<p>I think this thread was really about interest in meeting people and moonifides and then it went in more than one other direction.</p>
<p>With respect to additional Unifides locations I guess I’d suggest the question, “where does it end?” Sure, southwest doesn’t have a Unifides location if you define the southwest as Texas. Seems to me that LA is in the southwest though. Southeast, yes, there isn’t one. Nor is there a location anywhere in the Northwest. Big big big states west of the Mississippi and distance is a problem that cannot easily be solved no matter what location you pick. Most of the states out here take a day or more to drive across so if you don’t get it right in your city/town, you’re still stuck with flying or driving for days. </p>
<p>So yes, auditioning is truly a greater hardship for some than others but it is what it is. I think that is possibly why you do see some of these regional events in places like Texas, the Northwest etc. I’m not sure the system as is is broken. The fact that there is a Unifides location within +/-1 or +/-2 hours of most time zones seems sufficient to me. (Not that I wouldn’t have LOVED to have one in the 'hood mind you).</p>
<p>This subject should probably be its own thread. Moonifides is over. (Heard it was great which I think is wonderful.)</p>
<p>Just to add 1 more thought to the thread that is wandering - maybe it would be helpful to have more than 2 days of auditions in LA. I know there will never be Unifieds in Hawaii - but flying to LA would have been much better than flying to Chicago!! I chose Chicago because there were 3 days of auditions - if there had been 3 days in LA - I would probably have just gone there!
Also - I would have been very happy to live in Texas and to have gone to the Moonifides…just to keep my post relevant…</p>
<p>Just to clarify-- I didn’t mean the original thread on “Moonifieds” wasn’t relevant or anything. Just that I didn’t want to lose the other direction the conversation was going, of the possibility of more regional Unifieds–probably it should be its own thread.</p>
<p>^^ Hey There connections! Wasn’t being facetious - I just realized that I was continuing with the off topic wandering and tried to add a bit of topic!:-)</p>
<p>An MT coach in Texas…Mary Anna Dennard I think? Known as Moo to her students-- holds a unified audition which some colleges attend. It’s as much a practice session as anything else, from what I understand.</p>
<p>Just to clarify. Moonifieds, for Moo’s students only and are real auditions. They include dance along with singing and monologues. Several of the schools hold informational meetings as well. It’s like a smaller, intimate Unifieds.</p>
<p>Perhaps one answer would be for her to open up “Moonfieds” to anyone who wants to schedule an audition at that location on that date. I saw on another thread where someone tried to justify this practice by pointing out the LOTS of places hold on-site auditions, i.e. Pebblebrook High School in Atlanta. That’s comparing apples andoranges. My son wanted to do some regional audition sites close to home to save money, and the Moonified gathering in Dallas was closed to him. However, he was able to audition for one excellent conservatory at Pebblebrook in Atlanta because they open up their site to anyone who wants to schedule an audition there - AND HE WAS ACCEPTED from that audition.<br>
It seems to me that opening up the event for others would put an end to the controversy and it would, in essence, become just another unified, regional audition event. Or am I missing something here?</p>
<p>Pebblebrook is the exception. Many performing arts magnate schools invite colleges, but are not open to students outside of the high school. Not all auditions are open to all students. If you aren’t a Thespian, you can’t attend the International Thespian Festival. Many schools start their audition season there. The same is true of North Texas Drama Auditions (you need to be from Texas). Schools will go wherever a large group of talent converges. Washington State started an audition in the past few years and many schools attend.</p>
<p>The flip side if this coin is that not every school will be at any audition. Others have tried to explain that the system is slightly arbitrary. I know that there are at least a few schools that won’t attend auditions set by coaches. I must say, I find it interesting that there is so much discussion revolving around the Texas auditions. The “Unifieds” are closed auditions as well. There are fewer than 20 “Unified” schools and entry into that group isn’t open. </p>
<p>It would be helpful to those auditioning if those auditions really were Unified. This isn’t sour grapes coming from the outside. We reap the benefits of seeing a large group of students as a result of the actual Unified group holding auditions. But organization at the group level (I.e. one dance call, group auditions with callbacks, etc) would maximize time and save money. </p>
<p>With the advent of pre-screening, I think much of this discussion is moot. I believe many schools will begin pulling back from sites away from campus. But, I don’t have a crystal ball.</p>
<p>I am not suggesting otherwise. Rather, I’m suggesting that many auditions place parameters on who may attend. I suppose it is up to those smarter than me to determine if there is a difference between paying for Moonifieds (private?) and those who pay to attend other auditions with stated parameters. Is monetary recompense the sole distinguishing factor in the discussion? There are no advantages to the Moonifieds as compared to the Unifieds. There are advantages to either of the aforementioned auditions as compared to the International Thespians, North Texas, or similar extremely large scale auditions that only allow only 90 seconds and over 200 students are seen in one day. And sadly, there are advantages for those who can afford the travel, classes, private voice, etc. in the same way that any child who plays soccer gains an advantage playing for a large club and on a travel team. That doesn’t preclude the high school player from becoming a great soccer player, but it changes how s/he gets there. Finally, I can tell you with absolute certainty that coaching helps but in the end the best it does is offer advice and a modicum of training. The advice can be gained in a variety of ways, as can the training. Many very successful students never had a coach.</p>
<p>I agree. We did use a coach, who was Wonderful! Just really helped my D present herself in the best ways she could. I think it depends on the person as to whether you want/need a coach. As someone else mentioned before, Mary Anna Dennard has some great videos on her website and a good book out about auditioning. Worth looking into for kids auditioning for college in the future.</p>
<p>There are something along the lines of 17 schools who make up the “Unified” auditions. The rest of us simply use the same dates and places for our convenience, and the convenience of the actors. Anyone who can afford to fly to one of the places, stay in a hotel, etc. and get appointments is open to attend. I have no idea what a private audition is. Therefore, I can’t tell you what is, or is not considered private.</p>
<p>Kjgc was referring to the colleges who are allowed to be a part of the official Unifieds group when talking about unifieds being private. Students must register with each individual school to audition at Unifieds. There is no central registration. You can only audition for schools at unifieds if youve arranged to do so with that school. some schools will allow walk-ins if time allows but to insure an audition you need to schedule with the school you want ahead of time. If you look at Unifieds information you will see that unifieds is a relatively small group of schools. It feels much bigger because many schools who are not officially Unified members choose to hold auditions in the same cities on the same days as the unified members. (and sometimes in the same hotel if they can get a space). But there is no coordination between the non-unified and unified schools. That is what kjgc refers to as private. There is no sharing of space, information, etc… Between unified member schools and non member schools.</p>