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.

Anyone got any updates?

We’re still waiting on Bristol School of Acting and LIPA. Plus got a few second rounds/recalls in the next few weeks.

So we're now out the other end of training and into agent dilemmas!
Anyone here who can advise?
Big agent with bigger client list but fewer of dd's casting vs other big agent with smaller client list but more of dd's 'type'?

I'm a scriptwriter rather than an actor, so same industry just different part of the forest. I always think the sweet spot is a young, hungry agent at a big agency. So you have all the heft and benefits of a serious company with the energy of someone really working hard to get their new clients out there, because they need their list to work. If the agent is too big there's always the worry that they spend most of their energy on their "stars". But then again, that wouldn't be the worse problem in the world! Good luck with it.

@UsualChaos tricky one and depends on what you mean by “big” and also what your DD’s type is. Also which one she clicked with most

Thank you, that's really useful. And one of her offers certainly fits that criteria.

United, CVGG, Hamilton Hodell etc.
She really liked both but probably clicked slightly more with the one with the larger list but fewer of DD's type. The one with the smaller list has a few of her type, including one client that is extremely famous.
Type would be young-playing, quirky beautiful.

Wow really great offers!! Great advice from @somewhereinsomerset , I’d go with the young hungry agent at big agency!

The first one sounds a better fit.

Size of overall book is less important than number of similar casting bracket are on there. She wants to be THE client to submit for a role that is perfect fit, not be in a situation where they have multiple options and she may not be the option with the biggest credits.

My DD is the only one of her type with her agent (similar level) and it really helps in terms of subs to tape ratio.

Yes, it's all been a bit unexpected and quite the rollercoaster!
I know nothing about this industry but dd did work hard on her emails to agents and it seems that her headshots were pretty key in getting them in to showcase. She spent a lot of time researching photographers and was quite clear about what she wanted - in case this helps anyone here!
Agree about the sound advice re young, hungry agents. I will convey this to dd.

Thank you, ohcrumbs. This is my gut feeling too.
We were kind of hoping that she'd get one good offer so we weren't left in this situation of having to choose!

I'm an agent and I would say a couple of things - firstly she will be told 'no, it hasn't worked' an awful lot to begin with (absolutely not because she's without talent, just because that's the nature of the game), so it's worth her thinking which of the agents she talked to she could bear to hear that from on a regular basis. If she didn't click or feel they would be kind/sympathetic with her, then that's probably not the best agency for her. She needs to feel they have her back and that they really care. In the same vein, did she like the agent's assistant? She will find she does often end up talking to the assistant because that's what happens in a really busy office.

Secondly - too many of her 'type' will mean they suggest five or six people for the same role thus reducing chances. One of that type stands out more on Spotlight suggestions than an agency putting up half a dozen. Casting Directors are working from the smallest thumbnails so 6 girls all looking the same from the same agency won't stand out like one or two. Worth thinking of.

Good luck to her. Those are amazing agents.

Thank you so much mimble, that's fantastic advice and from the horse's mouth, as it were!
I think she definitely clicked with one in particular and met the assistant too. They were both women and she feels she'd be more confident being rep'd by a woman, at this stage at least.
It's all been hugely overwhelming!

We are deep in auditions for MT .. it’s really brutal juggling with A levels and life, let alone the tough audition days. I have no idea if she’s got a chance… she’s a great singer, good actress and a natural dancer but hasn’t trained for 3 years because she tore her ACL (healed now thank goodness)
Here’s where we are
ED/ Arts Ed - didn’t make the cut on the day for recall
Recalls for IC, Leeds Conservatoire (yesterday she loved it ) IAB
Waiting to hear from Mountview and GSA
Currently in a recall for NYMT (loved doing last year)
Luckily 60% of Drama A level now done .
She started by saying this year was a trial run for another go next year but recalls are giving hope. I’ve no idea…..

@newsmummy - still a way to go for your DD - it is beyond stressful! We live 150 miles from London so organising travel and accommodation is a bit of a nightmare (and costly). My DD was in NYMT recall on Saturday so maybe they met each other 😊

Here's where we are at:

PPA - Offer
EDA - Offer
ArtsEd - Reserve List
GSA - recall early Apr
Urdang - audition mid March
Mountview - auditioned on Monday, awaiting outcome
Conti - still waiting after self tape submission

She was buzzing after her EDA audition and seems to have made her mind up that she is going there but this could change depending on what happens. I am impatient though and don't like not being able to plan.....

Hope everyone else is getting on ok x

Anyone heard from rose bruford?

Just heard today. For acting.

Thanks tickled - was that for an audition day?

Yes, that's right. Only day on offer was 25.03.

thanks - we shall see if dd gets that day or a no then!

Good luck

How is everyone?
We’ve had a rush on auditions - just done 5 recalls (waiting on results). Two more first rounds to go and then we’re done!

So far we have one waitlist and one offer so we’ll see what the rest bring.

It’s been exhausting, anxiety-inducing, and very costly but also I’ve enjoyed being on the road with my boy so much 🙂 I have so much admiration for these ‘kids’ (despite the fact their young adults now!) and their commitment to their careers.

I agree with you about their courage and tenacity. And ours! It's one of the most stressful things I've ever been part of and I'm full of admiration for them all.

Daughter didn't get her applications in until just before the deadlines so we're a bit behind. One definite no, one offer, and the others still in play for now.

It really is the most stressful time - the only thing that comes remotely close is agent stress after graduation showcase!

We are currently now experiencing agent/audition stress

@LoudSnoringDog
I remember thinking, 'if she gets into a good drama school, I can relax'. And then it was, 'if she gets a good agent, I can relax.' Then came, 'if she gets good auditions, I can relax'.
We are now at 'if she gets some recalls, I can relax' - and it's slowly dawning on me that this is never going to stop, is it?!