@mom4bwayboy congrats on offer! Logistics and feasibility is a huge concern for me in this industry! When does he have to decide?
It is a difficult thing to do – we have been given the advice to strongly consider the “bird in hand”. You don’t know if, when or what the next offer will be. Ask yourself will you be ok if you turn this offer down and another offer does not come along? Or will you be disappointed if your turn this offer down and the next offer is for less money/less prestigious venue? We just can’t predict if or when offers will be made. Much like auditioning for college, theaters will extend offers to their first choices and contact their second choices if and only if the first choices turn them down. (Some will call to gauge your interest and/or to let you know you are next in line if the first offer turns them down) Unlike schools, most theaters will not contact you if they are not going to offer you a job. Typically you just won’t hear from them again. So it is hard to get finality or to know when all offers have been made. Conversely, there is the fear that if you take that offer in hand, something better will come along later and you won’t be able to do it because you are under contract for the first offer. So much to think about. We are weighing opportunities right now also and it is difficult to know how to advise our D. At some point, I guess you just have to go with your gut instincts. Location, salary, role, something for the resume, industry contacts, etc…should all play into your decision making.
Congrats @mom4bwayboy, I’m also very much a bird-in-the-hand, say-yes-to-everything kind of person, but your son probably has the best feel for what his other chances are.
So, this morning I was sure he was going to say, “thank you, but no thank you” to this offer. I tried to lay out all the “positives” that could arise from this opportunity, despite the “obstacles”. He also has some “self-created” projects he’s working on and wanted to put on the front burner over the summer. Just as @vvnstar said, I asked, “if you say no to this and nothing else comes along, will you be OK with that decision?” He said, “Yes”. Deciding that I had played my “Mom” card as far as it was going to go, I had to let the decision be his. Tonight, he texted me that he accepted the offer. I had nothing to do with the change of heart. His classmates were the ones to convince him the that this “bird” was a truly nice bird and “no way” should he let it go. Go figure.
So glad to hear he is taking it mom4bwayboy! He will have a great summer. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Just updating for those who are wondering about timeline of communications from SETC summer stock callbacks. Yesterday - almost two weeks post-audition/callback - S received a polite, “we loved you, but don’t have a place for you in our company this year” type email from one of his callbacks (one that actually asked him to sing and read sides for two lead characters from one of the season’s shows). Still hearing “crickets” from other callbacks.
Thanks for the update @mom4bwayboy . I’m glad they loved your S – that at least makes a “no” easier. My D had one request for a dance reel, but other than that “crickets” here too. Two of my D’s guy friends got offers, girls called back for the same company haven’t heard anything yet. Love to hear MWTA and SETC news! Also wishing all good things for those going to Strawhats this weekend!
For anyone still interested in post-callback news, S received a very polite “nothing at this time” notification from Cedar Point today via snail mail.