For those of you who have attended NY Unifieds in the past

For NY Unifieds, is Sunday as busy as Saturday, or is Sunday a much more “low key” day compared to Saturday?

Also, are most of the auditions on the 3rd, 4th and 12th floor of Pearl Studios at 500 8th avenue, or is there an equal amount of auditions on the 12th floor of 519 8th Avenue, the 10th, 16th, 17th floor of 520 8th Avenue (Ripley-Grier spaces) and / or other Manhattan venues?

Is there someplace that lists where all the college auditions are taking place (at NY unifieds)?

TIA!

When we attended 4+ years ago, every day was equally busy. That year, most of the auditions were at Pearl 500, just on different floors. There were several auditions at 519, and at RG, but the majority at 500. We did bounce around the city a bit getting to the different auditions. There were also auditions at a different facility uptown that has since closed. There is nowhere that lists all of the Unified/Non-Unified auditions going on in the city, you just have to know based on which schools you are auditioning for. They did have a list in the elevators at the Pearl studios to tell you which school was where in those buildings.

I took my older daughter 2 years ago - will be back next week with the younger. I don’t remember thinking one day was busier than the other. All of her auditions were in the 500 building (but we arranged that as we were also going to Chicago), and I seem to recall her auditions were all on 3 and 4 (maybe because they were all MT - for some reason, I think acting was upstairs or in the other Pearl Building).

The signs in the elevator were very helpful - they told you exactly where to go on each floor. It also helped a family who got into the elevator with us and realized they needed to be at the other Pearl building.

Overall, my daughter and I found NYC to be more relaxed than Chicago. Palmer House in Chicago is nice in that you don’t generally have to go outside, but it’s so big and there were always long waits for elevators and food, etc. And it was -1 degree at one point and snowing at other points if we did venture outside. Also, a lot of the nearby restaurants were closed at dinner - maybe due to the weather.

One thing about Pearl - there is a wait for security and the elevator, so give yourselves extra time for that. And bring your ID every time you go - I don’t think they ID under 18, but I can’t remember what they were doing at Unifieds (we were also at Pearl this summer for a workshop, and I think only I had to show ID then).

Always leave extra time for everything in NY! General rule
There are auditions at Ripley on 38th too and at Chelsea Studios down in Chelsea.

Thanks so much @stagedoormama & secondtimeMT–very helpful! Do you know if a student ID is ok for security at Pearl? My D doesn’t have her drivers license yet! (sigh…)

We attended NY Unifieds last year. Saturday and Sunday were both busy days. Late Sunday afternoon was perhaps a little less busy, but still busy enough! Regarding the location of the auditions, that depends on the schools you pick. For us, most of the auditions were at the two Pearl locations (500 and 519 8th Ave) and the Ripley-Grier on 8th Ave (520 8th Ave). My D did have to go to the Manhattan School of Music audition at Simple Studios on 29th St (we walked from our hotel near Pearl Studios) and to their dance call at the school itself, but otherwise was at Pearl or Ripley-Grier. The hallways at Pearl were SUPER full: students and parents alike sitting by their piles of stuff! One of the floors at Pearl had a waiting room with chairs where parents could hang out. The Ripley-Grier hallways were not as crowded. There are monitors at Pearl (I think at both sites) that list the locations of the schools that are there. Do allow extra time for security at Ripley-Grier and 500 Pearl. I don’t remember security checking us at 519 Pearl, but I could be wrong about that. The elevators were also very busy. Lots of people did use the stairs, although there were signs saying don’t use them. My D actually attends a school that she auditioned for at NY Unifieds. BAL to everyone auditioning there next week!

@MTdreamin Any tips on The Simple Studios? My son is auditioning for MSM. Also, when everyone says to allow enough time for the elevators In the Pearl Studios - like how much time? 10 minutes? 20? 30? Just generally speaking to give us an idea. Thank you!

@toystorymom Are you flying in? If she has an ID for flying (ID card or passport), you can use that. If not, bring the student ID.

I’ve been going into Pearl and Ripley for years and the truth of the matter is it kind of depends on the security guard at the desk. Just an hour ago at Ripley the guy said if your 17 (under 18) no id needed.
Couple years ago my other son was 12 and the whole cast had to get “ids” made bc they were carding little kids unaccompanied by adults.

So 15 mins ahead if you can bc sometimes large groups hog the elevators.

They basically take ur pic and off you go. If your cutting it close don’t worry. Everyone gets NY is wacky w hold ups etc. you will be fine;).

@stagedoormama and @mamaboyz–Thanks for the input! We’re coming in by train, but D has a passport, so could bring just in case? Otherwise she has a student ID–and maybe she won’t need it, since she’s still 17? Just don’t want anything to hold us up! I appreciate the heads-up on how much time to allow as well–we have one fairly early audition on Sat., so good to know we need to allow extra time.

I also didn’t realize there were 2 Pearl Studios buildings–good to know!! Will definitely double-check the addresses given for specific schools. Thanks & BAL to everyone!

FYI. Multiple Ripleys as well though biggest is 520. School ID works

@momofty Re: Simple Studios. My D’s audition was early on a Sunday morning. The Simple Studios are on the second floor of the building. When we arrived, there was someone at the front area of the studio who worked for the Studios, and no one else in sight. Then MSM arrived. They had one room with a staff member to check people in (and chairs for waiting parents and students) and another room across the hall where the actual auditions were held. My D did her song and monologue and was done. No crowds. Very different from Pearl. Of course, it could be completely different at another time! Then we went to MSM that evening for the dance call. BAL to your son!

Thanks @MTdreamin! Totally appreciate your help.

We were only at Unifieds in NYC on Saturday, and the elevators were very busy, but they were efficient. Students/Parents found a ‘spot’ whether a chair, bench, floor or in a room. S & I found a bench that was shared w about 4 people and I pretty much stayed there all day, and S did the majority of running around…it was very busy. Oh, and it was STIFLING HOT, so be prepared to layer down. (I’m from CT, and I don’t mind the cold, but there were folks from FL who were sweating in shorts/t-shirts)…
BAL to all this weekend!!
If I recall, I believe a student ID is fine…S didn’t have his license either…

Hi there! Another question for those who have been- Do I have to accompany or stay with my kid? I made sure to book a hotel nearby and my kid is always more nervous when I am with them so I am thinking of sending them over by themselves. Is this typical? Or do most parents sit in the building and wait all day? I want to support them but I also want them to have ownership over the process. Thanks for any input!

We didn’t do NY unifies, but did Chicago. It is totally fine to send them on their own. In fact, I think the schools like it if they notice that the students are independent. The only reason I was with in the hotel in chicago was to act as sherpa and home base for all the stuff that was carried with as we stayed at a different hotel. I sat in a waiting room and held his coat and extra stuff.

I went with my daughter to most of her auditions at unifieds, but I went right to a waiting area and never saw or spoke to anyone from any school (except the time she came to me for a check for a walk-in she decided to do). But I was watching her coat, her dance stuff when she sang, her book and dress when she danced, etc. Once or twice, when she was just running to sing and didn’t need to bring anything extra, I didn’t go, but that was in Chicago when it was all in our hotel …

Your student can totally go by themselves. One word of caution. Make sure if they are alone that they bring their things with them EVERYWHERE, including in the rooms. There are, unfortunately, people that feel the need to sabotage others. Dance shoes will disappear, music books go missing, bags taken etc. It happened a few times to people during our visit to unifieds years ago and have heard talk of it happening at every unifieds. Just something to be aware of.

@Samandamandasmom Great Question. My daughter auditioned 2 years ago for MT and Acting. The first day (Thurs) she had an acting audition and I walked her to the building. After that she preferred to go on her own when it was at Pearl. We were at the New Yorker so I was only a few steps away. When it was at other sites(Pace, NYU and Ithaca) we went together. FYI…Pace ran longer than a morning session, so I had to go back to Pearl and let CMU know she would be coming shortly. Thank God for Uber app. BAL to all.

Are there walk ins on Friday of Unifieds?
Just read maybe just MFA’s or foreign colleges?