<p>I'm a long-time participant in CC but needed to do this under a different "name." </p>
<p>I'm a nervous wreck - my S is at Northwestern and this week is auditions for the MT certificate program. He says he's more prepared for this audition than anything he's ever done before but, those who know MT college auditions, it's incredibly selective. I truly believe that if he doesn't get into the program he is going to take a year off and possibly not return at all. He'll move into the city, live with a relative, audition and take classes in the evening at Circle in the Square or Stella Adler or CAP 21 or wherever and audition during the day. He already has an agent and some credits so that puts him ahead of most in terms of legit auditions.</p>
<p>The other thing is that he's working crew for a show that means he will likely rush from the show to his audition without preparing right before the vocal component. (The dance was yesterday, monologue today, vocal tomorrow or Saturday.) He's a kid who needs a solid vocal warm-up and I'm worried he won't take the time to do that because he'll try o fit it all in.</p>
<p>I don't want to talk to him about it, I know it's his responsibility and an adult would probably speak to the person in charge of the show he's crewing and explain that he can't be there because of auditions (it is a college production after all), but that's not his style. He'll beat himself up afterwards for doing too much, that's his style. Yes, I know he has to learn, I know I should stay out of it, and I am. </p>
<p>It's just making me crazy. Thanks for letting me vent.</p>
<p>Um, whoa. Slow down. First of all, if he doesn’t get in and he moves to “the city” (which I’m assuming means New York) and auditions, that’s hardly the end of the world. If his goal is to be a working actor then there’s nothing wrong with working. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a master’s degree either, but not having one is not going to eliminate him from professional life. And yes, he’s in charge of it. So just let him work it out.</p>
<p>Good luck to him! Personally, I don’t think an innocent “Do you think you should bail on the show this once so that you could properly prepare for the audition?” would hurt. But once you suggest it, you have to let him decide. My oldest is a senior in HS, and you’d think by 18 they would figure some of this out, but I am always surprised by things that seem like a no-brainer that haven’t occurred to him. Ex: He’d love a certain work-study job next year and has been e-mailing on another matter with the person in charge of hiring for that work-study position. It never occurred to him to just ask the guy, “Think I could get this particular job?”</p>
<p>As the mother of a MT graduate, I understand the nerves. And one thing at NU that is very tricky is that you enter the university without knowing if you will be admitted to the MT Certificate program until after the first year. </p>
<p>However, your child did choose the BA route and likely got into other fine BA programs that did not have a true MT major and so was prepared, I imagine, to do a BA theater program with MT opportunities all along, right? If not, he/she would have gone the BFA route where the student is admitted directly into a MT program. So, keep that in mind. </p>
<p>On the other hand, you likely know the level of your child’s competitiveness and can ascertain that he/she has a very good chance since he/she has professional credits, an agent, etc. and has been tested before in competitive talent pools. If your child has these benchmarks where he/she has fared well in competitive talent pools, it should ease your mind a little, even if there surely is no guarantee. </p>
<p>Do you really think your child would leave school if not admitted into the MT Certificate program? Your child applied and chose to go to very selective BA programs and must value a college education, I would presume. If doing a MT program was essential for him/her, wouldn’t your child have applied directly into a BFA in MT program where it was a certainty he/she would major in MT? Going to NU means a guarantee of the BA in Theater but not for the MT Certificate and so that was known from the start and your kid was willing to consider all possibilities, right? It doesn’t sound like the MT part was imperative if your child chose to apply to BA in Theater programs. So, remind her or yourself of that choice from the get go to earn a BA degree. </p>
<p>Stay positive that your child has the talent and background to be competitive for this program and that he/she was willing to enter a BA in Theater program and has that for sure no matter what happens with the MT part. I’m sure he/she can take voice and dance classes at NU as a theater major, if not admitted to the MT Certificate program. </p>
<p>Break a leg to your kid and let us know how it goes. I’m sure as the parent of a theater kid you have been in this position many times. I know I have and continue to be.</p>
<p>Oh, neverdefeated, I feel your pain! BUT-- this isn’t just any MT college audition, right?-- your son is already at Northwestern, he knows his competitors and the department knows him. And it sounds like the person they know is as professional and conscientious and talented as can be. And given that, he is going to succeed in life! A year off at CITS might be just the ticket-- he’s obviously a good student or he wouldn’t be at Northwestern. My guess is that he WILL go back-- likely right into MT after a year of training…and if not, 10 or 15 years from now when he’s accomplished at least some of what he wants in theater. </p>
<p>Above all-- reread your post-- it sheds light on a self-directed, passionate, hardworking student who will, like all of us, suffer some blows in life, and will likely turn them to good effect. Congratulations! (Oh, yeah, if I were in your position I’d feel exactly the same… I’ve always thought those hospital-induced comas would be perfect for such times, but hospitals apparently don’t agree.)</p>
<p>Ugh, trying to let go. When I figure out how to do it, I’ll let you know.</p>
<p>But I also don’t think one question/comment would come amiss. Something like: “You’ll be able to squeeze in a warmup in there somewhere?” And then regardless of his response or the ultimate result, you do just have to let go. Yea, easier said than done.</p>
<p>I find that my college-age son doesn’t always get that other people may bend the rules for him–so maybe you might suggest that somebody else on the crew might pick up the slack so he can slip out early.</p>
<p>OP- this is very early in your son’s career to get stressed over him needing to wing it professionally. He will need to be on stage down the road when he’s recovering from flu and could use another day in bed. He will need to be at rehearsal when he’s just got off a red-eye flight and had no sleep. He will have an important meeting with a producer and his agent where he’s changing his clothes in a taxicab after a photo shoot and hasn’t had his coffee and needs to brush his teeth and shower but doesn’t have time.</p>
<p>This is the life of a performer. If you stress every important event in his life you will miss out on savoring the life he’s making for himself- both the triumphs and the failures.</p>
<p>My kids are not in the arts but in my opinion they are always pushing the envelope- job interviews after getting off an airplane with no sleep, important presentations made after a night catching up with old friends in that city, conference calls at 3 am (hey, it’s morning somewhere in the world, right?) etc. I am a more cautious soul- I know I can’t perform at my peak with no sleep, no coffee, alcohol in my system, etc. My kids sort of shrug it off and decide they’ll run on adrenalin.</p>
<p>I’m learning to appreciate that they are different from me. I worry less and I enjoy watching them more.</p>
<p>My daughter is also at Northwestern and auditioning for the MT program but she’s not thinking of leaving regardless of the outcome. You don’t say why you think he would leave if he doesn’t get into the program. Why do you think that?</p>
<p>neverdefeated - Also sending a break a leg to your S. If he says he is more prepared than he has ever been, I would take him at his word. And if the “worst case” scenario is that he doesn’t get into the MT track and does move to NYC to pursue his career, is that really so bad? CITS, Adler, Cap 21 are all great programs. And it sounds like he would have the benefit of living with a relative which is great. </p>
<p>Good luck with that “staying out of it” thing. If you figure out a way to make that work let me know. I definitely need it. And please give us an update and let us know what happens. <em>Crosses fingers</em></p>
<p>The harsh reality of any of the performing arts is “it’s incredibly selective.” How many kids each year from highly selective programs ever make the big time? Too few to even think about. So, don’t sweat it. Go watch A Chorus Line and stay away from sharp objects.</p>
<p>Sympathies and best wishes. And these kids, especially boys, are never going to take the precautions we would. Not in their nature. It made me feel better when I realized that none of the other guys were either.</p>
<p>And I was less proactive when young too.</p>
<p>It’s hard watching from the sidelines, though.</p>
<p>neverdefeated - I just wanted to send positive vibes your way and a “break a leg” to your talented son. I am also the parent of a MT performer and this is the life our children chose and all we can do is be supportive. It will work out for him regardless of the outcome. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone I feel better already and much calmer.</p>
<p>amtc - He has said quite a few times that he misses NYC and working professionally and is worried he might lose some of his contacts so he is thinking about leaving school for a while. I’m not even sure it matters if he gets into the MT program or not.</p>
<p>Smithie - Sorry for being so ethnocentric, I do mean NYC when I say city.</p>
<p>soozie - Yes, he knew all about the program at NU, he’s not concerned, I am. He loves to learn about all kinds of topics which is why he thought Northwestern would be such a great match but this is a kid who has always loved working professionally and I guess he didn’t realize how much he would miss it.</p>
<p>In the end there are different routes for all kids and I have to trust that he will find his, even if it takes a few (large) missteps along the way. The traditional college route might not be his or it might be, if he takes a year off maybe he’ll be happier when he returns or he may not return at all and wind up taking classes one or two at a time until he gets his degree. In the end he may be sorry if he drops out or be sorry not dropping out, there’s no way to tell.</p>
<p>It sounds like he is contemplating time off to audition and be in NYC no matter the outcome of the MT Certificate program audition. So, that is a different issue. And that makes more sense since he knew the MT Certificate was not a guarantee when he chose to attend NU and likely applied to other BA programs as well. </p>
<p>I understand why that is a concern if you really want your kid to finish college. Can he be satisfied with professional summer theater work? </p>
<p>You’ll have to see how all that goes. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, good luck on the audition if this is what he really wants. Hope it comes through.</p>
<p>By the way, there are other kids I know who have been on Broadway, for example, and gone to college and then returned to the audition scene in NYC. I can even think of a friend of my D’s who is graduating NU this year who was formally on Broadway and likely to return to NYC. I can think of others who went to UMich who were on Broadway as kids and returned to their agents and auditioning in NYC after graduation. I don’t think your child will lose all her contacts by going to college for four years. Many other professional actors have done this and returned after college.</p>
<p>Follow up - They found out today and he’s in!!! No more talk of dropping out or taking a year off or anything like that. We’re done, we’re a happy household! </p>