<p>Connections, their thinking is that he will lose ‘contacts’ here if he chose to study abroad. Our thinking is that he will make more ‘contacts’ from getting an education no matter where he chooses to study.</p>
<p>mommadrama, glad to see this brought back to the original question! I don’t know–One of the things I’ve done is look at actors who are where my kids would love to be in, say, 10 years. And many of these actors have come from UK schools. There are several very successful American ‘transfers’ from UK schools. (This is all aside from the excellent training you’d get.) </p>
<p>I do agree that it’s a possible risk to lose some connections here but then he’d gain connections elsewhere. It just looks fabulous on your resume. And I thought the UK schools had showcases for American agents too. (Correct me if I’m wrong) That’s really the biggest thing, in my opinion.</p>
<p>connections, my S has wanted to study abroad for over a year and never once gave thought to the industry connections that he may be losing. I really don’t think they exist plus that wouldn’t have changed his mind anyway. The only thing that mattered to him was the kind of training that he wanted to receive: classical, strictly conservatory and 3 years appealed to him rather than 4.</p>
<p>Yes you are correct! Showcases in LA and NY for American agents and casting directors.</p>
<p>
And 14 to 2 it is this year. Here’s this year’s showcase site … [Group</a> 42](<a href=“http://4yr.juilliard.edu/]Group”>http://4yr.juilliard.edu/) So far, they’ve signed with … </p>
<p>New Wave Entertainment (Manager), LA
AKA Talent Agency, LA
Innovative Artists (bicoastal)
Apex Talent Group (Manager), LA
Stone Manners Salners (bicoastal)
Harden-Curtis Associates, NYC
DRGW, NYC
The Gersh Agency (bicoastal)
SMS Talent, LA (2)
Stewart Talent, NYC
Global Artists Agency, LA
Henderson Hogan Agency, NYC (2)
2 aren’t signed with anybody at this point.</p>
<p>No CAA, WME, UTA or ICM this year, but those are all very respectable agencies and management companies to start with and some are really getting up towards the top of the popper. And some say Gersh should actually be in that top tier since they rep more TV series leads than anybody else. </p>
<p>Anybody know of other schools with that kind of percentage? I heard UNCSA and Purchase made great showings this year, but Juilliard does this year-end, year-out. Just a little proof in the pudding …</p>
<p>This is incredibly exciting, and really fun to hear about. It’s also helpful for me, on the outside, to learn about agents and get some name recognition. I have no idea who comes to my D’s school’s showcase, but this will give me a frame of reference.</p>
<p>I also feel compelled to say that asking if Juilliard really is “the best” is kind of like asking if Harvard really is so great. Of course it is; of course they are. Of course going to these extremely prestigious schools provides connections and name recognition - along with a quality education among extremely talented peers - that’s quite hard to match. </p>
<p>Since I have been reading this forum (4 years) I have only heard of a very few students who have had a chance of being accepted to Juilliard, out of dozens who apply to theatre programs every year. A call back or waitlist is an amazing accomplishment, something that happens only rarely. I think there might have been only one or two acceptances, if that, among people who actually post here. </p>
<p>I think it’s wonderful to apply and a huge accomplishment to get in. I would say that to anyone who is aiming for Harvard, Juilliard, any of the “very best” schools in the world. I just don’t want anyone who is reading these posts to figure that their chances are shot at any possibility of a career because they can’t get into Juilliard (or one of the other most prestigious theatre schools). Just as many thousands of people who don’t go to Harvard have wonderful successful lives, this is also true of those who go to lesser-known theatre schools. This is why we say, hope for your reaches, and love your safeties. It’s very important to find connections and make them work in your favor, but in the end it is who you are, not where you’ve been or who you know, that will make your career.</p>
<p>Good point, EmmyBet. I will also add that although getting into schools such as Juilliard, Yale, whatever, is an accomplishment in itself, the real accomplishment is in doing the work!! An acceptance to these schools can be equated to someone handing you a beautiful plate of food (okay, it’s always about food with me!), and, man, you better eat up! Lick that plate!</p>