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

[Picturesinthefirelight]

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!

[saintlyjimjams]

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....

[saintlyjimjams]

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 )

[RussiansOnTheSpree]

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).

[saintlyjimjams]

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!!

[cory]

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

[saintlyjimjams]

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.

[KatyMac]

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

[saintlyjimjams]

Oh that's good feedback katiemac

[RussiansOnTheSpree]

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...)

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I'm in two minds. Not sure we can afford it & dd may prefer a ballet summer school but she adores musical theatre & she won't really get to do any shows just yet at school.

She has just been picked to represent the school by dinging at a charity event soon. One of just 2 year 7s the crest are seniors.

[saintlyjimjams]

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

[cory]

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.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Dd is very tired, hormonal & ready for a half term break I think

We've just had a letter about the formal assessments next month. These will determine whether children can stay at the school.

Eek.

[saintlyjimjams]

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.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

It's for performance. Apparently they don't usually assess out year 7s but you never know

The letter says they are foingbutvestlier now so that it gives chance to investigate other options for those assessed out.

Other ballet schools have theirs in February.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Doing it earlier that should read.

[saintlyjimjams]

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

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Annually but with particular attention paid to Year 9 children. However once they ate accepted into Year 10 they arnt assessed out until after GCSE's.

[saintlyjimjams]

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.

[RussiansOnTheSpree]

DD2 won't be 11 by the cut off date. She actually won't be 11 by the date of the shows either (late August birthday). It's a real shame. DD1 is considering whether she wants to audition as a musician (or even a musician performer - she has a stellar voice, but her movement is skrot (dyspraxic - although actually that's not the only reason, DD2 is severely dyspraxic too but a decent dancer) - she was an excellent Audrey 2 earlier this year because the movement required was completely in her comfort zone. But prowling isn't always the right 'look' for a part ).

Good luck for your DS whatever you decide. DD2 had some good news yesterday - category A in the 11+ results, so she will definitely be going to DD1's school. Which is what she wanted.

[saintlyjimjams]

Oh well done with the 11 plus - we were in that situation last year. DS2 is loving his school so the pulling of teeth required to get in was worth it!

Dance is definitely ds2's weak spot, although he is getting a lot better. He's very left handed and tends to turn the wrong way when first learning something. If he auditions that's the one reminder I'll give him as I drop him off 'WATCH which way everyone else turns'

[RussiansOnTheSpree]

Thanks It seemed MUCH more fraught with DD2 than with DD1 - mainly because it was only after DD1 got in but other children we knew didn't, that we fully realised what a lottery it could be.

[saintlyjimjams]

I think it will be more fraught with ds3. Mainly because he really wants to go to the same school as his brother, but also because ds2's second choice school was a performing arts specialist academy so we could big up that side of it. Ds3's strengths really are not in the performing arts so it's a bit more of a struggle to find a second choice.

It's also going to be more competitive in ds3's year (higher birth rate). Deep joy!

[RussiansOnTheSpree]

We're done now (DS didn't want to try for the GS and is at the comp which their primary feeds into). I am SO relieved. I'm sure your DS3 will be fine though.

[saintlyjimjams]

we have a couple of years to go yet. It'll work out....