 1k in application fees if all I had to do was walk in? Why did my student have to struggle with endless essays and financial aid packets when all that was needed was to show up here and step in? We really made sacrifices to ensure that we had everything lined up only to have much of it be unnecessary. IT is what it is as they say but there is another side of the walk in process that I think hurts some
@WeRnutz _ my D is just a Junior in HS so maybe my opinion is worthless till next year, feel free to ignore…But I have been doing a ton of homework as I am still a year away & here is how I justify it: 1) if my kid really likes a school, I am ensuring we have an audition slot, could be shut out if no walk ins are available…2) many financial aid & merit opportunities are available to those who apply by 12/1 or 1/1 & so hopefully you are in a better place with that …Just trying to give a silver lining, perhaps?? Hope you are all doing great this week!! & truly appreciate the preview info being provided for us over preparer, neurotics getting ready for class of 2024
@WeRnutz
If a school was shortening their scheduled auditions, to make room for more walk-ins, then I’d be royally pissed off. Also, if a school that required you to pass a prescreen before scheduling, offered walk-ins I’d be equally pissed.
Other than that though, every kid who’s wandering around unifieds has written a pile of essays, paid way too much in fees, and nearly bankrupted their parents before college even starts. Most walk-ins make you pay an audition fee, and you’ve got to do all the other application stuff and fees afterwards. So I don’t see the problem in kids wanting to maximize their chances and exposure to other schools, even if it is a school they hadn’t considered before. Even if it is for a school that they are only loosely considering, and maybe even some want a “practice” audition or two to get used to the process and calm some nerves.
But I entirely agree, if a school is accommodating walk-ins to the detriment of their scheduled kids, that’s bad form.
@WeRnutz I think most of the students auditioning have done all of the items above you mention. I know we did. (Although there may be a few who, for whatever reason, did not). But, we have also taken advantage of the schools that offer walkins, and are grateful for them, as we have now applied to a couple of more schools that my S is interested in. And in fact, bc of some walkin additions, we are probably removing at least one or two schools from his original list, therefore freeing up opportunities for someone else.
@WeRnutz - I totally hear you and understand your frustration, especially if, as you say, walk ins don’t have to pay fees (which is unusual in my experience, maybe you just hit a rough patch… colleges WANT those fees). But as @speezagmom and @CTDramaMom - say, this is only the beginning. I don’t want to clutter up the fun of Unifieds with stories of arriving at 7 am, waiting all day and not being seen, but such is an actor’s life… And I know this is college, not the professional world. But these college faculty have BEEN in the professional world. TBH - I think it’s fantastic that colleges do unifieds and offer walk ins at all. It’s not like there is any program in the nation that can’t get enough people without those options.
My D did ALOT of prescreens, essays, applications like many other kids. She also tried a few walk-ins. Some schools asked why she didn’t apply at the beginning of process and her response was finances. Some schools said we are interested please get your stuff in and we paid. So I have mixed feelings about the entire process. I wonder about the kids who didn’t have the money/resources for this MT/T adventure. Should people with money be the only one’s allowed to succeed to the next level? The opportunity for walk-ins is available to everyone.
@WeRnutz believe me, we had more than our fair share of stress my D’s audition season. Filled out forms, paid fees and applied to 17 schools. I’m a government employee. So is my husband. We’re not millionaires. I feel your frustration. I’m just saying that, rather than let it rule your emotions, remember that these kids are basically signing up for a lifetime of frustration, with occasional glimmers of joy. Better to teach them how to deal with it.
@WeRnutz - for what it’s worth, since my D and I are survivors of this crazy (read: horrible) process: all the research and planning you all did doesn’t really prepare you for the shock of all of this - you have to live it to believe it. I’m sure there are many Class of 2023 hopefuls out there who are now realizing that their list of schools is inadequate, has schools on it that they really don’t want; has no safety schools, overlooked a geographic area … whatever. And if ever there is a situation that requires a perfect fit between student and school, this is it. The chance to take a fresh look, experience and consider (or reconsider) other programs is one that EVERY hopeful should seize. I should know…my D is a proud graduate of a program she never heard of when she was making her list. Fate stepped in, and it was the best thing that ever happened to her: just today, she signed a contract with Celebrity Cruise Lines and will be sailing the world, doing what she loves.
@EastchesterMom OMG I’m so thrilled for her! That’s my D’s dream job straight out of college, booking a cruise ship. And I second everything you’ve said.
@EastchesterMom Congrats to your D! That’s awesome!!
Way to go @EastchesterMom 's kid!!!
@CTDramaMom - I mentioned D’s contract not to brag, but to try to convey that you have to be open to anything and everything in this business, which is a difficult and often frustrating one. This includes your education as a future professional.