Will do.

I'm still very interested in the "pay" thing. My daughter has a good deal of experience with local theatre - played Annie with one local company, as well as leads in about a half dozen musicals and ensemble parts in another dozen or so. She also in the audition-only youth performing ensemble for the professional musical theatre company here in Birmingham and the director has told me she has a very good shot at this.

BUT - we're trying to figure out, if she *were* to get cast, how we'd make it work. I work full-time in a job I love but would take leave from... but we can't afford to go salary-less. Hubby is finishing up a PhD, so can't take off time to accompany on tour.

I hear that sometimes parents can get employed by the touring company? Do you know any particulars on this? I used to do alot of theatre myself and have been a props manager, assistant stage manager and stage manager of mainstage musicals (community theatre).

~T

quote:

Originally posted by Heidi:
Hi all--Well I plunked down 975$ yesterday for tickets and hotel last night to go. People close to NY are very lucky. Its nice to know I am not the only (I was going to say crazy) mother out there treking a long way. I woke up this morning feeling like a I made a big mistake and cant change it now. Oh well at least I will for sure take her to a broadway show.

Unlike Fluff I am not really conserned with the paying thing but the leaving everyone behind like my 14 year old son and my 2 lb dog(husband can do with out me hehe). I know there are a lot of WHAT IF's and they have been floating in my head for the past month driving me nuts. Secretly, I cant wait for this weekend to be over. I would never tell my DD that and I have to be careful of my attitude and body language around her for the next few days--I can be an actess to!!! Good luck to all and travel safely Fluff.
PS. I gratuated from Samford in Bham, Fluff!!

Heidi,
You have the tix so go with it and don't look back. Your daughter has a lot of very good experience...this will be very exciting for her! Oh...and nerve-wracking for you! But that's showbiz!

I am also very new to this and would appreciate any advise. How does the dance part of the audition work? In other words, do the children come with a prepared dance? Does each child perform alone, or are they given steps to perform in a group? I haven't a clue! I have learned so much from reading these boards. Thanks to everyone for all your input!

quote:

Originally posted by Heidi:
Hi all--Well I plunked down 975$ yesterday for tickets and hotel last night to go. People close to NY are very lucky. Its nice to know I am not the only (I was going to say crazy) mother out there treking a long way. I woke up this morning feeling like a I made a big mistake and cant change it now. Oh well at least I will for sure take her to a broadway show.

Unlike Fluff I am not really conserned with the paying thing but the leaving everyone behind like my 14 year old son and my 2 lb dog(husband can do with out me hehe). I know there are a lot of WHAT IF's and they have been floating in my head for the past month driving me nuts. Secretly, I cant wait for this weekend to be over. I would never tell my DD that and I have to be careful of my attitude and body language around her for the next few days--I can be an actess to!!! Good luck to all and travel safely Fluff.
PS. I gratuated from Samford in Bham, Fluff!!

You are paying a grand to come to an open call audition? Are you out of your mind?

First of all, the show is probably already cast, with contracts already signed. They have these auditions as a formality because EQUITY requires it. There will be a 1000 people at this audition, and none of them will get cast. You have a better chance at spending the $1000 on lottery tickets and winning the lottery.

The absolute BEST you can hope for is that a casting director will be impressed by your daughter and call her in for an audition on another project he/she is working for. But since you don't live in New York even THAT isn't possible.

quote:

She said she MAYBE got 5 seconds(if that) of voice out. There is no way anyone can determine if a child has talent in that short of time. That is why I felt it was a waste of time but assumed that is just how it is at NY auditions.

You are absolutely right. There is no way anyone can determine if someone is a good actor by seeing 5 seconds of their work.

But that is NOT how NY auditions work. That is how open prod cattle call auditions work. The casting director will take one look at your daughter, and if she doesn't like the way her face looks then PROD out the door. Auditions like this are absurd, and you are not going to find working actors attending them.

WHY? Working actors get INDIVIDUAL appointments set up by their agents.

quote:

Originally posted by kipmil:

quote:

Originally posted by donnastagemom:
kipmil thank you for the detailed reply for annie ...i know a fair chance for everyone is best...but holy crap 600 girls!! eeek!!!

There might be a separate line for kids sent by agents and managers. For some reason I can't recall if they did that last year. I vaguely remember something like that. Maybe someone else can remember.

Kids sent by a good agency (NOT managers - nobody really takes managers seriously) will have an individual appointment with the casting director/director/producer and will avoid all of this BS open call nonsense. And 99% of the time, those are the ones that get cast.

I can't help by step in here....Ipod, are you always so negative? Many of us read these boards to get educated. Others are the educators that are realistic yet positive and supportive (thanks, MIB and the rest). If you can't be helpful or say something kind, can you find somewhere else to spend your time?

quote:

Originally posted by momofwannabe:
I can't help by step in here....Ipod, are you always so negative? Many of us read these boards to get educated. Others are the educators that are realistic yet positive and supportive (thanks, MIB and the rest). If you can't be helpful or say something kind, can you find somewhere else to spend your time?

Well.... I suppose I could kiss you ass, tell you exactly what you want to hear, and while it would be positive and supportive, it would be worthless advice that would get you nowhere fast.

I tell it like it is honey - raw and uncensored. I may be kurt, rude, and slightly offensive, but at least when it is coming from me you can count on the fact that it isn't bullshit advice (of which there is an abundance of on these forums).

And in case you haven't figured it out, showbiz is a VERY mean business. It's highly competitive and you have people who will use just about any means necessary to get their way. If what I write offends you, then I feel sorry for what you will go through if you start to find a little bit of success in this industry.

quote:

Originally posted by iPod:

quote:

Originally posted by momofwannabe:
I can't help by step in here....Ipod, are you always so negative? Many of us read these boards to get educated. Others are the educators that are realistic yet positive and supportive (thanks, MIB and the rest). If you can't be helpful or say something kind, can you find somewhere else to spend your time?

Well.... I suppose I could kiss you ass, tell you exactly what you want to hear, and while it would be positive and supportive, it would be worthless advice that would get you nowhere fast.

I tell it like it is honey - raw and uncensored. I may be kurt, rude, and slightly offensive, but at least when it is coming from me you can count on the fact that it isn't bullshit advice (of which there is an abundance of on these forums).

And in case you haven't figured it out, showbiz is a VERY mean business. It's highly competitive and you have people who will use just about any means necessary to get their way. If what I write offends you, then I feel sorry for what you will go through if you start to find a little bit of success in this industry.

quote:

Kids sent by a good agency (NOT managers - nobody really takes managers seriously) will have an individual appointment with the casting director/director/producer and will avoid all of this BS open call nonsense. And 99% of the time, those are the ones that get cast.

I can deal with negativity, but not belligerence. If someone says something that you feel is incorrect or inaccurate, then just help us out by posting a more accurate answer, plain and simple. "Showbiz is a VERY mean business...people who will use just about any means necessary to get their way." I think this is not news to most of the people on this board and t is naive of you to think that it is. But I do think the meanies are the exception. I try to steer clear of those people as much as possible.


I was wondering if you have personally ever auditioned for Martin Charnin? This is a simple questions and I am hoping you can just answer yes or no instead of something you think is pithy. Last year, even kids repped by the top agents were seen at the open call for "Annie." And this show is NOT probably already cast. If you do not have the facts, it is counterproductive to state such things. I know for a fact that kids were chosen from the open call casting for this show in the past. Please tell me where you have gotten your facts...if they are indeed facts and not just mean spirited flames.
And about managers...in my experience, managers hold a lot of clout. Again...is this based on personal (bad) experience? What is the basis of your statement about managers?

Holy moly ipod...show me where you get your facts. Maybe from one of your acting coach's books?

quote:

Originally posted by iPod:

quote:

She said she MAYBE got 5 seconds(if that) of voice out. There is no way anyone can determine if a child has talent in that short of time. That is why I felt it was a waste of time but assumed that is just how it is at NY auditions.

You are absolutely right. There is no way anyone can determine if someone is a good actor by seeing 5 seconds of their work.

But that is NOT how NY auditions work. That is how open prod cattle call auditions work. The casting director will take one look at your daughter, and if she doesn't like the way her face looks then PROD out the door. Auditions like this are absurd, and you are not going to find working actors attending them.

WHY? Working actors get INDIVIDUAL appointments set up by their agents.

This is generally true, but it is not uncommon for musicals to use open calls for kids. The lion king audition, referenced in the quote you are responding to, was an open call for all ethnicities, which was misleading at best. That particular open call was conducted much more like a publicity stunt that a theatrical open call. They posted that call in nearly every newspaper. It was absurd.

Annie auditions are not being conducted in the same manner. I know kids who were cast from Annie open calls. Working actors do go to these calls. I know it for a fact. I could name many I know who have gone in the past and are going this time. This is not a publicity stunt like other recent open calls. Yes, it is possible that the CD will send you on your merry way if you don't fit the type, but, if you have any talent, you will get a chance to prove yourself.

quote:

Originally posted by Genuine1:
I am also very new to this and would appreciate any advise. How does the dance part of the audition work? In other words, do the children come with a prepared dance? Does each child perform alone, or are they given steps to perform in a group? I haven't a clue! I have learned so much from reading these boards. Thanks to everyone for all your input!

The singing part is first. If your child makes it past that, they will move on to dance. They are taught choreography that they will have to perform in a group and individually. Your dd should Wear dance sneakers if you have them. If she makes it through call backs, it is a gruelling day and hard on the feet.

While we may not like the way Ipod made those statements, there is a lot of truth in the posts. OFTEN the open calls are for publicity or to satisfy EPA requirements. OFTEN, the agents and managers are the best way to get cast. Look at Grinch last year as a perfect example. And who can forget the recent hoopla over the AG Kit open call?

But that doesn't mean that ALL open calls are a waste of time. Look at Mary Poppins, kid comes to NY from I can't remember where and gets cast from the open call.

It's hard to know which ones are "real" and which ones are going through the motions for other reasons. It's good to hear that the Annie open call is "real." Good luck to all those who audition.

quote:

Originally posted by showbizhopeful:
While we may not like the way Ipod made those statements, there is a lot of truth in the posts. OFTEN the open calls are for publicity or to satisfy EPA requirements. OFTEN, the agents and managers are the best way to get cast. Look at Grinch last year as a perfect example. And who can forget the recent hoopla over the AG Kit open call?

But that doesn't mean that ALL open calls are a waste of time. Look at Mary Poppins, kid comes to NY from I can't remember where and gets cast from the open call.

It's hard to know which ones are "real" and which ones are going through the motions for other reasons. It's good to hear that the Annie open call is "real." Good luck to all those who audition.

Hi Showbiz...I would say there is A LITTLE truth to ipods post, certainly not "a lot of truth." Ipod is making blanket statements about open theatrical calls, which as I said, is true in some cases. In my post I said "this is generally true, but it is not uncommon for musicals to use open calls for kids." If we are intending to educate those who are new to this industry, we should attempt to be factual, and not sensational, with our posts. I am referring to the misleading infomation which ipod refers to as "bullshit advice (of which there is an abundance of on these forums) And I am not referring to you, showbiz, because I know where your facts come from...experience .

True all the kids in Grinch were agented kids who had appointments. In fact, many were from one specific agent. True, Mary Poppins was cast from open call kids, and that open call was run very well, I might add. True, Lion King open call was a nightmare and the "type" that was publicized was not honest. Look at the history of the show and they "type" that has been cast in the kids' roles.

Regarding Annie, look at Martin Charnin's track record with open call casting. He loves open calls and he does cast from them.

As far as open calls for kids on equity shows goes (by the way, this tour of Annie is non-equity) there has been a history of kids being cast from them. That is a fact.

I don't think it is appropriate to link the Kit debacle to this discussion as that was a film open call (no compliance issues) and my points are specific to theatrical open calls for kids. Although, agreed, it was a HUGE publicity stunt intended to generate buzz and hook in kids and their families. And, on that note, can someone tell me when and where Willow Smith "auditioned" for the AG film? LOL.

The most important concern is, how, in this open-call crazy environment, do we distinguish between the real opportunities and the ones that do it for compliance or to generate publicity?

quote:

Originally posted by kipmil:
Regarding Annie, look at Martin Charnin's track record with open call casting. He loves open calls and he does cast from them.

You honestly think a director prefers open calls over hand selected auditions? Which DO you think a director would enjoy more? Having a mass 1000+ open call where 99.9% of the people are untalented morons who think they "got what it take" or "have the *it* factor", or audition 30 hand picked selected actors sent by agents that the director already KNOWS are talented?

I'm not saying you can't get cast by a open call, but I'm also not saying you can't win the lottery. They're are both just HIGHLY unlikely, and paying $1000 for a plane ticket/hotel to the audition is simply moronic. Your time would be better spent pursuing other aspects of the business. That's all I'm saying.

And I can tell you one thing. If my agent ever had the audacity to send me to an open call, I'd laugh in her face and fire her on the spot.

okay well.... how did it turn out for everybody who did audition? Keep us posted!