<p>Most of the programs my S is interested in will be at Unifieds. How many auditions can we expect to take care of while in Chicago? He most likely will audition for both MT and acting. Thanks!!</p>
<p>It all depends you it ranges I think you guys need to sit down and talk about how much down time in between your child will need. Also, some schools take four hour blocks some dont and that will limit you. Some schools go in early, so do your research and sit down and talk about how much the student can take. I personally found going to each one after the other really beneficial because I stopped second guessing myself.</p>
<p>On the day we scheduled a four hour block school my D did 2 others in the afternoon. That was our first day so we walked around and decided where she wanted to do walkins. You also have to take in account you may have a dance call in the evening. We always left time for lunch so she wouldn’t loose her energy. The days of dance calls we did find it hard to grab dinner before hand. My D easily did 5 in a day but the next day after a couple she was getting tired and we decided not to do a walkin in because she wanted to rest her voice for her later auditions that afternoon. She ended up doing 11 or 12 with her last one being on Thursday morning.</p>
<p>My son did 4 auditions over 2 days at LA Unifieds. He auditioned for a number of schools that held auditions in San Francisco during audition season (a lilttle over an hour north of our home), so he only had to travel back east twice for 2 auditions.</p>
<p>More schools are showing up at Chicago Unifieds, and some are starting earlier than the posted Monday and some later than the posted Wednesday. So you could potentially be auditioning Sunday through Thursday. You should easily be able to count on at least 7 and could go up to 12-14. Do remember, however, that many of those schools may be asking for preaudition videos before they schedule for auditions.</p>
<p>Many people have had luck with 12-14 auditions (both scheduled and walk-in) at Unifieds…but one other things you may need to factor in is that this is a one-weekend shot, in February weather (are you flying?) and when many people are struggling with illnesses, etc. </p>
<p>My d did NY Unifieds, and her plan had been to do 2 “for sure” auditions there, and see if she wished to do any walk ins as well. Well…the plan got a bit changed when she ended up with a Grade 3 ankle sprain and the stomach flu from Hades that weekend. Yes, she still went, and she had positive results from both auditions, but did not end up doing any additional schools while there. I remember walking with her back to the hotel afterward (and after she received some lovely comments in the audition room). She looked at me and said, “Now I know I can do ANYTHING.” Then she crashed in the hotel room for the next 9 hours…not exactly how she wanted to spend a weekend in NY. </p>
<p>Fortunately for her, she had done 7 other in person auditions (as a strong dancer, she wanted opportunities to see the schools’ dance studios, as well as get a chance to see if she and the school “gelled” at all), and walked into Unifieds with some acceptances already, so was not panicked on top of being ill and injured.</p>
<p>It’s really rare that a kid has such a perfect storm of stuff impact her. She met up with some friends there who were doing several auditions and, apart from being tired, were fine, happy and looking forward to the next day in the little rooms…but Unifieds are late in the audition season. It’s hard to try to find audition dates afterward, in case something does go awry, in travel or health or personal crisis situations. I guess my cautionary tale is that, if it is possible, consider if any in-person auditions on alternate dates (I know…time/travel/expense were nuts!) also figure into your plans.</p>
<p>Good luck. Enjoy the audition year to come – it’s a wild ride!</p>
<p>Not that this is the topic of the conversation, but . . . if it were me, I’d be leery about relying on walk-ins to fill my kiddos Unifieds schedule. </p>
<p>My girl was in the '12-'13 audition cycle so I’m curious if the past year’s auditionees saw a reduction in the number of schools that took walk-ins (especially with the implementation of so many more pre-screen videos being required).</p>
<p>Plenty of schools still took walk-ins. Even some that pre-screened, much to the annoyance of those students. Some say they use the walk-in as a prescreen. Some are very unclear about exactly what’s going on but I didn’t see anyone turned away.</p>
<p>My son ended up doing walk ins for straight theatre at NYC Unifieds and is attending one of the schools. You just never know…and he did Unifieds sick as a dog and on a ton of meds.</p>
<p>We planned on 2 auditions per day, including the days before and after the unified dates. Most auditions were a full 4 hour slot (with lots of sitting around and waiting for your turn). Only 1 was a quick 15 minute audition, and that day was kind of nice to get a break from the waiting. As others have said, I would not have relied on walk ins for any school my D was seriously interested in. That is too scary! Also- several weeks before we left for unifieds, we really beefed up the handwashing and staying away from sick friends! My D started drinking EmergenC for the week before leaving, and continued throughout the audition week. She also got a flu shot that winter! Keep them healthy if you can!</p>
<p>Here is a thread that may help you and some of the posts in the thread contain links to more threads about Unifieds:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1410442-unified-auditions.html?highlight=unifieds[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1410442-unified-auditions.html?highlight=unifieds</a></p>
<p>The only school we saw that did not take any walkins were BOCO and I think it was because their application deadline had past and Otterbein was not taking any. Pre-screen schools took walkins. I’m sure every year is a little different but you pretty much wanted to go and look at the tables and sign up for walkins right away</p>
<p>I would try for 2 - 3 a day. 2 if they require a big dance audition like at Boco or CCM.</p>
<p>My S did 11 auditions (7 scheduled, 4 walk-ins) over four days in Los Angeles (several schools come in early or stay the Monday after). In response to what someone else already noted - the problem with this strategy was the fact that he was SICK that weekend. His first audition was at 800am on Friday morning and he was so congested he could hardly breath. I think we both wonder if some of the outcomes would have been different had he been in top form. I would leave yourself with several options (on campus, Chicago and LA, or ??). Having the majority of the decisions riding on that one weekend ended up being a difficult reality. Fortunately he is going to a school he feels great about and it all worked out in the end, however I think we caused an enormous amount of unnecessary anxiety as a result of not spreading things out.</p>
<p>This past year in NY, all the schools my son had applied to had instructed him to set aside a big block of time, 3-4 hours. All but one were quick in and out. He would have had plenty of time to do walk-ins. We did a few touristy things instead.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your input. I feel better about understanding what is possible and what pitfalls to look out for! Thanks again!</p>