<p>My son is auditioning for straight theatre but he is a strong singer and dancer…he has checked and can take dance and voice at all the programs he auditioned for as well as audition for the musicals. He just wants to be able to take as many acting classes as possible and he was advised to go this route. The same with my daughter. However, they must be in the minority as when my daughter auditioned for her first show, the MT students and staff were shocked a straight theatre student was auditioning let alone could dance and sing!!!</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that there were not 700 boys at a single audition event (even counting all boys at Unifieds). We have done several on-campus auditions, and at every single one, my son was among a considerable minority.</p>
<p>Everyone who gets a spot at an auditioned program has to have talent, whether they are a girl or a boy. That goes without saying. </p>
<p>But,if you ask the administrators of most programs, they will tell you that the audition ratio of girls to boys is 70/30…on top of that many (but not all) accept more boys than girls and then even beyond that, historically there have been more roles written for men than women…so, if you are a boy the numbers are in your favor for sure.</p>
<p>^^^Agree with the above!</p>
<p>connections - Like in many fields, sometimes MT is the exact right place for having kids, with a little adjustment. A good friend of ours was performing on Bway in a incredibly successful musical and was able to set her dressing room up for her son from birth through kindergarten. Once he started school she was tired, but able to be there for him most of the day (except Wednesday matinee days of course) until she needed to head into the city for the performance when his dad could take over. She was in that role for most of his elementary school years. At first she (and others) thought she was ruining her career by staying in the same role for so long but it was worth it to have steady income and time for her kid. Turns out she has since put together a wonderful cabaret show and travels the world performing as well as teaching and some other things. Now, she is very happy to have made those compromises while her son was young and has continued in her field of choice. </p>
<p>The motherhood thing is always confounding for most careers, I don’t think any more or less so for acting.</p>
<p>I’d like to know how any school could audition 700 students in one day? It would be physically impossible. </p>
<p>I agree with amtc that the motherhood thing is confounding for many, and I think her friend was fortunate (and smart!), indeed, to have a steady job during her child’s early years. It’s a rarity, unfortunately, and many actor moms have to change locations often,sometimes across the country, when they book work. One friend who had her first child in the fall has already had to travel from her base in NYC twice with her baby in tow. Once across the country, and a second job a ten hour drive away. I know other friends who have taken their babies/toddlers on tour with them - not an easy life. Another couple who are both actors have travelled all over North America with their kids, sometimes separately and recently changed locations again because he booked a several month job in a new city. Their first D who is now school age, started kindergarten in this new city.</p>
<p>Slightly veering off topic, but I think you guys are raising interesting points: I don’t mean it’s impossible to have children and be an actor–just difficult. As in most careers. And it does help if you have money. Of course, the more children you have, the more difficult it becomes. I think it’s good to plan for this and know what you want and what’s possible. A gifted, award-winning actress I know is quitting the profession because she is pregnant with her second child and her husband just lost his job. She is just tired of the uncertainty, hustling, etc and wants a more stable career. Another very gifted very successful regional actress I know quit when her three children were around 2, 4 & 6. Her partner was supportive, but she just wanted to be around them more. She is happy with her decision, however–she views it as a great run (she’s in her mid to late 30s) and now wants something different. She’s teaching at an exclusive private school and heading their MT program. (So maybe that story is not about challenges in acting.)</p>
<p>I don’t mean to be a downer at all. It’s reality. It’s just still a bit easier for men on multiple levels–although no picnic for men either! (If a man also wants to be around his children he would face the same issues. Also, men are under pressure to support their families.) It’s good to know all this and know what’s important to you. As much as possible, of course–you can’t really know. </p>
<p>I try to view it as life stages, and have encouraged my kids to think of it this way too–to everything there is a season. :-)</p>
<p>@redheadlady,</p>
<p>I agree with the premise that there are a greater number of females applying to college MT programs than males. By gross numbers then, logically it would be “easier” for a boy than a girl. I don’t think that there is any way to quantifiably measure/assess the ideal MT student by sheer numbers. (for example, are the most “acceptable” kids by whatever measure, mostly girls or split?) In my unscientific observation as a parent after attending many auditions at many schools for my twin sons, and not based on any school data, schools with more well known programs, (e.g. CCM, UMich, Oklahoma) had a more even distribution of boys and girls at the auditions. Schools with lesser known programs, had distributions of 80/20 or 70/30 girls to boys at audition sites. After the classes are assembled and you watch the kids perform in university/school productions, etc, in my observation, the talent is pretty evenly distributed between boys and girls.</p>
<p>Wow. Okay 1st - no school sees 700 people in one day, much less, 700 hundred boys. Let’s stay in the realm of the possible. I realize many here are novice, many have limited experience to draw on - but this is a simple answer. It is way easier for men in MT - still competitive - but way easier for men. Even at the best schools the female auditions outnumber the male 2 or 3 to 1. Most schools try to keep there male population at least equal to the females. It is simple math, way fewer men compete for at least an equal number of slots. This continues in the professional world as there are many more ladies trying to be cast then males. Add to that the fact that there are many more roles available for males. It is not an easy proposition for anyone - but males are at a decided advantage.</p>
<p>Based upon our son’s auditions and campus visits, it is clear that many more girls audition than boys, but it is still incredibly competitive for admission to any audition BFA program. Also, it seems that type clearly matters, something that we had not even considered. I think it may be helping our son. Like njmissy, our son is also tall (almost 6’3" and played sports competitively (football and tennis), and the first thing his audition coach commented on when she met him was, “Oh great! You’re tall - and good looking; that will help.” Interestingly enough, in many of his auditions, even at CMU, he got the same initial response, so I think being a type that may be less common may help. As an additional note, the admission counselor we hired to help him with his applications highlighted the importance of the strength of his essays. She specifically said that if there is another tall boy tenor with equal talent, they will next turn to the essay to help them pick which of you to admit. Some additional info: Like njmissy13’s son, dancing is not our son’s strength; I can’t imagine him doing Newsies acrobatics. He’s a singer first, and a solid and improving actor. We always tell him, work your weakness (not just your strength), so it becomes something you can rely on. In tennis, you need a forehand, backhand, a serve, and speed. </p>
<p>So far, he has 2 acceptances from audition schools, 1 rejection, and is waiting to hear from 5 schools.</p>
<p>As a parent of a 6 ft 3 inch male who actually dances, tap, jazz and ballet with a baritone voice, the auditions have been what we expected. There are far more girls competing for spots then boys but we have found the auditions to be very competitive with some very talented guys. Although very much recognized in the dance calls, his abilities in dance have not been a fast track into any program. We chose to avoid alot of the popular MT schools and ended up leaving an open house at one school when we heard the pricetag was approaching $70,000. We also WD two apps before auditions once he was accepted to his top choice school and knew he wanted to be in NY or London. In the end, he will have been accepted to 50% of the programs for which he applied. We are happy that he has some solid options. Ironically, the ones he got into were the one’s he felt he connected best with at the auditions. He has solid options in the cities and schools of his choice with a good backup. It has been a long journey and once final financial consideration is taken, he will be embarking on a new journey at his chosen school.</p>