Drama school auditions 2024- Acting/MT

[Mcmumager]

Is anyone starting the journey of drama school auditions and starting to feel the stress? Maybe sending them to drama group was a big mistake lol.

This is exactly how my daughter was last year, despite going to a 6th form PA college studying MT, she just wasn’t prepared for the intensity of applications, self tapes, end of year shows and auditions. She got her MT BTech but I feel she was still underprepared and for those who have no offers or don’t go to a PA college do not fear!

Whilst she got 2 offers, she felt neither were where she wanted to be, so took a year out, worked in a entertainment related job, performed in local theatre and kept her dance and singing lessons going.

The difference in her auditioning this year was immense. She went to a week school at Arts Ed and a weekend at GSA, both helped her with her audition pieces, GSA even telling her to ‘drop one of her songs and pick something else’, to be honest if your child does A levels, you will get a lot out of these pre audition prep courses. I think they were more honest than her 6th form!

She said she knew what to expect, she didn’t feel overwhelmed and like a rabbit in the headlights, she felt more mature and calmer generally, like she was almost picking them too. The stuff she did in her gap year was of interest at interviews.

In the end, she was offered BA Rose B, PPA 4 Yr stage &Screen, PPA MT reserve, recalls for both Mountview and IC, which she didn’t go to as accepted Foundation MT at GSA. She was rejected from Arts Ed.

I think these colleges like experienced students, slightly older, who they know really want this, I was worried last year she gambled two offers, I’m still worried that after her Foundation she may not get anything again, this career is not for the faint hearted and us parents have to be brave!

As a previous poster said, a year is good in someways, if she decides it’s not for her, she’s not dropping out a three year degree.

She’s going off this summer to work as an entertainment host at a holiday park too, that extra year has made a huge difference.

So don’t be worried time is actually of benefit.

Every college is asking for something different as well. Some want 2 minute cuts, some 3, or 1 monologue + song or other combination. Different eras too. It's been a minefield. My dd is still getting offers, doesn't know which way to turn!!

but well done she has choices! I think they have to go with their gut and what finances allow.

DD got an offer today from somewhere she was in waitlist for - which she didn’t get - for a totally different course, which they had asked her to audition for, but she didn’t go as already confirmed GSA!

My main thought is 'will she get a job when she finishes the course?' Doesn't seem much point doing it if there's no work at the end

Well that’s the million dollar question. I don’t think any Acting/MT student is guaranteed a job, at the end of it, the hardest part of finding an agent is yet to come!

If they want a guaranteed job, then it’s the wrong industry, however the skills, confidence and hard work, can lead to something else. Our children have to be realistic and be prepared for periods of time without work.

ironically the course they offered her without an audition, was Acting for Stage and Screen, which is probably more likely to lead to employment than MT, especially as she’s had an agent and done some TV work already.

However, she’s accepted GSA for the year, so thats the plan.

Are you any further forward with accommodation! My DS needs to find some flatmates and doesn’t know where to start!

@71deedee no no further forward - plan is to go to the open day on the 3rd and then maybe go and speak to a few estate agents and suss out the area.... my DD's best friend is doing the foundation course so current plan is for them to share but i think EDA may have suggestions/support available? Anyway hoping to find out more on the 3rd.

I’m flipping stressing! Can you tell! My DS doesn’t know anyone going and I don’t want him to be to isolated! Its show week for him that week but we will be going to the induction somehow

My DD can’t go to the induction day as she’s on holiday in Greece. So I am concerned about how she’s meant to meet anyone and sort accommodation 😬.

@71deedee yes it is really stressful particularly when there isn't the usual support/facilities you would get with mainstream universities but honestly there is only 50 of them on the course they will be spending all day every day together and be required to work really closely together so they will make friends really quickly - its the nature of what they do. Is your DS feeling ok about it?

he had a Conti offer which threw a spanner in the works but seems to have ruled that out now (new course acting/musical theatre and he wanted to learn dance) and he has just finished a levels so can now turn his attention to this! He seems fine, it’s just me! He isn’t 18 till July, I know he will be fine but…. How is your daughter feeling, it will help when they can network a little bit, there is supposed to be a Facebook group soon.

It’s a nightmare isn’t it! And it’s only 2 hours too so I’m not sure how effective it will be anyway! Must stop stressing!!!

Resilience, self management, confidence, courage in the unknown, all seem to me to be essential qualities of anyone working in drama.

Your DC need to build these strengths if they don't have them, so let them sort stuff out and let them cope with what happens.

The dramatic arts world is absolutely one of: short deadlines, "we need you in Paddington station at 6am tomorrow", vagueness "you may be needed a week next Friday so keep that clear", and hideous barriers "we're looking for someone who can commit to learning this over the weekend". Stop stressing about your DC!

Have your kids found any WhatsApp/snapchat groups? My son has a few friends going to Emil Dale- I know there is a Snapchat group.

@Mcmumager my DD said something about a snapchat group but i think that was just with the people she knows who are going. I will clarify that though!

@anythinginapinch fully aware of all that and i'm sure all will be fine but when its your first going off to uni it is natural to stress about it especially when they are going straight into private rented.

Hiya, EDA BA MT has a got a Snapchat group chat, my DD is on there. I can see if she can add your DS? There has been accommodation chat on there. @71deedee

Thank you, I’ve passed his username to yournotserious xxx thanks so much

In an ideal world yes, but these are skills that need to be learnt. It won’t take them long to find their feet but a bit of guidance, especially with private rentals won’t go amiss

When dd got into drama school they were given each others contacts and formed a WhatsApp group for accommodation. It was incredibly challenging because they had to arrange themselves into groups having never met each other and house hunt remotely with some of them in different time zones. They did it though, and it was very character building!

Is there anyway to work out reserve lists or find out where you are on list. My daughter has a waiting list place for MT at Conti & her heart is set on it. I didn’t get involved with her auditions as this is her second year trying after A Levels but this was the one she loved on audition days? If she emails Conti to ask will this irritate them do you think?

I'm not sure it will irritate them, but it probably won't help either. I think the waiting lists are a bit 'smoke and mirrors' really - it's not as simple as a linear list which you move up, but depends on the 'mix' of the intake and who has accepted offers etc.
A lot of schools try to get a 'balanced' intake to form a 'company' of students, so taking into account things like gender, race, age, background etc. DS was on two waiting lists (Conti and GSA) the first year he applied, but neither came through. It seems he was on a subsection of the waiting list with others of 'his type', so he essentially needed a white, middle-class boy to decline an offer for a space to open up for him. Of course as time goes on, and the best students decide which offers to accept and which to reject, the schools may become more flexible with this.

Good luck to your daughter - it's awful waiting to find out. In my experience the schools don't tell you when the waiting list period has ended either - they hold out indefinitely in case someone drops out!

@Jng1!thank you for getting back to me, I thought that might be how it works, just a waiting game then for her

Is your daughter in their chat (Instagram and Snapchat I think)

Yes she is on that. 😄 She will email EDA to get more info re ordering kit etc. Seems to be quite a lot on the list!

Just heard my dd has a foundation place in acting at ArtsEd. She’s also on waiting list of Oxford School of Drama. Anyone any experience of either or both?