<p>I have made a calendar of all the possible audition dates for all the schools we are looking at. Assuming we make it past the pre-screens (obviously, not guaranteed)... would it be crazy to try and schedule two on-site auditions (Fr/Sa) on the same weekend about 7 hrs drive apart? We have so many 'hard dates' due to school obligations and a couple of our faves do not do Unified Auditions. So, for those of you who have done this already... am I crazy? Overly ambitious? I do (fortunately) have a hearty roll-with-it kind of kid who says he's up for it. Thoughts?</p>
<p>When would you have to drive? Late into the night on Friday and up for an early audition on Saturday? Or would you have to get up extra early on Saturday? Just make sure there is time for your S to get a good night’s sleep and that you work with his optimal sleep schedule (night owl, morning person).</p>
<p>Two years ago (President’s Day weekend) we flew in to Boston on a Thursday, did BU on a Friday morning, took the train to Manhattan that afternoon, had Marymount Saturday all afternoon, on Sunday traveled by train to Rider in NJ for a Monday morning audition. So it can be done! </p>
<p>Friday evening for a noon audition Saturday. If the weather is good, we’d arrive in the 2nd city after midnight, but with a sleep-in-able morning. Have you ever played with one of those puzzles where the pieces are locked in a square and move around to make the picture? That’s what I feel like I’m doing… </p>
<p>How is the weather variable? Which month and location? Just wouldn’t want a seven hour drive to become 10 or 12 because of a snowstorm.</p>
<p>February… NC to Ohio… iffy for sure. Ack. The Farmer’s Almanac (and the Weather Channel) are saying the Midwest will have a winter as bad or worse than last year. I think I need to look at this with fresh eyes tomorrow. </p>
<p>I don’t think the drive itself is crazy- we did a similar one last year (6 hours after rehearsal, audition in morning, and 6 back to be available for an another rehearsal) The weather is the variable…and obviously out of your control, this could work easily- or be a disaster. Would it be possible to schedule so it was a drive from OH to NC? Seems like it might be safer to drive south rather than north weather-wise. Also, of the two schools, is one higher on priority list (meaning he “likes” one and/or “loves” another) you also might want to prioritize that as 1st audition of the weekend- that way if weather does not cooperate, you don’t end up missing S’s top choice. Weather is the nasty wildcard of the whole process, and SOOO many of the schools (and unifieds) are in places where weather can be make or break with traveling! Good luck!</p>
<p>We drove from the Michigan audition, where D was one of the last singers of the day, to Bloomington Illinois for her IWU audition. Left Ann Arbor at about 5:30… Approx 6 hour drive… 8am audition… In January. It can be done!</p>
<p>Weather will definitely be the variable, combined with the route you take. Not sure which schools you will be traveling between (I’ve been away from the board for a while so missed it if you mentioned elsewhere), but you will almost certainly need to go through West Virginia. They have serious hills that can be challenging in winter (ok, they call them mountains but I grew up out west and they don’t compare with western mountains). I agree with toowonderful’s suggestion that you schedule the higher priority audition first if possible. </p>
<p>But if there are weather problems most schools will accommodate you if you call them and let them know you are impacted. While we didn’t miss any audutions last year, we did hear a couple schools mention that they had some late arrivers due to weather. </p>
<p>I also heard of schools making accommodations when weather was really bad- for example, I know BW (which may or may not be the Ohio school you mentioned) allowed a few students who were impacted by weather and unable to reschedule to submit video auditions… but is that going to allow the kid to show their best self? To my knowledge, none of the students who did that were admitted…</p>
<p>It’s not crazy… We did that and arrived at around midnight. Most people flew and I remember being slightly jealous. But, alot of the same students who did the afternoon audition at one place where there on Sat morning for the next one about 300 miles away. And, as it happened we were very happy to have a car in that city. Good luck.</p>
<p>So, after some calendar shuffling, I realized that we could do the Ohio one on another weekend, and do NC and VA on the Friday/Saturday (ONE long distance travel weekend instead of two! YAY!)… until we got the show choir schedule from the HS and noted that the huge (mandatory) winter concert weekend is the same weekend. Can’t win. Seriously. </p>
<p>Of course, all hinging on passing the pre-screens anyway. </p>
<p>Yes, the show choir schedule created quite a challenge for us as well. But eventually it all worked out and my D was able to audition for the schools she wanted. It will work out for you too, just may be crazy along the way.</p>