Any DC wanting drama school post 18 ?

[Biscuitsneeded]

Just that, really. DS wants to go to drama school after 6th form. He's been advised it's very unlikely at 18 because they like them to be older, and that he could end up with no offers even after 2 or 3 years of trying, but that's the only thing he wants so we are thinking about a gap year too. He's Year 12 now so will be starting to apply this Winter. We honestly have very little idea how it all works. All my friends' kids are talking about Open Days etc and I just feel there's not much point going to look at drama schools as his chances of getting in are so slim - we'll let ourselves get excited if he actually gets any offers. He really doesn't want a drama degree at a traditional university; he wants to go and train to be an actor. Anybody else got a DC who wants to go this route and wanting to share the journey?

this is a tough road for the children who want to fulfil their dreams. The difficulty in achieving in this area isn’t understood by their peers, family and friends. At this stage they’ve probably devoted so much of their time up it and if you are like me we’ve spent a lot of time and money supporting them.

I just wanted to say that having been on this forum and on NAPM @Biscuitsneeded is the last person who would be unsupportive or sabotage her ds chance of success. She has been so supportive of so many parents and children during audition processes and I know has really helped me understand how things work.

Groups like this are invaluable as people who truly understand are few and far between so it’s great to have everyone’s different perspectives 💕

Thank you very much @mimbleandlittlemy for the agent perspective. What a great job you have! DS thought he would do MT for a long time, but over the last year he's realised that he would better off with an acting degree because he loves the chance to devise and be creative, but also because he doesn't think he sings well enough to make it in MT. I'm not putting him down but I do think it's the right decision for him. He is an actor who happens to be able to sing and dance as opposed to a real triple threat MT performer. That said, if he got cast in a musical he'd be delighted! Interesting advice about instruments, thank you. The only thing he plays decently is a ukulele!
@Mcmumager thank you for your kind words. I agree with you that the little corner of mumsnet where parents of performers hang out is very precious and supportive. And yes - other people don't understand how hard it is to get a drama school place. A couple of DS' friends, who are definitely very talented, tried this year and had very mixed fortunes. I just want him to be prepared for rejections because they are part and parcel of the process.

I think my initial post may have sounded unnecessarily negative or resistant to my DS' application plans. I am not at all opposed, I just want him to choose something that will make him happy and lead to a fulfilling career, but I am approaching with trepidation because he hasn't had recent experience of failure and I think he may find the process harder than he imagines.

Ha! I’m not intending to be unsupportive, OP. As I may have mentioned on your other thread I’m very familiar with the drama school world - personally and professionally.

The point I wanted to make is that it’s unavoidably risky - and you can’t ringfence that element through trying to avoid disappointment and difficulty.

As regards fees, several of the most talented performers I know had/have little or no parental help - they’re all over Twitter, crowdfunding their tuition, or filling in endless scholarship applications. And it’s really tricky if one wants to engage even a student performer at short notice, because they’re so fastidious about not letting down their own tutees, or turning up for their front of house jobs - doing whatever they do to earn money.

It can be a struggle (I know that better than most). I’ve worked with performers who’ve traversed two or three continents by the time they’re in their early twenties - just to get the ‘right’ training. Entirely self-supporting.

Parents and offspring definitely need as much information as possible. And then the offspring have to take a leap of faith.

Understood @TottersBlankly . I realise you were offering your insights. I can't do anything to boost DS' chances or avoid disappointment for him - as you say, it's really up to him now. He will have our support, and we can help a bit if he picks somewhere with normal tuition fees and student finance. We can't top up if he goes for the more expensive schools. He's working part-time FOH in a pro theatre, he's helping direct productions at his old secondary school, he's doing local am dram, he's doing NYMT and NYT and he's seeing as much as he can. Is there anything else he should be doing?

@Biscuitsneeded you sound like me four years ago when we as a family did loads of research into drama schools, knowing hardly anything about them previously. You are asking the right questions and getting excellent advice. Your ds is doing all the right things too by being involved with all things drama that he can. His passion will show at the auditions. Make sure he reads as many plays as he can and be on the lookout for suitable monologues for auditions.
My ds got into drama school at 18 and is about to graduate, so it can be done.

Hello @Biscuitsneeded - my DD is set on an acting degree and has just finished Y12. I've had to point out that she may not get the offers she wants the first time she applies, but she's not going to apply three or four times like some do. She'll probably take a year out (she'd like to travel and see as much of the world as possible - I'd like her to work and save!) but until she actually applies it will all be a bit pie in the sky as to where she might end up. Being told "she's very strong" by various people she's worked with in a amateur capacity is totally different to being told "she's predicted ABB at Alevel" which seems a lot more of a reliable prediction and would give a clearer idea of which courses to aim for.