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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Come & join me in general chat all you patents of performers - be it dancers, actors, singers or musicians

319 replies

Picturesinthefirelight · 29/08/2013 13:07

There are quite a few if us onhere though I know done if you from NAPM & Balletcoforum too

Here we can have a general chit chat about what our children are up to so we don't clog up the threads on specific topics

So Sparkly, Katy, Cory & loads more. Come chat!

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saintlyjimjams · 30/08/2013 18:02

Oh that does sound scary pictures

saintlyjimjams · 30/08/2013 18:01

Teacher - weirdly I find ds2 happily works with adults but gets freaked working with kids a few years older than him. He had an audition for an amateur (friendly) thing early last year & completely freaked out because 'there are THIRTEEN year olds auditioning'

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 30/08/2013 18:01

The logistics are scary. And they change rehearsal schedules at the drop of a hat. You are basically expected to give up all commitments during those two months

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saintlyjimjams · 30/08/2013 17:57

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Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 30/08/2013 17:47

Panto is fun. As well as the local big panto dd has done smaller scale professional stuff too. It's all good experience & they get loads out of amateur stuff too if its well run.

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Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 30/08/2013 17:46

Did you get to meet the star (his fans screaming in Manchester before he'd sung a note really annoyed me). Fab show. The kids are desperate to be allowed to see it. Ds wanted to audition but he's too unreliable (suspected asd/meltdowns)

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teacherwith2kids · 30/08/2013 17:42

Not in the same league, but DD is doing panto (local but professional) for the second time this year. Hopefully it will be easier for ther this time - she was the youngest child at 8 two years ago and found it socially difficult backstage and during rehearsals.

Logistics ....eeek.....

saintlyjimjams · 30/08/2013 17:37

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Picturesinthefirelight · 30/08/2013 17:34

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saintlyjimjams · 30/08/2013 17:08

And we struck lucky with the doctor as well, that one did the last two working weeks. Hopefully he'll not charge again....

I think I would find a full on theatre thing hard to manage for a long period though - for the reasons you give regarding drop off and things like that. It's fine for one or two weeks, but would be hard to juggle with the 3 of them long term. Even the idea of panto would make my eyes water. This next job is long term but should be more flexible in timing than theatre and ds2 should just need picking up rather than dropping off. It's great actually - am excited for him.

And for the sorts of reasons you mention we decided to bin the idea of an agent after meeting one. They told me we'd be expected to travel to London (4 hours away) regularly - possibly a few times a week (!) - for auditions (esp for commercials). Er no thanks. Not possible. But it made me realise that even if it were physically possible I couldn't cope really with someone else being in charge of our timetable or having expectations for us to attend particular auditions. Okay we get fewer opportunities, but tbh ds2 gets (more than) enough and we get to decide whether we want to audition or not, and don't have to justify or account for not auditioning for something.

If we lived in London and ds2 was an only child, yes sure, but he does have to fit in with the other kids as well.

saintlyjimjams · 30/08/2013 16:57

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Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 30/08/2013 16:30

As a family how have you found the endless drop off & pick ups? Especially challenging for you I imagine. I sometimes feel that when dd has been in shows like panto or musicals , ds misses out.

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Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 30/08/2013 16:25

The good news for us is the dr didn't charge for dds medical as he used to share a school bus with kids from dds new school back in the day!

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Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 30/08/2013 16:24

Are you able to say what show he has just done. I can think of a few touring with a young boy.

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saintlyjimjams · 30/08/2013 16:06

Hello, can I join. DS2 has just finished his latest show (west end touring) and we've just heard he's been cast as the main part in another paid job. Not sure how much I'm allowed to say yet. It's perfect though as it's fun, near his school and should keep him occupied for quite a while.

So erm acting/performing seems to be back on the future career agenda :rolls eyes:

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 30/08/2013 09:35

Sometimes these children are square pegs trying to fit into round holes.

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Sparklymommy · 30/08/2013 07:18

Dd1 is going to audition/ have a look at Redroofs. It's nearer to us and she seems keen. She needs to go away really. We have had such issues with the school recently about time off for exams and performances that I don't think I can do it for another 6+ years!

Picturesinthefirelight · 29/08/2013 23:20

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Sparklymommy · 29/08/2013 18:09

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