<p>My husband took our son to the first audition (a BIG act of courage for me…the control freak!) In fact, I kind of insisted on it because I had done so much of the “prep work” with DS, that I really wanted dad to experience some of the fun. They had a great time, and I am sure my son was much more relaxed for that audition because my husband would NEVER ask nerve-wracking questions like “how did it go” (heehee). </p>
<p>Anyway, dad ended up spending a good part of the day talking to a mom who’s son and ours kind of made friends during auditions, and I then talked to her at a subsequent audition at another school. The kids kept in semi-formal touch, and when my son landed a theme park job in their town, she helped him find a great apartment for the summer. </p>
<p>I did not find any competitiveness among the other parents…i hope we all knew that whatever we said to each other surely didn’t matter in the decision process! I really enjoyed auditions! They were like the cherry on top of a very stressful sundae!!</p>
<p>We have been to three auditions thus far. I don’t talk to other parents. I’m a friendly sort normally but I just don’t want to talk when I’m so anxious for my kiddo. I put my headphones on and play games on my iPad or text friends and try to get my mind off of the audition. Honestly, I just have to stay in my happy place and try not to think about how scary this whole process is and the fact that I can do nothing about how the adjudicators see my child. I know in my heart that whoever has the guts to bet on her won’t regret it but I can’t tell anyone who matters that.</p>
<p>When my d was on the audition circuit, there were many of the same parents at multiple schools and there were parents of kids she had been with at BUTI.</p>
<p>Ha, Walker, I, the opposite of you–ordinarily very introverted and avoid making small talk, but I’m much more open to chatting with other parents at auditions! Not sure why–but I do find it interesting to compare notes, and we’ve seen a few familiar faces at the various auditions so far. It definitely seems to help my son to talk to kids he’s met, too. No worries, though–if I see anyone with headphones on, I know to stay away! ;)</p>
<p>Glassharmonica – I’m completely with you on the stark difference between professional and college auditions. For professional auditions, I almost never even bothered to try to strike up a conversation because once I got the lets examine every detail look as if both my daughter and I were some sort of laboratory experiment, you just didn’t really feel like a friendly conversation was in the cards. The two college auditions we’ve done so far have been very different.</p>
<p>My S went thru the audition process several years ago. The one thing I recall about the weekend of the NY unifieds was how freezing cold it was in NYC. We could only walk a block, would then have to go into the corner Starbucks for a quick warming up, and then do the same thing a block later. I dont recall talking to many parents on that trip we all mostly seemed to stick to ourselves maybe because we all were trying to stay warm even when inside - but on one occasion I did speak with a mother from CA. She relayed that in CA there are professionals who do all the legwork associated with the audition process all she had to do was turn over the credit card to the professional and the professional arranged the plane trips, hotels, auditions, etc. All the parent and child had to do was show up at unifieds! I was in awe that a parent had handed off to a professional all the grunt work associated with having a S or D who is applying to audition-based programs for a fee, of course. After all the arranging my S and I had done in connection with the audition process, which seemed to me to require military-like planning and the expenditure of considerable time, I figured that whatever that mother had spent on having someone else make all the arrangements, it was probably worth every penny!</p>
<p>We are in southern CA and I don’t know of such a service, but I am sure that if you have enough extra money to spend, you can find someone to do the grunt work no matter where you live. We did all of the work ourselves and so did everyone we know. I wonder how much such a service does cost???</p>
<p>Through the audition process, this forum, and then Facebook, I have made some wonderful friends…even now that my kid has graduated, we all have stayed in touch and some are my very closest pals. You will need friends like these! So talk to people, exchange contact info, create a support network for yourselves…take advantage of this great opportunity to meet others who understand this crazy world of performing arts.</p>
<p>jeffandann, you will be happy to hear that there were an astounding number of dads at the 2 auditions we did this weekend: some were alone with their child, others were with the child and the mom. But, I would say about 30% or more were dads! So you will likely have male company.</p>
<p>Excellent to hear dads come to these things. I get next Saturday, then a scholarship interview the following Saturday, then Mom gets Unifieds. Have to start thinking about my outfit I guess…</p>
<p>Yup! At NY Unifieds last year, there were tons of dads and everyone was really nice! In fact, one of the dads had to take a run to a store to get his daughter a black t-shirt because her brand new leotard ripped at the auditions.</p>
<p>In our household I (as the Dad) am the point person to transition our 4 boys from High School to College. I’m in Education anyway as my profession, so I know a lot of the lingo and process. I’ve also acted as our oldest son’s manager until he gets a professional one. So not only did I schedule all of his college auditions and accompany him to them, I walked him through all of the applications, (academic, artistic, scholarship) and tackled the FAFSA process. I have two in college now with the next one not getting to college until 2015. I feel it is very important to walk with my boys through this transition. It is a great bonding experience and it gives me some “juice” when I talk to them later about thier classes and grades.</p>
<p>I get to do the dad/daughter thing the next two weekends, one for an audition and one for a scholarship interview. Really looking forward to that time with my D.</p>
<p>Some of your teens must be a lot more fun when they’re ultrastressed than my son is!</p>
<p>I hope all of you have as delightful a bonding time as you are expecting. My son is usually wonderful company, but not within a few days of an audition. It is so, so hard to keep my mouth shut when I’m dying to know how things went, or to hear the monologues and songs, but it’s better that way. And when I posted a lament about this, here on CC, I got several supportive messages back from other parents who have been in the same situation. It helps to know that I am not the only one to learn how the audition went, solely by hearing my son talk on his cell phone to a friend!</p>
<p>I can’t believe NY Unifieds are tomorrow! I hope we remember everything we need to bring with us and my D remembers to breathe and have fun. If you see a woman with her head spinning as she watches her daughter go to 6 auditions in 30 hours, it could very well be me. All the best to everyone!</p>
<p>Just wanted to let you know that I gave this some thought too. With the tradition of theater folk being superstitious, I’m wearing the same neon cardigan I wore for DS’s successful recent concerto competition–plan to wear it for all six auditions in the coming weeks. I’ll let you know how much luck the “lucky sweater” brings us. Break a leg everyone this week, safe travels, and hang in there, 'rents!</p>
<p>Lot of parents, all wore warm clothing because it was FREEZING in NYC! I would recommend bringing snacks and water, not a lot of time in between the auditions, sometimes.</p>