This is my first time posting, so please don’t roast me over my question. My DD is a junior at a performing arts HS and is planning to pursue a BFA in MT. Up to a few weeks ago, she worked with her artistic director on monologues, has an awesome vocal technique coach, and takes dance lessons at 2 different studios.
As a long time board lurker (and the aunt of a senior who just finished the audition season), I had already planned to hire a college audition coach so we took the plunge a month ago with MTCA. I have to say, everyone has been awesome so far and I think we made a good choice. HOWEVER, we have another fairly well known (and it appears equally well connected) coach about 90 minutes from us. He offers some services and workshops that are appealing (mostly because it would save me a ton flying to and from NY), but I want her to get her primary performance coaching from MTCA as their coaches are working professionals and really seem to have a great handle on audition requirements & preparing the students for what is to come.
So here’s my question; as a saavy consumer with money to burn, is it OK to hire two different coaches who can bring different things to the table or is this unethical? As far as I’m concerned, this is a business arrangement and I don’t see a problem with it. However, I haven’t (nor should I have to) broached this with either coach. I know some coaches get very possessive about THEIR students. (Moo Crew, etc) Constructive opinions welcome.
My two cents is it’s your money so you do what you would like. But I would probably be up front that you are using both. I have known a couple of people who started with one coach and then also used Mary Anna to be able to attend Moonifieds. Just have a clear idea how your Day will handle it if given opposing information. Break a leg going forward!
I think it will depend on what you want to use the second coach for. You know the saying…too many cooks in the kitchen…you may get conflicting opinions and it could be a source of stress. It’s not unethical IMO. Just be up front about it if you decide to do it
@MamaBear2020 I think it is pretty common that many of these kids have multiple coaches. It’s no big deal. I think you may have been mistakenly advised about coaches being “very possessive” They know these kids have many training advisors and are respectful of that. That’s my take, anyway. If I were you I won’t worry about it. Do what you feel like your kid needs
Thanks for the insight. @theatremom10 I agree that too many hands in the pot is not a good thing. That is why MTCA will exclusively be working with her on audition material.
I actually want to use the second coach for the following reasons 1. The web based organizational program this coach uses looks like a great way to stay organized, plus you can upload prescreens, headshots, resume, etc all to one place. 2. This company is holding some kickass workshops about 90 minutes from our house. Baldwin Wallace, Shenandoah (dance), and 2 separate ones with CMU. There is also going to be a 6 day audition intensive in Orlando with like 10 top colleges (Waiting to hear if DD got the role of Young Alison in Fun Home at a professional theater before we can register. If she gets it she will be rehearsing/performing all summer.). 3. We also need to get her prescreens professionally recorded because I suck at recording (although my crappy iPhone recording got her the Fun Home callback. That was a shocker.) and it sure would be easier to do it semi-locally rather than flying to NY for the weekend.
I am going to try and set up a Skype session with them and be honest with what we are looking for. In the end I’m probably going to spend an extra $2000 minimum (more if DD can do the summer workshop) but I will easily save that in plane fares, hotel rooms cab fare, and NY dining.
Thanks for the sound advice. If any of you have kids waiting for decisions, may all your responses be acceptances. If anyone else has a kid for the class of 2020, may we all make it through the upcoming insanity. ?
Especially considering that you’re located some distance from NYC, I don’t see a problem with it, but yes, make sure everyone is on the same page. WHen working on our resume with MTCA, they urged students to list all of the coaches they work with. One thing that MTCA is very good for however, is the mock-auditions (many kids fly in for at least one session). Most people feel that it’s close to what you’re going to experience on a Unified day (without the chaos) and you’ll be at Pearl NY, so at least you’ll know how scruffy that building can be (my daughter wished she could bring a swiffer). They will give you feedback on your resume and headshot as well. I did a couple of their webinars and they do offer a lot of info for parents as well. A lot depends on how good your HS GC is (is your child’s class over 200, for example). You can use them a little or a lot, since many of their services are à la carte. Maybe you want to schedule a couple of skype monologue sessions with them and then focus on your hometown coach for the remainder. Getting all kinds of feedback can’t hurt since the auditions will be with all kinds of schools.
@nyermom - My daughter’s graduating class will be about 400. Her guidance counselor is OK, but pretty much I have told her what we were going to do (DD started dual enrollment as a sophomore-I’m one of those moms) and she rubber stanped it. I saw Leo has a webinar coming up on making your decision. Since we’re not there quite yet I think we’ll pass, but I’m sure the webinars will be more relevant in the fall.
DD will still be working with her artistic director. He is really good in a “I’m going to tear you down to build you up” way and has a wealth of experience and has done everything from off B’way to national tours to casting to directing in NY. He referred us to MTCA and is friends with Leo.
I heard the mock auditions are great. That is one time we will spring for the extra trip to NYC. My problem is every time we go to NY, I want to see as many shows as possible. Our last trip, we saw 8 shows in 5 days. Mighty expensive ?. Maybe I will just hide in the hotel room and order a pizza ?.
@MamaBear2020 - Ellen actually answered a similar question on the MTCA parent FB page in 2018. Her response was “tell us” (essentially so they can support your student to the fullest). She even said that MTCA is not territorial. I would agree (it is family and only wants the best for the kids and parents). When we signed up, they encouraged us to stay with local vocal technique teacher, monologue mentor, school drama teacher etc (if already in place and we wanted to). Don’t stress - just have a conversation with Leo and Ellen.
@MamaBear2020 I agree with everyone above - it’s totally not a problem to use multiple coaches, but just be upfront about it. I have a lot of love in my heart for MTCA, and part of the reason is that they are NOT territorial or competitive. They are all about getting the right training and feedback for your individual, unique kid, and every coach/company out there brings a wealth of different experiences and opportunities to the table. Good luck with the whole process!
I don’t think the issue is with having multiple coaches, but rather there being too many voices in her ear. We found that my daughter would get too overwhelmed with too many pieces of advice.
Yeah, just like using a headhunter to find a job… it’s not unethical to use two different ones, but make sure they know what each is doing. It is a bad look for a hiring manager to get two resumes for the same candidate.
Ellen is also an expert on maintaining vocal health. We weren’t going for MT (D is a very good pop singer) but we met with Ellen for an assessment. She was very encouraging about avenues my D could pursue, explained about serious damage that can happen that can result from ordinary situations and said she would be there if we needed her. My D also really bonded with her coach (they are all young and recent graduates from places like CMU) and felt she was really able to “talk her down” from pre-Unifieds anxiety–the coaches have all BTDT.
If schools like BW and Rider are on your list, I think they run special sessions with staff from those schools, that probably give prospective students some particular insight.
Although we are strictly going the acting route, I have nothing but respect for these MT kids. What a tough row they have to hoe! There are so many things to take into consideration–dance calls, speakers for Unifieds, vocal health. BAL!
That is great to hear. So far everyone from MTCA has been amazing. Lots of warm fuzzies, if you know what I mean. I’m feeling a lot better about this and I think utilizing resources efficiently is the way to got.
Hi y’all. I’m a “moo crew” alumni mom and I run the parent panel at Moonifieds. Every year, there are “moo crew” kids who use other coaches for a variety of reasons. And at last year’s Moonifieds event, there were students from Zach PPC in attendance with their coaches, for example. There have also been kids from Artsbridge, RISPA, ORBIT, SSTI, MTCA, TUTS and others, as well as from large perf arts high schools like Interlochen, Booker T, Tri-cities and Pebblebrook (and more) – all of whom receive their primary coaching elsewhere. People come to Mary Anna for a variety of reasons, so during the initial consult, Mary Anna always reviews who is already in place to help the student. In fact, I remember her telling us “we don’t want to get in the way of the home team.” Also, for everyone’s information, Mary Anna’s master classes are open to ANY students. You don’t have to coach with her to enroll – just sign up on her website and grab a slot – kids do this every year… Her online prep and monologue selection services (the Monologue Concierge) are also available to anyone without also coaching with her (MANY kids do this) – They can simply be purchased on her website and her online prep also features lots of organizational tools. As always, a call or email to college audition coach would have revealed this. Additionally Moo offers a raft of free resources online – she just posted about it today on social media.
Also for those who don’t know me, my original handle here was MTTwinsinCA but it doesn’t seem to work anymore – something weird with my login. So this is still me. I’m an oldtimer and I don’t get on here much anymore.
Thanks y’all. So I was worried for nothing. It seems like all the big time coaches realize that the parents are also consumers and will do what they need to do to meet their child’s needs. Also, audition coaching is a lucrative business and they would rather have a piece of the pie than none at all. All this talk of pie has me thinking of stopping at Village Inn on the way home.
@MTTwinsinCA2 Is Moonifieds open to all or just the master classes? The early access to auditions on a pay to play model has always been a little troubling to me, which is why we decided against using Ms Dennard. Just a personal decision that we made as a family - I don’t begrudge anyone else, just wasn’t our gig.
Best to contact Mary Anna with questions. As mentioned above, there are some Moonifieds students who don’t coach with Mary Anna who are invited to participate from various other coaching or performing groups, as well as many scholarship students. There is also a Moonifieds track for Juniors that is open to all featuring mock auditions and workshops.
Just stating a different perspective for others to consider. We’re coming around the final turn of this process, so no need for me to contact Ms. Dennard. I hear that she is a fabulous coach from many of my friends and her model seems to be working for her clients.
Ok,wait, what?
Two coaches, flying places? Not criticizing, but I am a newbie here trying to figure out the process for my daughter. Voice lessons sure, a dance class, absolutely. But weeks long summer programs and audtition coaches are simply not financially possible. How do kids of modest means even begin to dream?