<p>Why is AMDA getting such a bad rap?
Almost everyone I ask says stay away!
We loved Shannon Durig in Hairspray and the understudy for Link was also from AMDA and he was great!
And why does Playbill's Broadway Rising Stars night list AMDA with CAP21, NYU and Julliard as New York's Finest Theatrical Institutions.
A girl my D sang with in Canada was one of the featured stars from AMDA,
Am I missing something?
Can anyone offer any insight?
thanks so much:)</p>
<p>In the world of training for a life in the theatre AMDA is "Devry" for singing, dancincing and acting. Devry is absolutely the right path to improvemnt for some folks. Devry has some very successful graduates - so to with AMDA. It is a choice that is out there. "Devry" is a choice - but its not the equivalent of MIT, RPI, Cal Tech or any other technically inclined college program. I believe a large part of a good training program is mentorship - a consistant teacher who inspires the student to excell both in their discipline and in life. This element is decidedly lacking at AMDA. They have very few full time, all-the-time employees. I know of a student who had three teachers in one course in one semester because the teacher they had previously had was cast in something, so left AMDA. It is true that occasionally, by happenstance, you might luck out and get a really great run of instuctors who are good teachers and well connected in the business - this still does not compensate for the lack of mentorship. This is a giant flaw - the same might be said of any program that brings in "guest directors" as a steady diet - this does not make for mentoring, does not make lasting connections. On the other hand, I do have friends that have had at least part of their training from AMDA courses and done very well. The lack of guidance there allows a student to slip through without addressing areas they might need help in - so if you walk in a great singer - you will leave a great singer - but maybe what you really needed to work on was your acting.</p>
<p>My other difficulty with the money making, for-profit AMDA is their marketing. They have some great combination of lawyers and admen as they manage to package their materials with great flash and hints of truthful statements as to entice many folks. It could be compared to the many faux "modeling agencies" that take people's money and rarely produce results. I recently picked up AMDA's materials at their booth at a conference - I then called a few friends who were listed as faculty to congratualte them on their appointments - this was funny because one had not worked there for seven years and the other had directed a showcase for them twice in the last decade - that is not being on "faculty".</p>
<p>Having said all that - I still say AMDA might be the right choice on an individual basis, Many very talented students have attended AMDA - and works out well for some. However, on the whole, by and large, and on average - AMDA is a bit below the bar when it comes to responsible, consistent, training for a life in performing arts.</p>
<p>lindyloohoo, I agree with mtdog's comments. Have you and your D visited AMDA? I'm guessing you probably have been doing your visiting this month since it's the end of April and it appears your D still hasn't decided! I would not recommend AMDA for a student who has also been accepted to some excellent BFA programs. Chances are that they will not be happy at AMDA, and, in my opinion, they will not receive the same education there. Do I know AMDA kids who have had some success? Yes. In fact, one young lady I know has already been in one national tour and has filled in for vacations in the Broadway production of the same show, and will be doing so again next month. However, even with her experience and her talent, which is substantial, she still gets the AMDA comments at auditions, and the negative vibe from people in the theatre community. I think much of it might be done in fun, but the reputation that AMDA has is not a good one, deserved or not. She would not recommend AMDA to anyone, for this reason. She, and a few others we know who have attended, feel that the cost is not worth it and also that too many kids are accepted who have no business being accepted. Kids who have other (better) choices should take one of those choices, and those who truly have to look at a two year conservatory program, for whatever reason, should, instead, look at something like Circle in the Square.</p>
<p>My beef with AMDA is that it (well, used to be) a 2 year certificate at the price of a BFA. </p>
<p>I don't know the details of the new BFA program but it still looks and seem a little steep to me.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your responses,
Yes we did visit AMDA, and did see alot of kids there, the facilities looked great though. I have never heard or thought about the mentoring aspect.</p>
<p>In addition to what I've read above, and support, one other thing I've heard is that AMDA teaches students to audition, and not to perform. Often on this board, people bemoan the ability to concentrate enough time in singing, acting AND dancing in the four-year programs. How much more difficult to do so in 2 ! ! Audition skills are essential, but if you can't deliver the goods after you've gotten the job, you're going to have a very short career.</p>
<p>We visited there and the facility was nice and we were impressed by the demonstration classes we saw. However, I was not willing to let my D go someplace and not end up with a degree. The NY living facilities were a bit of a rat hole. I also got that cheesy used car salesman feeling after the constant phones calls e-mails and mailings we received from them after our visit. My D has a classmate that will be attending but it's only because he did not have the grades and test scores to get into the BFA programs he auditioned for.</p>
<p>I just auditioned for AMDA yesterday and it was great the people there seemed awesome as well as the students. and responding to the person who said, “AMDA teaches kids how to audition and not perform.” you kinda made me laugh because at my audition, the MT head came in after watching the auditioning studio actors and said, “Why do you guys want to come to AMDA?” some answered “to get better technique”, “connections” etc. The MT head says," those are all great answers but what I need you guys to do is Perform, don’t come into this audition as an audition PERFORM for me, As a director I would rather you go full out all the time and be ‘TOO MUCH’ and have to pull you back, then you come in and audition and give little and i pull it out of you. So please PERFORM." …needless to say, I was very impressed.</p>
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<p>SidneyMt- Im actually attending AMDA this fall in NY. I move in 3 weeks. 
And referring to whoever made the whole “degree” comment: a degree isn’t everything. You can get better training for your career as a profressional actor/actress with a conservatory program than a university program. Granted some univ. do have great programs. AMDA, AADA, NYCDA etc. etc have good quality programs with intense training and focus on the PERFORMING aspect of acting. Im very much looking forward to starting. And even though they may accept more than 50 students a year they do it for a reason. Why would you want an 18 year old boy playing the roll of a 40 year old man when you have a 40 year old man auditioning that has great talent?? They want students of all types/ages/sizes etc.etc. If there are 300 students with great talent, then so be it. Dont be hating on the program just because they want to give people the chance to follow their dreams.</p>
<p>NOte that most of these comments are more than 2 years old…</p>
<p>MTdog71 claims that amda is a for-profit school, and criticizes it’s marketing techniques. if mtdog71 would have taken the time to check her facts, she would know that amda is a non-profit institution. and it’s marketing techniques are completely legitimate and ethical. and for her to compare it to faux modeling agencies who take people’s money and rarely produce results, again, it makes you question her.</p>
<p>MTdog67, your post is indeed curious. You have responded vociferously to a post that is almost 2 1/2 years old, have chosen to personally attack mtdog71 and in the process have offered no real substantive counterpoint to the views of mtdog71 and others who shared mtdog71’s views. It is also of note that this is your first post (unless, of course, you have another screen name and set up an account under a variation of mtdog71’s name solely for purposes of taking a personal shot). Don’t you think it would have been more helpful to readers for you to share your knowledge of AMDA and the basis for it rather than misstating certain aspects of mtdog71’s post and just taking personal shots (with regard to which you fail, of course, to state any foundation to support your comments).</p>
<p>I’m simply pointing out the fact that some of the things she said are lies. They’re not true. And it doesn’t matter if the post is over two years old - it’s still up and a lot of people still read it. To them, it’s new. I’ve been visiting this site for a long time, and her posting was the first that prompted me to respond. Yours is the second. The number of times I post a message has nothing to do with my credibility. Anyone who reads the post can tell that it’s far from being unbiased. It’s condescending and mean. What about the parents who have students enrolled at AMDA? How do you think MTdog71’s mean post makes them feel? It’s probably very hurtful to them. So don’t defend someone who blatantly smeared a good institution on the premise of it being an unbiased opinion to educate others.</p>
<p>MTdog67 – I believe I read your original post before it was edited, but don’t remember many specifics of what was removed. mtdog71 said that for some people, AMDA may be a viable alternative, which to me doesn’t indicate someone who wants to totally slam a program. Instead of just saying dog71 lies, your position would be better served if you could point to specifics that are factually incorrect. It is possible that some things have changed in the last few years - spread the positive if you know it. And - I don’t know if I just assumed it for some obscure reason, or if a long-ago post said it – but I always thought mtdog71 was male.</p>
<p>And I stand by my post MTdog67. There is nothing in any of your posts that offers any actual information about AMDA’s program that is informative or helpful. I have no problem with you disagreeing with mtdog71 (or alwaysamom, for that matter, who agreed with mtdog71); it’s that your post was devoid of any real information and served just to voice your disagreement in a manner that personally attacked mtdog71. How about sharing the details of what you know about AMDA’s program and the basis for your knowledge. In the absence thereof, and in conjunction with your personal attacks (which have now been edited out) the creditability of your posts is properly questioned.</p>
<p>I was going to stay out of this - but it seems to want rise from the ashes over and over again. I have written privately, and will say publicly, I am sorry if I have offended mtdog67 (thanks for homage in picking a nearly identical handle), or anyone else who either is employed by, attends, or is the parent of someone who attends AMDA. I know AMDA has been attempting to improve what they offer in the last few years as evidenced by their forging an agreement with the New Schools to recognize AMDA’s training as transferable for the New School’s degree offerings. Yes, AMDA has incorporated as a not-for-profit educational entity, as has Devry, many modeling schools, truck driving schools, as well as, Yale and NYU. The difference is in your modis operandi. I also stand by what I have written, with the clarification that AMDA operates with a high priority assigned to bottom line profit, while legally being incorporated as a not -for-profit. I have checked their “faculty” listings just today, I don’t like to be a person who names names, but I do know Evan Pappas, Igor Goldin, and Marcia Milgrom Dodge, and a few other listed faculty - they have cleaned up their list a bit. I have no axe to grind with AMDA, they have never done me a personal wrong. Let me just share these observations:</p>
<p>FACULTY. AMDA makes much of their “connections” to the industry. I feel secure in stating that most, if not all, faculty in reputable conservatories and universities have great and sustained connections to the professional world - to imply that AMDA has better connections than say U/Mich, OCU, CCM, Elon, CAP 21, and so on (don’t mean to leave folks out – just don’t want to list 30 programs) is just wrong. However, it should be pointed out that faculty connections at four-year institutions are actually more valuable because teachers come to know and care about their students. A director that is in for one show or two courses and then gone might sometimes be a connection – but by-and-large long-lasting relationships built over several semesters are far better. Further, it is hard to actually speak of the “faculty” at AMDA. AMDA continues to have virtually no full-time, all-the-time employees that teach. The persons who teach courses at AMDA are part-time, adjunct employees. Do not misunderstand, AMDA sometimes has great folks teaching a course or directing a production of some sort – but this is happenstance. Faculty, tenured, full-time persons who get health benefits and retirement benefits at reputable programs have been carefully pre-screened – it is not unusual to have over a hundred applicants who have amazing training and professional credits apply for an opening at good schools – after they get the job, their career at the school depends on good, sustained work. This contrasts with AMDA where they are very often scrambling to get persons in to cover their classes. Again, yes, there are a few teachers that have a somewhat consistent relationship with AMDA. However, if one has any concern for being fair and openly evaluating the question, there is a clearly defined, qualitative difference between teachers at top and/or second tier programs versus AMDA instructors.</p>
<p>ALUMNI. Yes, AMDA has many successful alumni. As I have mentioned, I have friends who have attended AMDA and are working. There is a chance that you can be successful coming out of any program. Here’s the thing – AMDA takes scores and scores of people into their program. Many (not all) of them are very talented. It only makes sense that a percentage of them are going to be successful. Compare that to schools that selectively accept 12 – 20 a year – their percentage of success is much higher. It is, for example similar to 4% of 100 (4) verses, say, 40% of 20 (8). This is a tough business; there is no guarantee – which is why I would go with the better percentages.</p>
<p>I try to stay positive about things on this board. I want parents and students to have good information so they can make good choices about the programs that fit their particular needs the best. This is why, I’ll state again, AMDA might be the best choice for some – but it should be understood that AMDA is essentially “Devry” for performing arts. I believe in giving yourself the best shot you can – for some, for their own reasons, AMDA might be it – but I believe, for the most part and on average, most students would serve themselves better at a four-year program. </p>
<p>Pax</p>
<p>HI, As many of you know, I am not a careful typer or editor - some of the above post was taken from an earlier post I had written. Let me edit CAP 21 from my list - because I am not sure they are their anymore - or are at least under some transition - let’s say NYU instead!</p>
<p>Very clear, concise, well-documented Mtdog71! Nice job! I personally see nothing offensive about any of your posts. I have no issues at all with AMDA, but don’t think they can be compared straight across to any of the BFA programs out there. Just like any BA of BFA program, each student has to find his or her’s best fit, and AMDA may be the perfect fit for many students. However, this forum is intended to educate prospective students about the different programs out there, and what each has to offer. Up and coming MT majors should, as always thoroughly research the various programs, compare what they have to offer to what that student’s goals are and make a decision based on that comparison. The more information an applicant isgiven, the better decision they can make. I don’t see any put-downs of AMDA here in any way. Also, AMDA has made an effort to change their program in the 2 years since many of these comments were first posted. They are a non-profit program, but anyone doing research must be aware that non-profit programs by definition do not mean that individuals are not making a lot of money. One would have to look at the non-profit status of an individual corporation to find out what the restrictions for that business are. That is why, when I donate money to non-profits, I always check to see what percentage of donations are going to whatever the cause is vs. the percentage being used for “administrative” expenses. There are non-profits where the majority of the money is staying within the organization and little is going toward the cause. The same may or may not be true of AMDA, but I would certainly want to check into their administrative costs before the term “non-profit” meant anything to me.</p>
<p>If people find AMDA meets their need, who has any right to knock it. Yeah, calling AMDA the Devry of MT Schools is demeaning. And it is just plain snobby and a little elitest.</p>
<p>AMDA needs a new reputation</p>
<p>I am shocked what I read about AMDA. And I think it is time to rebuild its reputation. </p>
<p>Why? Cause AMDA is the best present so far in my life! My life has changed completely and I know that there hardly is a harder and more efficent but very very good MT education! I am thrilled! </p>
<p>Let me go into details.</p>
<p>I have already studied Acting and graduated with a BFA: I expected AMDA to be a lazy MT school…it was not… It was actually better than my university.</p>
<p>Yes, you can go at amda and dont learn a lot… but thats not the schools fault. There are always ways to fake results and not grow.
But if you are showing dedication, love and passion and willing to work over 12h a day - this school is AMAZING. What I have learned in a short time-. Technique, knowledge is incredible.
I have already booked more jobs withing the last 3 months afte rmy graduation than ever before in my career</p>
<p>I say-. Go to amda if you are mature and can deal with a lot of work!
It is amazing!</p>