<p>Both MTCA and Mary Anna post their current class “success stories” (where their students got in) on their web pages. Totaled together, it looks to me like there are only a few hundred students represented. (But these probably refer only to those students who do private coaching vs. other options.) And we know that there are several thousand in the annual pool of auditions. I suspect the number of students receiving coaching is smaller than this thread would suggest. I’m also thinking that it may skew higher here on CC because those who use the MT boards on CC and those who use coaching tend to be from the same pool of well-informed families going through the process, who tend to avail themselves of resources and information. Along the way in my S’s audition processes, we met people at Unifieds and elsewhere who didn’t even know coaching was an option and – alas – had not even visited these boards on CC. I think students run the gamut. A boy at our HS did the process in 2010 without coaching, without voice lessons, without dance classes, and with only minimal help from our drama and choir teachers. He will be a junior in MT at Carnegie next year.</p>
<p>^^^probably quite accurate.^^^</p>
<p>I think you hit the nail on the head MTTwins. The posters on CC seem to be the more well-informed and in many cases, the higher achieving, in general. In fact, many people reading general posts here on CC must come away feeling like complete high school failures, after reading posts such as “I only got a 2390 on my SAT’s; should I retake them???”, or “Do you think my EC’s are enough for Stanford? I invented a time machine, but it will only transport me to the future so far. If I am able to modify it so it will transport me to the past also, do you think I’ll get in?”</p>
<p>Obviously, I’m exaggerating, but it’s not far from what you see here on CC sometimes. I doubt if CC’ers represent the general population of college applicants, and that is probably true for MT also. Most people we know have never heard of CC, and few, if any, MT apps that we know have used coaching services. It all boils down to evaluating your strengths and weaknesses and deciding on an individual basis if, and how, you might need help in the audition process.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your great advice! I may be a newbie, but I love this site already! Thank you!</p>
<p>A coach answers these questions:
What schools do you think fit and we have a shot at?
What schools should I not spend my time and money on?
Should we go to Unifieds for that school or on campus?
Should he sing this song or that song?
What did you think of that performance?
Can you give us 5 monologues that are right for him because I have no clue?
What color should he wear to an audition?
Am I overthinking this?</p>
<p>Worth it to some, not to others.</p>
<p>Speaking of coaching services, did anybody see that show on Oxygen channel called The Next Big Thing NY? Thoughts?</p>
<p>I didn’t watch it but I know one of the cast and I’m not sure I understand the premise of the show. The actor I know who’s on the show has been acting for several years professionally and has been on Broadway.</p>
<p>I’m watching the show now On Demand. These kids are uber talented! Trapper is a caricature and stereotype but it’s enjoyable to me as I like these behind the scenes kind of shows.</p>
<p>Oh- and p.s. The show is obviously staged- I just like watching the talented kids. Also see where Tracy, his helper, went to AMDA. She can definitely sing!</p>
<p>supportive, I’ve known Tracy for years. 
She can definitely sing, and act. So, is this a reality-type competition show?</p>
<p>It’s not a competition show. Tracy works with the head talent agent and sometimes, we get to see her audition. It mostly shows the kids in the talent agency and their lives in the entertainment industry. The 2nd episode shows one of the girls auditioning at CMU. She got to sing practically the entire song and forgot some of the lyrics. It only showed her mom in the waiting area so I’m sure it was a bit staged. She said she auditioned for 11 MT programs, got into 8, and full rides at 4. She must have had excellent grades and test scores besides her talent. She will be attending CCM in the fall. She’s quite the singer. Even though it’s v ery staged, I do like watching the process.</p>
<p>I love him! And the girl is very obviously very talented but - OMG you guys! - she got a nose job before college auditions and the coach was very clear about stating that she wouldn’t have had near as much success without the surgery. Sigh…</p>
<p>I read an interview with Trapper, who said that it is all real, filmed just as it happens, but I agree that it is obviously staged. The girl “auditioned” for CCM in summer weather (but auditions are in late fall/winter). Then she was filmed “3 weeks later” and told Trapper that she had completed 11 auditions and all the results were in, including 8 acceptances and 4 full rides. Unless she was auditioning in a different world than the rest of us, none of that could be true.</p>
<p>The reality people always say their shows are real! I don’t buy it. I also haven’t heard of full ride scholarships for musical theatre unless it’s an academic full ride to the schools. Maybe someone here can enlighten me! I thought she was auditioning in colder weather because I thought I saw her breath smoke- like it does in cold weather. I was just struck that she and her mom were the only ones there. I also liked in the first episode that the “rich girl” was auditioning at the same studios my daughter did for Unifieds. Oh, and the “rich girl” and her mom annoy the hell out of me! The girl, Cat- is stunningly beautiful and absolutely very talented.</p>
<p>I also find it hard to believe she got 4 “full-rides”. I consider a full-ride to be tuition with room and board, but even if she is talking just tuition, I would be surprised. It is rare in MT to see many full tuition scholarships, especially for girls. It does happen, just not often. To get 4 offers like that is pretty unbelievable! I guess maybe they could be academic, but seems unlikely…</p>
<p>^^^ Thanks! I didn’t think full rides for MT sounded right.</p>
<p>He had her sing Barbra Streisand?!?!??!?</p>
<p>She sang Don’t Rain on My Parade and Spark of Creation. I think there may have been one more clip of something that I don’t remember right now but nothing I hadn’t heard plenty of times before. Not obscure. Her thing was a high belt and it was awesome but there was no legit voice. </p>
<p>As far as 4 full rides she definitely said that and she is going to CCM in the fall. She was rejected at CMU and according to her at 2 others. Maybe she also applied to safety type full rides so she could add those bragging rights. My daughter got two of those at schools she would not seriously consider…at least not happily. </p>
<p>She can’t by lying but there is probably some spin on the story.</p>
<p>Okay, I remember now. Her 3rd song was “I’m The Greatest Star.” I had a hard time buying the nervous and forgetting words at CMU bit since this is clearly no novice and she has obviously had every possible advantage imaginable. Interestingly, they didn’t show any acting or dance. </p>
<p>This is on right after The Glee Project…which is pretty much banned in our house due to it’s ridiculous levels of all-around cringe-worthy awfulness.</p>
<p>I have also totally abandoned Glee Project but I love Glee. I want real actors on that show. As for Next Big Thing, I think no successful coach would send someone in with those songs. They don’t show “you”, they show you trying to be a Broadway star. They say “look how great I am”. What bizarre choices for a college audition. And she lacked rehearsal on it. Was she trying to be bad for the show? If so, good job. That show is painful to watch.</p>