WIBU to take my 5 year old to an audition that she hasn't asked to go to?

[wwwdot123]

My daughter does dancing and acting. Her acting teacher thinks she is good for a 5 year old and suggests that she is at the stage where she could go to auditions.

There is an audition coming up, you have to send a video tape first, which I've already sent. However, would it be wrong to take her to an audition she hasn't asked to go to?

[IMissGrannyW]

I think you're all focussing on the wrong thing. (sorry to be so rude, but I do!). You are ALL assuming the child will get the part.

That's a big leap - most professional performers spend most of their time being unemployed.

Before you start thinking about commitment, and time out from school and all the efforts parents have to make to get the child to and from the thing, first think about how the child will cope if and when rejected and how that will make them feel and how they'll deal with it.

[IMissGrannyW]

kind of a crossed post with Oliversmumsarmy!

[Atenco]

WorraLiberty

Totally agree. No point her being offered a part and then you can't take it up.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

I would say definitely go along. As long as you go to the audition with the outlook it is a fun thing and forget about it unless you hear otherwise she will be fine.

There are rules strictly enforced on set about the number of hours children can work and if your DD is fortunate enough to get a part she will have a fantastic time

[Foxysoxy01]

I would probably explain it all to her and if she is still nonplussed or wants to go then I would take her.

She won't know if it is something she is/isn't interested in unless she has had a go and seen what it's all about, but I would be very clear about the rejection side of it and how it's not about her as a person etc etc and only take her if she can grasp that.

[iamscarlett]

How good is she? I'm not understanding how a 5 year old can properly act?

I'd wait until she was older.

[Ledkr]

If she gets the part you would be required to chaperone her during rehearsals and filming.
It's extremely time consuming.
Ds did west end as a child but he was old enough to use the production company's chaperones but at 5 she's too young.
Dd does auditions and we sometimes wait an entire day for a five minute slot but we do have fun and it's great experience.
Surely you can explain in simple terms what she's going to do.
Then if she wants to, just go for it.

[Happymumof3tob]

Would they let her audition if she didnt get oicked to do it.... i wouldnt get her hopes up to then get there and they say no because she wasn't invited....

[CoffeeWithMyOxygen]

I can recommend the book 'Stage Mum' by Lisa Gee - her DD was in a big West End musical aged 6 and afterwards Lisa wrote a book about her experience and what it's like having a very young child in that industry. It's well worth a read and might help clarify your thinking, it's very well written and touches on a lot of issues around children performing, especially those who are too young to really understand it all.

[manicinsomniac]

YANBU unless she actively doesn't want to go. A 5 year old needs to learn what an audition is before she can ask to go to them or know if she likes them.

And for a film it's almost certainly about the experience rather than getting the part. I had a film agent email me at school recently who then came on a classroom walk round of all the Year 2, 3 and 4 classes before sending me a list of children he would like to offer auditions to. I contacted parents and explained they were welcome to go down to London and audition if they would like to. The directors were looking for a boy between 6 and 8 who looked Jewish and/or Mediterranean. That was it. No talent scouting at all, just observing. So they will be auditioning thousands of children I expect. Several of ours are going just for a day out and the novelty of a London film audition.

[youarenotkiddingme]

I'm assuming your DD loves dancing and acting to be doing it at 5yo and with such engagement a talent show through.

She cannot know if she enjoys auditions if she's never done one.

I'd just say to her that it's a chance to act for for other adults and they'll decide if she's old enough to do some more for them now or not.

Then say if they thinks she's old enough they'll ask her to do some work work for them if she wants to.

[Devilishpyjamas]

A film is less stress than theatre - although you may well be expected to chaperone. If it's open auditions there'll be hundreds so chances of getting it are slim.

My middle son did his first audition at 9. I told him no-one gets their first audition - then he did (for a West End tour, a reasonable sized part) - then went on to do a few more West End tours. It's hard work (I'm almost pleased we didn't live within the m25 so most theatre stuff not open to him) - there are a lot of expectations on the kids - but if your child loves it it is an amazing experience - they have to love it though - singing solos to 2000 people is not something you should be forcing even a talented child into. Anyway point of that ramble is he fell into it, took the first audition not expecting anything & turned out to love it (to my surprise).

He's been in a few films as well. They're very different. A bit boring - lots of waiting around where you have to be quiet - your child needs to be able to behave well to be tolerated on a film set. Often freezing IME as well. It doesn't feel like acting - but the end result is cool.

Ds2 prefers the theatre - but a film is less pressure on a child so I wouldn't overthink the audition - just go for it if you can face the running around. Do find out if you would be expected to chaperone though - often do have to for small budget films - may not be possible if you work.

[Devilishpyjamas]

Oh and auditions vary from very child friendly no pressure at all, to very competitive and a lot of pressure. Unless a child has a huge part film ones are usually pretty laid back. Again expect lots of waiting.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Just be prepared if she does get in, the waiting around for hours (although at 5 she will only be on set a limited number of hours). Can be really really boring.

Having said that dd, myself, a friend of mine and her dd were given a Winnebago with Sky tv for the day. But on a different project we were put in a bus which was parked in a field where dd was the youngest by far. It was freezing cold and there was very little to do but try and keep warm and dd played her ds.

I personally have never come across the competitive element. If anything you tend to meet the same people and dd and ds always came away with new friends. Even now years on dd meets people who know her because she has worked with a mutual friend.

We have had nothing but positive experiences despite being rejected for hundreds of things.

Just to say they don't reject you outright you just don't receive a call.

[Devilishpyjamas]

When I said 'competitive' I meant in terms of audition set up - so auditioning kids in rounds & chucking a few out each round until you get down to a final few. Those auditions can last hours/days. The parents have always been supportive but it can be brutal to be kicked out at the end (ds2 once got the chop after 7 hours - and had turned up with nothing - no food or water as we'd assumed it would be a ten minute thing- that was fairly brutal - he went at the final cut & said he'd have preferred to be kicked out after round 1). That's more of a theatre thing though - films, especially for youngsters is more about how they look.

Other theatre auditions have been more of a tined appointment where you do your piece & hear later (or don't hear anything). They're definitely gentler!

[FarAwayHills]

I would go along as it will give you both an idea what it's all about. As PPs have mentioned I would make sure that your DD is aware that she may not be picked and that this is no reflection on her as they are generally looking for something quite specific at auditions. Rejection and not being picked can be difficult for little ones to handle.

[Jedimum1]

Since it's something she doesn't fully understand but both you and her teacher knows that she might like, I'd take her once. If she doesn't like the audition, then you can decline if it's even offered. If she doesn't actually do the audition because she is scared or shy, then you can go and do something fun together and wait until she asks again. If she likes the audition, then you can take her to other ones.

I don't see the point of not doing it because she hasn't asked, because she cannot fully understand what it really means or how these things work. If she likes acting and she's good at it, I'd do it. If on trying she realises she doesn't want that, but only at at school or school clubs, then I'd not push it any further. She might actually do that and reflect on it when she's older and ask you to take her again. But without trying, I don't think she can grasp fully the idea.

[Tallulahoola]

I'd take her precisely because she isn't that bothered, so there'll be no pressure. Then she'll either like it or she won't but it won't be a big deal. I think it would be tougher on her if her first audition was for something she really wanted and was excited about, and then she didn't get through. Dealing with rejection for something she isn't fussed about will be an easy way in IYSWIM

[mouldycheesefan]

Be clear on what the time commitment for you and her would be if she gets the role, how much school she would miss, she the filming is, how you will get there and back, will she have a chaperone or will you have to take time off work etc

[wwwdot123]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll take her then.

No, it isn't an open audition, they are invited to it from the video audition.

iam - she's good as in she can do good expression and follow directions well with it. Very confident.

[Jedimum1]

Let us know how it goes

[Devilishpyjamas]

If it's invitation with set time it's about as child friendly as you can get. Just tell her afterwards to expect to hear nothing & forget about it - then if she does it's a bonus.