Graduating from a MT Program...now what?

<p>Wow! This is so cool! I never knew about this “create your own work” side. Is it something that is actively encouraged at most conservatories? If not, which are most known for it, if any?</p>

<p>Many of the professionals who came to my son’s school encouraged them to make their own work. It keeps them fresh, it lets them pursue what they love, and it is one of the best ways to be seen. Theater folks and talent agents do go to some of these off Broadway and off-off Broadway shows to spot new talent, and they will see a lot more of your son or daughter than during a brief audition.</p>

<p>You are all a wealth of information. My DD is a junior dance major. She definitely needs more experience in the MT world but is working on that side. I am wondering if you could share some ideas on how to find an agent. I have heard the stories of “shady” individuals so is it more word of mouth in finding one you can trust? My DD knows several individuals in the business and has not yet asked them since she is still at least a year out from moving on to her career. I was just curious as I was reading these posts.</p>

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<p>This is VERY true. I think one thing that has helped my daughter is that she is performing regularly on stage at various venues in NYC and so she gets seen by people in the industry. This leads to people knowing your work, possibly calling you into audition, networking, etc. </p>

<p>Off the top of my head, I can think of an example this week. My D has a callback for a lead in a Broadway show. She told me the show. I looked it up. I noticed that the director is someone who came to see my daughter’s singer/songwriter concert at Joe’s Pub two years ago (I think he will be at the callback). I also noticed that the star who will be the lead in the show is someone who recently saw my D in her current Off Broadway musical and sent very positive comments about her to the producers afterward. I don’t even know if that has anything to do with this callback but she will not be entirely new to some involved in casting the show, all because she is out there performing regularly in NYC. Her professional network now is very far reaching, including many names in the business, all from various contacts and small things she has even done in the city and who she has met because of it. So, another tip I’ll offer is to get yourself seen regularly on stage in NYC…be it cabarets, small theater shows, singer/songwriter gigs, etc. You never know who is in the audience!!!</p>

<p>Would you say that those contacts and the networks that your children now have came mainly from time during college or after it? I know that answer will change based on the number of years out of college, but, let’s say 2-3 years out. Which time period had more influence on the network then? </p>

<p>I ask because I’m just interested. Also, I want to know if being in the market in which one wants to work in college makes a huge difference in networking ability right out of school. In other words, does someone who wants to work in a certain city have a distinct advantage if he/she goes to school in that city? I know there are success stories from all areas, but I’m curious still.</p>

<p>Myloves,
My son graduated in 2011, so he hasn’t been out that long. I’d say the first contacts were definitely related to his college network, but the network has expanded quite rapidly since then. He did not go to school in the city, but his university has a good enough name in the industry to open some doors, and there are many alumni in New York.</p>

<p>My D’s networking started during college…with peers in school (who once they graduate, are working professionals), faculty members (who at her college were working professionals), and others in the industry. The network has mushroomed a great deal each year she has been out of school (she graduated her BFA in 2009). In my D’s case, she did go to college in the same city she is now working (NYC) and her college was also very big (Tisch) and so she was pretty well connected even upon graduation (and did have a showcase and got an agent). </p>

<p>I do not think it is necessary to go to college in the same city where you hope to work after you graduate. I would pick the best fit program you are admitted to. That said, I think my D has benefited a bunch by the fact that she was already in NYC in college and just stayed after graduating. She did not audition for professional work during college as she wanted to remain in school. But the networking certainly began in college and got bigger after graduating. Remember, that even one’s peers in their program give each other work opportunities after they are in the professional world. At Tisch, there are many students studying more than just acting and singing, but also playwriting, producing, directing, etc.</p>

<p>I agree, the contacts my D made in school have been very valuable to her since she graduated. And her final semester in college was spent in NYC (the Tepper Semester, offered by Syracuse), so she made additional contacts in the professional world before graduation, including some agents who expressed an interest at her showcase. However, her first professional job after graduating was for a cruise line, where she worked for about 1-1/2 years. It was a wonderful first job, allowed her to pay off some bills and get valuable experience; but upon returning to the city it was not easy to connect with those agents/casting directors again. She has been working pretty regularly, however, and has just signed with an agent who saw her in a recent production not far from the city.</p>

<p>I should also mention that she stays in touch with her college friends, who have been a great source of support as roommates, audition buddies, and work references. The latter has been especially valuable for survival jobs, as it’s tough to get a good job in NYC without a personal reference.</p>

<p>soozievt - sounds like your D has ever-more exciting prospects in her over-full hopper!</p>

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<p>D isn’t in school in the market I assume she’ll move to post-graduation (NYC), but she was just approached for a professional opportunity in the city where her school is (Chicago), so kids can certainly build a network wherever they’re living. </p>

<p>It seems that having strong networks in several cities can be a path towards work anywhere, since many (most?) theatre folks work in multiple markets.</p>

<p>MomCares…that is great that your D has a professional opportunity in the city where she goes to school, even if she doesn’t settle there. She will make connections and build her resume!</p>

<p>My daughter doesn’t truly work in multiple markets. She is based in NYC and only auditions there. That said, she is cast in things that take her to other cities (for example, the show she is cast in this spring is in two other cities). And some of her professional musical theater writing/composing commissions and songwriting gigs have taken place outside of NYC. Still, her network is mainly in NYC. </p>

<p>Remember that wherever you go to college, there will be alums from your program working professionally in the major cities and so there is a built in network right there. Again, many of my daughter’s peers from college are working in all facets of theater and music and so they sometimes hire my D and she is always hiring them too.</p>

<p>D can’t take advantage of the opportunity (or others that have come up) as it conflicted with a show she’s in at school, but it illustrates that networks happen wherever you live.</p>

<p>NYC is certainly the nexus of much MT work, so it’s no surprise that a strong network there is sufficient to sustain many great careers, including your Ds. But it has certainly also led her to lots of interesting places outside of the city.</p>

<p>@pennmom - I’m not sure if you’ll see this, but I think our D recently may have seen your S’s company in the Midwest and just played some of their music for me. Not certain it’s the same group, but if so she said they are absolutely magnificent and we LOVE their music!!</p>

<p>MomCares,
It’s quite possible it’s the same group. They just finished a four month run of their play north of Chicago, and they also performed as a band at a Chicago venue while they were there. If so, thanks for the complement.</p>

<p>If it’s the same group (and I’m guessing it is) they’ve apparently found many newly-ardent fans in the Chicago area. D hasn’t stopped talking about how much she loved their performance, and she bought us their CD on iTunes as a Christmas gift. She was sad that she saw them at the end of their run as she would have gone more than once, but she apparently met some of them briefly after the performance as they knew folks she was with. I think she said they’re coming to Seattle next year so we hope to get a chance to see them as well!</p>

<p>They’ll be in Seattle March 1. It’s where they’re starting their 6 week concert tour.</p>

<p>Thanks, @pennmom. I’ll get it on our calendar!</p>