<p>I realize that we do not have a specific thread for Unifieds and Consortium auditions in NYC. I just wanted to let you know that I got an amazing rate at the New Yorker (I am a great last minute bargain hunter) as well as wonderful airline rates (actually cheaper than taking the train). I live in a city where we now have exactly 1 non-stop flight each day to NYC so I am lucky it is still on the "bargain" list! I also saw some pretty nice room rates at the Affinia. Both hotels are close to the two audition sites for Unified and Consortium auditions.</p>
<p>I also have been reading about this weekend on other threads and saw that it is highly recommended to bring additional headshots, resumes and sealed school transcripts for any walk-ins you may do.</p>
<p>This is our first time (although my D auditioned for schools two years ago, we just had absolutely never heard of unifieds until my S began this process...live and learn!). So, hence this thread, any and all hints, help and other information we may need is appreciated.</p>
<p>Break legs to all the auditioning students!</p>
<p>Just wanted to chime in with lots of pixie dust - oops, sorry, I was just on the Disney forums! I mean best wishes to all of you heading off to auditions. Break legs everyone! Safe travels, too.</p>
<p>My son was quite adamant that I NOT accompany him, and he enjoyed the opportunity to socialize with other students whenever possible. We were fortunate enough to have had beautiful weather last year. I encourage other parents to get out and enjoy some time in the city, and let the kids have a little space. Other parents might not feel as comfortable doing that, but with modern mobile communications, you’ll only be a text away when they need to cry on a shoulder. My son did not end up doing any “walk-ins,” and so we were able to keep his schedule manageable.</p>
<p>Hey, photomom, we will be in NYC–my son’s auditioning for DePaul on Friday afternoon and has requested (not yet confirmed) Hartt sometime on Saturday. We’re staying with family but hope to bump into some CC folks somewhere, sometime during the weekend. And Marbleheader, send us pixie dust pretty much every weekend from now till March, please! :D</p>
<p>I’m new to the boards, and my D is our only, so we’re new to auditioning and to the Unifieds in particular – but we’re familiar with Pearl Studios, where all the fun will be happening. Don’t have any concerns about the neighborhood, if you’ve never been to NYC; it’s only about two blocks from Madison Square Garden and the main branch of the NY Public Library, and it’s a busy, well-traveled, safe location. The studio building itself is a bit older, and the elevators sometimes get jammed up with people waiting for a slowish ride up, so give yourself an extra 5-10 minutes before arrival, and you’ll reduce your stress significantly. The studios themselves are very professional – they use them to audition performers for actual Broadway shows, among other things, so you might even see some professional auditionees in the building at the same time.</p>
<p>Parking is expensive in the area; do a search on Google Maps, and you’ll see what I mean. If you want a (relative) parking bargain that’s a little bit further away, check out the Hippodrome, which is a) indoors and well-lit, b) very clean, c) very large (it won’t be sold out when you get there), d) very friendly attendants, e) very efficient entry/exit (some places in NYC will take you a half hour or more to exit when shows are letting out; here, at most you’ll need about 5 minutes), and f) very safe. On Sunday, they’ll charge you $12 to park; on Saturday, $17. You’ll probably pay about double that to park nearer to the Garden. They’re located on West 44th Street, just east of 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), about six blocks south of Radio City Music Hall. We’ve been parking there for decades. The walk to the Pearl Studios would probably take you about 10-15 minutes from there, though; that’s the major downside. They’re part of the Edison ParkFast system, if you want to look them up. They’re number 100 on the map at this link:</p>
<p>Break a leg, everyone! My D has only done one college audition thus far (Ithaca; we’re expecting a decision later this month), but many are coming from now through March.</p>
<p>Indeed, Pearl Studios is a very busy place. It is also the location this year of the Advanced Studio for Tisch New Studio on Broadway. So you may see some very cool young actors coming and going like they know what they are doing and where they are going. They would be the NSB kids. And yes, absolutely, they would warn you to allow extra time for the elevators, lol!</p>
<p>Times 3 - We will be there too…S is auditioning for Julliard (his reach reach reach reach to the stars school) on Friday, Sat is Montclair, Univ of the Arts and Emerson and Sunday is UNSCA (consortium). He loves loves loves Hartt…I have heard that if you try to show up early you can sometimes get a walk in before the others are scheduled.</p>
<p>It is a fabulous area in the city, easy to reach and there is not a lack of restaurants in the area. The rest of my family is using the weekend as an excuse to visit NYC, one of our favorite cities. It is also 2 for 1 tickets for Broadway shows that week so I am sure we will be seeing something. If you can get tickets for Once the Musical, it is just amazing.</p>
<p>My daughter and wife will be at NYC unifieds. This is the trip I’m sitting out as my wife took the trip that was an hour away and involved staying a hotel for 3 nights. </p>
<p>We tried not to overschedule. She has UNCA on the 1st, Depaul on 2nd and Otterbein on the 3rd. We’re also trying to move a cancelled trip to CCM and switch it to unfieds.</p>
<p>We used Marriott points to stay at the Fairfield Inn that was only a couple of blocks from Pearl Studios. Times3 – I am trying to persuade my wife to honor my daughter’s wishes to stay largely in the hotel room. My daughter has had countelss auditions there so its not like she doesn’t know the place. Still, Mom is insisting on being protective. They have their issues in these situations so I’m expecting to hear complaints from both of them!</p>
<p>Anyone planning on bringing their electronics?? I want to hear how it’s going throughout the weekend - but if you have to wait until you get home that’s fine . . . as long as you let us know how it all went.</p>
<p>Warm weather, though, so that will be a plus for you all. Yeah!</p>
<p>Marbleheader, I’ll try to keep you in the loop–I ended up feeling like an embedded reporter last month at Ithaca–people on CC were asking about what kids wore to auditions and I ended up filing a detailed report from the scene! We have two weekends of auditions BEFORE Unifieds, so you may well be bored with my observations by that point. Heading your way this weekend and hoping for UNseasonable weather!</p>
<p>I am bringing my iphone/ipad (they seem to surgically attached to me lately). I will do whatever my S wants…I am happy waiting for him there or at the hotel. When my D auditioned in NYC a few years ago, it was during the huge snow storm and our flights were getting cancelled left and right, ended up taking the train. Hope this time goes smoother…</p>
<p>We live in GA and my son is in a show, we promised the director that we would go to Unifieds so as to not mess up tech week. He loves auditioning and feels a lot less stress than previously due to the Hartt decision so he is looking forward to the weekend. I feel better because I know he will have a place to go, that is just the worst part of this whole process.</p>
<p>Yes, Yes… any words of wisdom or advice for all of us 2014’ers on deck would be GREAT! We live in SD so my DS will be auditioning for Unifieds and Consortium in LA. I’m really hoping to avoid flying back east and dealing with the weather.</p>
<p>We live in the NY suburbs so my son will probably take the train in. Anyone who is driving and needs to park can save $ by printing out coupons from [url=<a href=“http://nyc.bestparking.com/index.php#1]BestParking.com[/url”>http://nyc.bestparking.com/index.php#1]BestParking.com[/url</a>]. Just enter the date and time you will be there and it shows all the parking options on a map. Some other cities besides NY are available as well.</p>
<p>Parking: I second PelkyAgain’s recommendation to check out that parking site; I’ve used them to figure out the street parking situation, and it’s very, very detailed (in a good way.)</p>
<p>prodesse: The Tick Tock Diner is on the NW corner of 8th Avenue and 34th Street, about a block and a half away from Pearl Studios (which is on the E side of 8th, between 35th and 36th.) My D and I have had some good breakfasts there, for a (relatively speaking for NYC) reasonable price. Online reviews are mixed, but we were happy there several mornings. You should be able to examine the menu on a sign before going in to sit down, and you’ll get a good idea. There is plenty in the area, though; go to Google Maps, search for Pearl Studios, and then click on “Search Nearby” and put in restaurant or whatever. I like the Tick Tock, though. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Hello, new to this. Can you tell me what this Unifed audition is. My daughter is going to the SETC conference in Lousiville, KY, which was recommended by the theatre director at her school, however, no mention of this. I am assuming we are finding out to late as it seems as everyone has everything all planned out. My daughter is a junior and we would not want to have to do this next year this late if at all possible.The SETC conference is the first weekend in March in Louisville, KY. Thanks in advance for any information even if it is to late.</p>
<p>Threed – I have no idea what the SETC conference is. But unifieds is where lots of schools come to do their auditions. Some are officially part of unfieds; others just simply schedule auditions at the same time. They take place in NY, Chicago or LA. You are certainly not too late as this only for Seniors after their applications are in. Not sure what you mean by we would not have to do this next year this late. You certainly could try to complete all your auditions by mid-January but you would likely be limiting yourself if you did not take advantage of unifieds. We live in NJ which makes it possible to get to a lot of good schools within driving distance but we’re still using unifieds to do schools that would just be too hard to reasonably get to – Depaul, UNCSA, etc.</p>
We have two weekends of auditions BEFORE Unifieds, so you may well be bored with my observations by that point. Heading your way this weekend and hoping for UNseasonable weather!</p>