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

Gosh it is tough isn't it Pictures - good practice I guess for the working world.

NYMT auditions announced and I had it the wrong way round. It's them that only audition in a few places. Waiting to hear where YMT auditions will be - they tend to go to more places so I think we will look at those. I think if we go for NYMT we would have to go to London (can't do the Brizzle day as it's ds3's birthday) which is slightly ridiculous.

Gosh it's tough isn't it. Does that happen annually or just at certain stages during her school career?

Blimey pictures - that's early on isn't it? Is that for academic or performance work?

Cory is NYT for older young people? A friend's dd auditioned and found the audition very worthwhile.

dd will be auditioning for the NYT instead: singing is not exactly her thing. She keeps waiting for applications to open, should be any time now.

The other thing she would really like to do is that monologue/audition course they run in Bristol at halfterm, but we've told her we can't manage it this year, partly because of the cost, partly because she is still settling in at college. Hopefully it will run again next year.

The cost is eye watering isn't it? She sounds as if she's doing really well with her singing pictures.

DD2 will have to wait another 2 years. But I'm sure she will want to go for it when she is old enough. Assuming we can foot the cost of course (DD1 has been playing in a national ensemble for 3 years and that costs a blooming fortune. And in 2 years time we will be having to pay a fortune for all her auditions etc as she approaches college...)

Oh that's good feedback katiemac

DD had loads of fun at her NYMT audition/workshop despite being ill

She'd been poorly on holiday and done 1 day back at school - she did the audition then about 4 days later was diagnosed with Glandular Fever

We had feedback - apparently DD confused them; her dancing was amazing then she sort of 'flopped' during the singing/acting - we explained about the GF & they were amazed she had done so well. The higest marks at the audition for the dancing and despite her poor performance in the other 2, they said they would have taken her if they had been doing a dancy show; but they weren't.

So we will try again this year

It's hugely competitive (NYMT & YMT uk) but I have heard from people who have attended either/or auditions that the audition days themselves are incredibly useful. I talked to ds2 about it from that angle 'you're unlikely to get this but it's apparently a day when you learn a lot as a workshop, would you like to have a bash?'

He did say to me recently 'mum whenever I attend an audition you always tell me I won't get it, it's beginning to get a bit offensive, especially as I do get them, you must think I'm rubbish'

So we had up have a talk about my comments not being a reflection on HIM but about how competitive it is & how no-one knows what a CD wants. I am always stunned when he gets a part though. I did say to DH after his recent casting that I have to stop replying on the phone with a 'really? Are you sure?' to the casting directors. Need to practice being cool.

Sounds very exciting about the NYMT- let us know how you all get on if you do go for it.

lol - check out NYMT, they usually audition here. If they do this year I'll probably go on about it on this thread anyway

I cba to travel to bristol for an audition, in many ways I'd rather go to London. S2 did have to do a rehearsal at Bristol and we ended up in a car park that cost something like £25 for 5 hours!!

I'd much rather travel down your way than travel to Brizzle. Though I'd prob go on the train for choice (the boy racers scare me especially on the section of the road with the reverse camber).

Oh actually we've already established we're near each other haven't we - you're closer to Brizzle than me I think! But I think I get a closer NYMT audition site (well that was last year).

Actually I think we had to drive past the NYMT audition to get to the touring audition last year (and it was snowy and I was worried about being stuck and cursing the NYMT for taking the usual audition space )

Was that YMT? (I'm far south-west as well).

NYMT went further afield and auditioned in more places, so we'll probably go for that if we can. It puts on more productions anyway so I guess chances are better....

Last year the closest to us was Brizzle. Which is a complete joke. I was quite annoyed by that, even though Dd2 was too young by far to audition anyway - but I knew a couple of kids who did want to audition - it really is a joke, all these organizations with 'national' in the title who completely ignore the entire South West (since Brizzle is neither south nor west).

Oh and he ran the idea past his previous chaperone who he adores & treats as a bit of a mentor, & she did it and thought it was a good idea for him so he's really, really keen now!

Yes Russians. He just scraped in age wise last year, but didn't want to to do it last year and the audition and dates ended up clashing with his west end touring production audition and second stint in it anyway. This year he's that much more independent and is keen to have a go. I've heard the auditions for NYMT/YMT are worth doing anyway (and have told him there aren't many parts for the younger kids, so he should just go along and treat the audition itself as a worthwhile experience). A few of the actors he's looked up to & been a bit in awe of on the various tours have done NYMT or YMT & one in particular from years ago who he really liked was very encouraging about it so he's keen.

It depends a bit where they audition, we're not trekking miles for one while he's so young so will wait and see when & where they're announced.

young not your. I have no idea whether to blame autocorrect or jet lag. Perhaps it's a bit of both.

saintlyjimjams Are you considering it despite the distance? I know DD2 would love it, and it has been mentioned both by her singing teacher and her drama group - but she's too your, and will continue to be too your for a while - since she's August born, she won't even qualify for next summer when most of her school year group would...

It's been hugely busy here - both DDs are rehearsing for the big half term show, and DD2 also has panto rehearsal every Sunday morning straight after mass (basically she and another lad, rather older, go hurtling off straight after communion every Sunday in an attempt to get to the studio by 10:30. They haven't been late once yet). It's especially hard for Dd2 since she plays the flute in the church music group and often sings the psalm. Also, she's been doing 11+ exams for the last week or so. Ludicrous really since she's barely 10. There's also lots of music exams and performances coming up - DD1 is playing gigs this Saturday and next Saturday, and they are both in a big showpiece event for a regional arts festival in a couple of weeks.

I think by the end of half term they will be shattered!

Fingers crossed Cory

DD went into school today - I thought she'd be too tired after the shows yesterday

They were so,so good