As more schools use Acceptd for prescreens, I wonder if that company might be a force for spearheading some truly standardized audition metrics.
I don’t know how good standardizing things is – look at what has happened to college applications since the common app is now being used by more and more schools. A huge increase in applications to every school!
@missnypizza, are you planning on seeing their freshmen showcase this weekend? I highly advise you to take your daughter, so she can see with her own eyes what level of training she can get there. Also, there is a production of Urinetown by the LIU student run company listed on their event flyer for next Friday…
I agree with the “not done on purpose to be difficult” view. My sense is schools who developed their Performance Arts programs did what they thought would best match the student to their specific program. So they went with a system that worked for the current heads and faculty of the program at the time it was developed.
@remartin67 Think of how your perspective will change when your child is actually in a program. Would you really want the focus of that program’s director to be recruitment–meeting with each incoming candidate, traveling all over to audition students, attending all tours, etc?
I think instead you would want him/ her to focus on how the program runs, to teach classes, direct shows, plan for guest speakers, and get to know and advise the admitted students both artistically and academically.
Also, since this such a subjective process–there is noting standardized in what an auditioneer is looking for–so why should there be standardization in how they want students to audition?
And again, there is no standardization in any of the arts that require auditions and portfolios across schools, so you can’t expect it for MT. At least the common app exists. Not too long ago there wasn’t even that and every application and essay was different.
@MTTwinsinCA
Agree.
@actingbee My D is also considering LIU for the BFA MT and we are planning on going back down for the showcase this weekend. Where did you find the info on the student production? Do you know anything about how those are run, directed, etc.?
Does anyone know about the dance training at LIU? We have seen mixed reviews for advanced dancers but good reviews for beginners. Anyone?
@actingbee Oh really? I wish I could get there this weekend, but I can’t. I will definitely in the next few weeks. Thanks for the info. My D would love to have seen that. She played Pennywise in her HS production last year! She definitely needs to go there. If anyone else has first hand info on the program, send my way!
@Macsdreams I can only say that my older D was a BFA dance major back in 2007-2008. She had a great experience then. Only transferred to Montclair for financial reasons (we lived in NJ at the time). That’s why seeing them come out so strong this year with the MT program threw me off because I didn’t really know about it. But I do like that you can take (audit) unlimited amount of dance classes - as it fits in the schedule. Dr. Gargano told me that personally in a letter. No extra charge. So I’m guessing as long as you level yourself in the right place, you should be golden. Anyone else have info to share? Let me know @Macsdreams and @Eliza806 how the showcase is. I really wish we could get there.
@missnypizza and @Macsdreams and @daughtersdreams The new dance studios look very good and there was a master class going on when I first visited that looked to be good quality - I can’t really assess more than that. Maybe @daughtersdreams can respond because she did a more comprehensive tour than we did.
What I learned this weekend was that the MT program has been building for maybe 7-8 years with the first BFA MT grads coming out in the last few years. Based on everything I could see/hear/research I’ve done/people I’ve talked with… I think it’s going to be on the radar more and more each year.
Thank you for the information.
We are not able to do a visit. 2 hour drive to airport and $1,000 for tickets out of range right now for us. The joys of rural living.
@missnypizza, @Eliza806, search for LIU Post College of Arts, Communications and Design Facebook page, they post their bi-weekly events calendar that includes all upcoming events. The production of Urintown was listed in there. Also, Post Theatre company has their own Facebook page.
@uskoolfish, I love your post 4384. I was thinking all of those thoughts, and you said them so well!
On the subject of standardized monologue/song times: No one has ever been penalized for taking less time than the maximum. If an auditionee wants a standardized length, there is nothing stopping them from using the shortest “maximum” for all auditions/prescreens. I’ve even heard some folks from the other side of the table say they wish every auditionee would keep it short and sweet. We as parents would like every auditor to spend as much personalized time as possible with each of our darling children. In reality, faculty can see what you’ve got in the briefest of snapshots - and they are possibly tired, hungry, distracted, not feeling well, dealing with a home-life crisis, being human. No, we parents/students can’t control everything about his process. Yes, the details are a bear. But if we want to stream line one thing, we can choose the shortest of monologues/song cuts and give them our best efforts. If the auditors want to see more, they’ll ask.
I’m actually surprised that our coach didn’t do shorter cuts of my D’s monologues from the beginning. It caused so much unnecessary confusion and stress when she had to figure out shorter cuts for prescreens and auditions.
I have said this before … I don’t think you can compare auditioning for a college mt program to auditioning for an acting/performing job. It’s not the same. So I don’t care for the “suck it up buttercup” mentality.
One , you are paying for a college education . An acting job is a job interview. They’re paying YOU. Of course our kids will need to know and already do probably, that you will be rejected and to get used to it. Which makes total sense because no job interview is guaranteed to result in an offer.
However, a college mt program audition is for entrance into an educational training program… at 17/18 yrs of age. That’s different. It’s not an audition for a job.
Plus when you graduate you are 21 years old usually and are much more mature and ready for job audition / interview rejection, you grow enormously in 4 yrs. Sorry no 17/18 yr old is an adult … imho . They’re just masquerading as one.
I agree to a certain degree @theaterwork but how your child handles rejection may be a clear marker on whether this is the business they should be pursuing. If they can’t pick themselves up and move forward when rejected then this won’t get better in 4 years. You are correct that the audition is not a job interview. How they handle not getting the job is quite telling.
@theaterwork Whether parents feel they are ready or not, colleges deal with freshmen like they are adults. Even when they offer various services to help students navigate dealing with the stress of being on their own, there still isn’t going to be any real hand holding and it will be the student’s responsibility to seek help. And parents can’t get involved, much as at times we’d like to. Professors, advisors, administrators will not speak to you about anything personal regarding your child. The last thing they ever want to hear from a student or their parents is that they are paying for their degree and are therefore entitled to things.