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Higher education

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Original poster

Auditions for Conservatoires coming up - need to chat!

81 replies

Kammer1 · 02/11/2023 23:09

DS has auditions coming up for music conservatoires. We live in SE London. He's going to be travelling to

  • Birmingham
  • Manchester
  • Leeds
  • Possibly Cardiff

Birmingham and Manchester coming up very soon and we need to sort out travel. Birmingham audition is midday and it'd mean a very early start from home so he wants to go up the night before and stay over in a hotel. I had anticipated this. HOWEVER, he's picked this very moment to come over all independent and wants to go on his own. I'm absolutely beside myself and trying not to panic. I had thought we'd be doing it together!

I'm not against the independence but I really think he's a bit vulnerable to be going alone. I don't want to fight him on it, and I don't want him to see how anxious I am because he'll get his own way anyway, and I don't want my anxieties ringing in his ears. So I'm trying to win him round gently without being hysterical.

For background, he's been in very poor health, both mentally and physically and I think he is going to be nervous about these auditions. He's autistic / ADHD. Which is why I think, on a practical level, it'd be useful if I were there with him.

Any tips for
me - not becoming utterly hysterical
him - places to stay in Birmingham. Convenient for station and Conservatoire. He'll probably be arriving in the evening, so I'd rather he stayed somewhere close to New Street station. He'd need to get himself something to eat. Preferably McDonald's as he has food allergies, and knows the menu and what he can eat.

The whole thing - forms, recordings, prospect of auditions. THE COST. It's all doing my head in.

For the other auditions: Manchester is at 2pm, so he could probably get there and back in a day. With or without me. For Leeds, we have family not too far away so will probably combine with a visit there, which means I'll go with him. For Cardiff, we're not sure yet if he'll be invited to audition in person. He's applied also for one place in London so at least that's straight forward.

OP posts:
Mum5net · 06/11/2023 23:28

@Kammer1 Re the shocking price of train for Manchester - is that because he’s sourcing an open ticket even with his under 25 railcard? Maybe let him buy the advance ticket on that occasion but make it with plenty of ‘slack’ built in? Also check to see if there is a rail strike or work to rule scheduled that day?

Re the trip to Cardiff. Would he consent to sharing his location with you for half an hour for the station walk and communicate with you via AirPods? One of mine once had to do this when a tube they were on broke down in a tunnel and they had to find other transport late at night in an area completely unfamiliar. You could then give him encouragement he was heading in right direction.

.

Original poster
Kammer1 · 06/11/2023 23:33

@Mum5net - I'm doing the ticket buying. on Trainline. The best I can come up with is fixed tickets (ie for those trains only). No off-peak (flexible) returns at all whatsoever. I knew Avanti West Coast was a rip-off, but I thought there would be some flexibility with a railcard. I've no idea what time he'll be free to travel back. I might actually buy multiple tickets (and waste half of them) to give him some choice.

I do a lot of train travel so I know the pitfalls but I really am shocked by this particular journey.

At least with Cardiff and Birmingham off-peak tickets can be used on any train.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kammer1 · 06/11/2023 23:40

Oh hang @Mum5net - I've just looked and there ARE flexible tickets. Oh now I'm really confused. so Maybe it's not so bad afterall. Of course, I'll be worried next about whether it's clear what constitutes an off-peak train!

OP posts:
Mum5net · 06/11/2023 23:42

Consider looking on the Avanti West coast app. If you are on twitter you could even direct message them and to be fair they are exceptionally helpful online, it's just that there trains don't always have drivers or there are incidents.
Over the last two years I can honestly say 50% of any journeys mine have had qualify for Delay Repay.

nancy75 · 07/11/2023 07:32

Good luck for Thursday. DD loves RWCMD & living in Cardiff. One thing to be aware of their admin dept is shocking - so if you don’t get an answer on the day they say don’t panic!

nancy75 · 07/11/2023 07:35

Have to say though I think the walk from train to RWCMD is a bit more than 10mins (maps says 20, I would have said 30, but I’m slow!)

Original poster
Kammer1 · 07/11/2023 10:52

@nancy75 I wonder if I can persuade him to get a cab. Presumably there's a taxi rank outside the station?

OP posts:
Hughs · 07/11/2023 10:57

Yes, there is a taxi rank outside the station and will be very quick. Or it's an easy walk, if he doesn't mind walking. Weather forecast for Thursday says showery though.

Hughs · 07/11/2023 10:59

Another option if he would prefer it is to change at Cardiff Central and get a train to Cathays, which is a 5 min walk from the college.

nancy75 · 07/11/2023 11:08

It’s not a difficult walk, it’s just longer than 10 mins, the last thing he wants to be doing is rushing & worrying he’s going to be late

Original poster
Kammer1 · 07/11/2023 21:33

Next question: what's the dress code? I mean, the unwritten dress code, since there isn't an official one. What have others worn / experienced / seen?

OP posts:
Mum5net · 07/11/2023 23:07

Unwritten code : absolutely anything

Moominmammacat · 08/11/2023 08:50

I auditioned at RWCMD a hundred years ago and everyone was so nice, lovely location, truly an easy walk from station, fantastic buildings ... I'm sure he will love it. Good luck.

nancy75 · 08/11/2023 11:38

Dress code? My daughter has purple hair & 3 piercings in her nose…

whensmynexthol1day · 08/11/2023 11:50

If he's heading for the premier inn in bham (either Waterloo street or the one called new street station) tell him to find the humungous metal bull on his right with the schedule displays on his left walk towards the boots and up the ramp and out of the station that way. Then he should be able to find his way

Original poster
Kammer1 · 08/11/2023 11:58

Re. the dress code. Welsh did say in the audition guidance that, in the recorded audition, presentation would be taken into account. Which is what makes me wonder what would be best. I think there's a psychological element for some people (not all) about what they wear when they perform. He'd be quite happy to wear a suit, or concert blacks but they're not very comfortable to travel in. I think HE would feel uncomfortable in something too casual. He can be very 'out there' with his clothes but he enjoys choosing the right outfit for the right occasion. But not sure what that is for him in this case. Which is why I thought I'd ask what others have worn. He'd probably be overdressed in a suit, but he probably wouldn't care!

OP posts:
Hughs · 08/11/2023 12:00

Honestly they will have seen everything from black tie to T-shirt and shorts. He should wear whatever he feels most comfortable in, that will help him to be relaxed and play his best.

nancy75 · 08/11/2023 13:50

Agree with Hughs, go for what he’s comfortable in. My DD is a theatre tec - I think they are a little more ‘out there’ than the music kids (although she is friends with a n opera singer with bright pink hair who does palm reading when he’s not at uni- it takes all sorts!)

Original poster
Kammer1 · 08/11/2023 15:05

I remember going for university auditions in a terrible suit that my Mum made me, complete with silk blouse with a big bow (it was 1986 ...). I NEVER dressed like that normally but for some reason I didn't rebel against my mother's wishes on those particular occasions. I remember feeling so square. Especially at the university I ended up going to: it was very trendy and experimental. I'm surprised they offered me a place given how I was dressed. Maybe I was part of a 'square kids' contingent.

OP posts:
Siriusmuggle · 09/11/2023 13:31

Mine wore navy chinos and an oxford shirt I think.

Original poster
Kammer1 · 09/11/2023 16:41

He's just messaged to say he's on the train back to London. 'Audition went well', he said. I imagine he'll have a lot to say but he will wait until we're all assembled, which won't be till late tonight.

Husband dropped him off at our local station this morning and apparently DS was jittery and nervous. Didn't hear much from him during the day but it seems that he found his way ok. He bumped into someone he knows from a music course last year.

I'm glad this first one went well.

He wore a black suit, white shirt and tie. He likes to dress up. This is one of the less outlandish of his outfits. It'll be interesting to see if he varies that for other auditions.

Thanks for your help everyone. I'll be back again soon, I'm sure!

OP posts:
Mytholmroyd · 09/11/2023 16:49

Brilliant! The next one should be easy for him (and you!) now he's got one under his belt!

Original poster
Kammer1 · 09/11/2023 16:54

Now sending me loads of messages about where to sit on the train. He's using his return / off-peak / unreserved. Funny how he copes well with some things and not others. He's done the hard bit! Now just needs to get home.

OP posts:
Mytholmroyd · 09/11/2023 17:05

Yes it is! Have to admit I find it very stressful/awkward getting on a busy train and deciding where to sit though so he has my sympathy!

Hughs · 09/11/2023 19:32

Well done him, he has done great, you must be proud! Fingers crossed for an offer from RWCMD and many more.