<p>Heading to Chicago next week. I have auditions set for Mon & Tues at 11:45 & 10:30-12:00. I want to maximize the time, but there are call backs for the Tue audition. Trying to sort through this for the first time. I have an audition set for 9:00 am on Sunday also. Looking to add more. Any advice? I hear there are some schools that will take walk-ups. Anyone know which schools do that?</p>
<p>Hi, Micky,
Welcome! I’m afraid I can’t be of much help because we are in the same shoes you are, but there are a lot of really helpful threads, so just do a search on Unifieds and Walk-ins and I’m sure you’ll come up with a lot of great info.</p>
<p>The one thing I have read several times is to go to the schools you are hoping to walk into first thing in the morning on the first day. They are more likely to have spots open at that time, if at all. And a few people were taken in on the spot. Just be sure you are prepared to pay any audition fees and that you have extra headshots/resumes.</p>
<p>last years experience with our son and observing others was there are a ton of walk up possibilities. Texas State had sign up sheets on their door for walk ups; TCU; Hartt; etc. I am not able from memory to give anything like a full list…but the walk up routine seemed a heck of a lot easier than I imagined before ever setting foot at the chicago unifieds. it seems a daunting scheduling dilemma while sitting at your computer at home…and it is important to have the four or five auditions most key to you lined up well in advance (sounds like you have done that)…but as I recall schools like Penn State would try to squeeze people in etc. my suggestion is to scope out the floors where schools have their audition rooms the night before, look for sign up sheets for walk ups and pencil in your name at the desired time. Schools have great expanses of audition space (Carnegie Mellon, Michigan, share a large portion of one floor to themselves pretty much) and others are in smaller rooms at the end of a hall…TCU (tiny), Webster less tiny. but once you are there and see the lay of the land it is much less formal and imposing than it seems from a distance. the hotel is fun in fact. course I wasn’t the one auditioning.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that if you are doing a walk-in for Tx State, and have not sent in a pre-screen, this would be your prescreen for an on-campus callback (that’s how it’s been the past 2 years). </p>
<p>Coastal Carolina was also taking walk-ins last year, as were Ohio Northern, University of Utah, Western Michigan (acting), etc. </p>
<p>By Sunday evening, word will be out who is taking walk-in, so if you don’t hear about it, ask around. The lobby will be buzzing all evening.</p>
<p>At the information desk in the lobby, you can pick up a list of schools and their location in the hotel. And like Regine said, be sure to walk around on Sunday so you know where you are going in the morning. The Palmer House is a huge maze, but if you do a dry run you will be fine. </p>
<p>In addition to extra headshots and resumes, you may want to bring copies of HS transcript, letters of recommendation - academic and/or artistic, academic resume, personal statement, etc</p>
<p>As far as music, cover the bases - bring sheet music with 16 and 32 bar cuts, plus full songs AND tracks (16, 32 and full song) on mp3 and/or CD AND bring your own player. Keep in mind that some schools require one song to be golden age (varies from pre-1960-1970); some don’t specify.</p>
<p>Chicago has a fun and friendly atmosphere - I’m going to miss going this year.
Have FUN and Break Legs!!!</p>
<p>What do you experienced folks recommend for transportation between hotels in Chicago ? We have two days where we have a 1 hour window to get to another hotel a few miles away. Is it best to rely on public transportation or a cab or is it chest to rent a car. We also want to get to Northwestern.</p>
<p>Heartsongmom - the answer partially depends on where the hotels are located and whether you will have luggage. Public transportation is great in Chicago, particularly if you can take the “el” (the elevated train); however, it is a lot more clumsy if you have a few bags of heavy luggage. Cabs are easy and plentiful. The problem with driving a rental car is that you also have to park, which can be inconvenient, time-consuming, and expensive.<br>
To get to Northwestern, you may want to rent a car for the day, but I would probably recommend against hanging on to the car for longer. You can get to Evanston via public transit, but would probably need to get a cab to the university. Northwestern has some info: [Commuter</a> Options: University Services - Northwestern University](<a href=“Commuter Options: Transportation & Parking - Northwestern University”>Commuter Options: Transportation & Parking - Northwestern University)</p>
<p>I would recommend taking the Northwest Line of the Metra from the Ogilvy Center on Madison to Evanston (Metrarail.com to figure out which stop) and then take a cab to the campus. Unless it’s as cold next week as it is now — then rent a car!</p>
<p>Thank you both for your suggestions. I think we’ll rent a car for the day and use cabs or the el for the rest.</p>
<p>oh my gosh it is almost here. My D and I fly out on Sat the 2nd. We are trying not to get too stressed. But with school work, her high school musical (they open Feb14th) and getting ready to play Marian in Music Man in an all state high school production that opens March 22 and 23rd we can’t help it. Oh and did I mention scholarship applications to finish. It might almost be relaxing to get away to Chicago. </p>
<p>She is trying to take the good advice on this board and just be herself, but it is so hard not to be anxious.</p>
<p>I really can’t believe what our kids are about to go through. Here’s my D’s schedule for the next couple months</p>
<p>Jan 26th: On campus audition
Feb 2: On campus scholarship interview
Feb 4-6: Three auditions at Unifieds (plus any walk ins she decides she may do)
Feb 9: On campus audition
Feb 11-14: Auditions for the high school spring musical
Feb 16: On campus audition
Feb 23rd: On campus audition (luckily the only one she has to fly to get to)
March 2nd: Show choir competition (for which starting now they have rehearsals two nights a week plus on weekends at times)
March 9th: second show choir competition
March 16th: On campus audition
March 23rd: Show choir competition</p>
<p>Oh, and somewhere in there I think she still goes to school and takes several either college credit or AP courses. She also plans to try and fit in breathing and eating during this 2 month period.</p>
<p>As for modg and your D’s fears, I think she’ll be fine. My D has impressed me more and more with her attitude towards all this, even as she had one pre-screen not accepted for further audition. We talked just the other day. She expressed that she is confident in her songs and monologues, but that she knows it’s a very subjective process. So if she doesn’t get a spot (which I doubt, but we’ll see), she will simply attend one of the schools that offering her a lot of merit scholarship $$, major in something like telecommunications, minor in dance or music (or both), and after she graduates take her shot at MT at that point. To her as long as she can walk off an audition stage and know she left it all out there and did her best, that’s the only thing she can control.</p>
<p>I think it’s important for all our kids out there to understand there are many paths towards a career in the performing arts. Some will do it through a BFA MT program, some will do it other ways.</p>
<p>So excited to hear about everyone’s Chicago Unified experiences and start thinking about next year for us!
I also want to put out there that if anyone needs anything or has any emergency while they are here, please PM me and I will be happy to help!</p>
<p>@jeffandann your schedule sounds a lot like ours except we are doing 7 at unifieds. Our first one is on campus this Saturday and then we don’t breathe again until mid-March. I really don’t know how these kids do it with all they have going on, dance, show rehearsals, choir rehearsals oh and school too. They are an amazing group of kids.</p>
<p>jeffandann, thanks for your encouragement. My D’s older sister just told her yesterday to work on what you CAN control. Everything else is out of her hands. She also stated just like you said, there are many other paths to her goals than a BFA in MT. </p>
<p>She was telling someone what unifieds were all about and their reply has helped get a different perspective too. They said to her, “wow, you get to go to Chicago, spend a few days in a nice hotel and then sing for people. Sounds like fun.” Of course we know they don’t view it now as fun but it does help. She was also told basically the same thing by a friend that went through unifieds last year. This friend said she would have had more fun with it if she could do it again. </p>
<p>For myself if any wants to find me in the Palmer house I will be the lady in the bar drinking wine. 
Just ask for me. On second thought I will be chasing around with my daughter. Wine will come later.</p>
<p>Just FYI if you are driving and parking at the Palmer House. I prepaid for my parking at Spothero.com. Instead of having to sell a kidney to pay the ridiculous price that the Palmer House charges ($40 a night!!), I prepaid and got parking in the same garage for $20 a night. Just FYI.</p>
<p>I got a package when making my reservations that cut the parking in half…it’s worth checking into.</p>
<p>So as I sit at my computer trying my antivirus software to remove some nasty bug my computer caught, I’m heartened by the great parents on this forum who love their children so much that they would support this crazy process for the love of art. I hope we get to meet and toast to our talented kids who have the guts to risk failure and ridicule for an against the odds dream.</p>
<p>Safe travels to all who are headed to Chicago. Was talking to a friend there last night and it’s cold and a good chance of snow for the next few days so pack your woolies! :)</p>
<p>I am excited and hope that I get to meet some of the fabulous parents that I met on here. You all ahve been such a great source for comfort, comiseration, and most of all HUMOR (not to mention all the great information). Safe travels and I look forward to meeting you all! :)</p>
<p>I wish someone going would start a Facebook group page and everyone could post their thoughts. This forum is not designed for that. I know that kills the anonymity so some would be against that. But I have already friended many. My life is an open book. Wishing you all the best and I will be sending good thoughts! I wish your kids the best possible!!!</p>
<p>My wife gets that trip (3 auditions on Tuesday) so I will miss being there. Best of luck to all!</p>