Senior Showcase

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>It is not exactly easy to obtain representation, but it is not necessarily difficult either. It really depends… Agents make money when their clients book work. As a result they are looking for the clients who seem to have the greatest chance of booking work RIGHT NOW, as well as over the long term. This has as much to do with type (if not more) as it does with skill set. It is likely that the students who would have been most likely to secure representation from a senior showcase will be just about as successful doing so on their own. </p>

<p>I teach at a program that does not do a NY Showcase (we do a DC showcase, and do have casting directors, producers, managers, and agents come to campus to work with students). Upon graduation the most marketable performers seem to be able to obtain representation relatively quickly if they pursue it at that time. Performers who may not grow into their most marketable “type” for a few years (or more) are not as successful securing representation right away, but have no trouble securing work in their field… particularly on non-union national tours, at smaller regional theatres, off-off (-off) Broadway theatres, etc… after a few years as they grow-up more into their type they are “more attractive” to agents, and are then usually more able to obtain representation. </p>

<p>I remember at my senior showcase almost 20 years ago some of the best actors (who played older most of the time in college, and would not grow-up into their type for a number of years) did not get any interest from agents… those who were ready for soap operas (those were still money makers at that time) received a lot of interest. Some of those who received a lot of interest are no longer even working in the industry (although of course some are)… Some of those who did not received any interest are now working (with representation) very steadily as character actors. It is a little like William H. Macy being “discovered” with Fargo. He had been working consistently for 20 years as an actor. </p>

<p>There are no guarantees… and you never know the path your career will take. When my students seem “stressed” about the whole agent (and/ or union) thing I tell them that if they make their career working out of NY or LA, and are in this for the long haul working at a professional level they will most likely have representation and be in at least one of the performing arts unions by some point in their career (not necessarily the case in other markets where agents are not as prevalent, and there is more professional non-union work than union work). For some those things will come sooner than for others. Keep moving forward, assessing opportunities as they arise, look for the doors that are opening, but don’t wait for things to come to you. Ultimately, representation or not, you will be responsible for your own career. </p>

<p>Any opportunity for performers to be seen by industry professionals is a great thing!! Based on my personal experience as a young performer (a loooong time ago), as a theatre professional, and a teacher I would think of a senior showcase as a terrific bonus… and something that could be weighed with all of the other things looked at when choosing a program to attend. While I personally would not make it a “deal breaker,” others may feel differently. I guess I just would hate to see students turn down programs that they feel will be the best fit for their growth over four years of training, and set them up for success as a performing artist, for the opportunity to be seen by agents for 10 - 15 minutes at a senior showcase when graduating. If you find a program that you feel offers both it is a win win, I guess ;)!</p>

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<p>Being seen and being signed are very different, too. I know people who went to schools with showcases…one in New York and LA, who had to pay to fly to theses cities and perform and were not signed by anyone. Probably, most aren’t unless it’s CMU.</p>

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<p>“Being seen and being signed are very different, too. I know people who went to schools with showcases…one in New York and LA, who had to pay to fly to theses cities and perform and were not signed by anyone. Probably, most aren’t unless it’s CMU.”</p>

<p>^^actor12, I agree with your statement about being seen and being signed are two different things. However, I strongly disagree with your statement “probably most aren’t, unless it’s CMU.”</p>

<p>CMU is a well-known, well-respected “top tier” program that consistently turns out graduates who are not only very talented, but well-trained, well-prepared, and due to CMU’s reputation, well-connected to go out and work immediately. They, and I would assume most if not all MT programs, monitor the current trends of theater and what the industry is looking for to best prepare their students to obtain immediate representation. Their reputation likely ensures a large percentage of their students obtain representation quickly. They probably also have students who don’t, just like any other program.</p>

<p>To generalize that “unless it’s CMU, most people aren’t getting signed” is an ignorant remark. There are students from theater programs all over the US and abroad that obtain representation upon graduation from programs large and small, “top tier” and not, BFA and BA, and sadly, the overwhelming majority of students who don’t. There are only so many roles and so many shows running at any one time across the country. 2% of those holding Actor’s Equity cards make a successful living in theater. 2%! The other 98% are out auditioning wherever and whenever they can for work. The rest who are non-Equity are competing with those who already have professional credits, solid representation, and probably know the person across the table they’re auditioning for. New MT graduates add to the already ballooning numbers seeking work.</p>

<p>There are new college MT programs cropping up all over the country as schools try to keep up with the demand of interested students wishing to pursue this field and current programs are unable to keep up with the increasing numbers. More and more programs have instituted a “prescreen” as part of their admission/audition process, making chances of acceptance even more difficult. </p>

<p>Upon graduation, representation might be obtained by those students who take all their training and skills received and can “sell it to someone who’s buying”. It’s a business, and all about supply and demand. Those students you know who spent money to fly to NY and LA and didn’t get signed from their showcase were already up against so many factors going in. Maybe they didn’t fit a particular type/voice the agent(s) looked for, or maybe they just didn’t bring their “A” game. It’s entirely up to the student to put their best foot forward at a showcase, just like any other “audition”. Some days you have it, and some days you don’t. A school’s showcase provides an opportunity to be seen, with absolutely no guarantees, that’s all.</p>

<p>To imply that unless you’ve graduated from CMU it’s unlikely you’d obtain representation/work is simply demeaning to anyone attending a school that’s not CMU. I’m sure the actively working members of AEA who didn’t graduate from CMU would disagree with you, too.</p>

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<p>Wow, that’s not what I meant at all. So many schools have showcases now with 12 - 50 students appearing and perhaps a few get signed, but most in actuality probably don’t. That doesn’t mean they never will, just not from the showcase is all I meant. The CMU example is just because everyone agrees that’s a showcase that is well-attended by top agents intending to sign new talent. I don’t personally consider a showcase that big a deal, really. And I agree with most everything you wrote there but you completely misunderstood my little comment.</p>

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<p>DramaMamaZ. I think he was talking about simply the showcase not the career. Bringing your “A game” only matters if there is someone looking to buy in the audience, after all. That’s where the reputation of the school comes into play. Who is attending all of these things?</p>

<p>It’s entirely possible to get an agent with no college program at all, let alone one with a showcase. Which seems to be most of them these days.</p>

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<p>actor12, my reply to your post was a reaction to your “little comment” regarding CMU. Obviously, your intent was different from how I’d interpreted it. My apologies for any offense incurred.</p>

<p>IMHO, at least here on CC, CMU is the barometer by which all other programs are measured. As I’d said, it is a well-known, well-respected and well-connected program in the industry. It’s just that I tire of posts where students and parents alike use CMU as the end all and be all of MT programs, the “dream” school. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to attend a well-known, well-respected and well-connected program in the industry. But, there are MANY programs where the curriculum, faculty and talent of attendees/graduates are absolutely fantastic, and the program, whether it’s a BFA or a BA, is able to produce educated and skilled performers who go out and become successfully employed individuals! So often, a student’s wish list of programs is considered less than adequate if CMU isn’t on it. The fact is CMU is not for everyone, whether due to curriculum, or affordability, or location, or <em>gasp</em> the level of talent/ability of the student. Each year, there are “lists” that are completely subjective with regards to how a program is perceived - is it a “top tier” program? Who’s ranking these things? Often, rankings are based on surveys from current students, to alums, to industry, to the right PR department’s successful self-promotion. Schools move up and down the list from year-to-year, vying for coveted Top 10 rankings. A college education is big business in this country, and a lot of it, like anything else in business, is based on perception and marketing. What should matter to an individual considering a program is: will I be getting the best education/training available at this school, do I see myself happily fitting in at this school, and can I/my family afford it? The added burden of acceptance to a select program is a piece of the puzzle only the school can provide. It’s YES or it’s NO. Showcases are a perk of a program for its students to make contacts and possibly obtain representation, but are certainly not the only way to do so. This is a tough business to get into, and even tougher to be successful in. Take theater out of the picture; find a school and again ask - will I be getting the best education/training available at this school, do I see myself happily fitting in at this school, and can I/my family afford it? If you can answer YES to all AND get accepted to the school AND the program, great! If not, it’s not the end of the world. So many families make lists of 10, 15, 20 schools to audition for. Be realistic, and know what you want from your education; it’s a huge investment to consider. Find your fit, and be happy with who you are and where you land. Where you attend helps you to grow, but ultimately, you’re responsible for making your future, not your alma mater.</p>

<p>Rant over… :)</p>

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<p>Great rant, DMZ, and very much in line with a similar conversation (that you may have seen) on the theater/drama board. :)</p>

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<p>^^ dramamamaz:)</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>

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<p>And KatMT, your earlier post was incredibly valuable–I’m sending it to my son–it’s so hard for kids to sift through all the opinions they encounter, and yours is balanced, experienced, and SMART. Thank you!</p>

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<p>thanks! :)</p>

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<p>@DramaMamaZ, feel free to rant but I’d venture that you’d be surprised at the amount of people that read and post on CC that have never used CMU as their barometer by which all other program are measured. Just internalize every word of your rant as gospel and CMU’s pretty girl status (imagined or true depending on your perspective) won’t bug you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.</p>

<p>It never occurred to me to think of CMU’s excellent program that way. Nor U Michigan’s, nor CCMs, NYU’s, NU’s nor ____ (fill in the blank with any school a reader may treasure hot or not… it’s personal). On the other hand, it completely occurred to me to use whatever schools my student really thought she wanted to attend while she was forming her list as a barometer by which to measure other programs and rule some in or out. That personal barometer was why CMU never made her list. Now that she is in school at NYU (using this as an example this is not a commercial for NYU), I might (for sport) measure other programs for HER vs. what she is experiencing at NYU just to reaffirm her choice and to give me the courage to write yet another whopping tuition check but that is where the usefulness of the barometer ends.</p>

<p>To show my barometer at work let me pick on her beloved NYU Tisch for a moment. If you don’t like the idea of big city living with all the chaos that comes with it, or if you do not want to deal with really challenging academic classes on top of your studio work, or if you don’t want to wait until sophomore year to be in a show or if you don’t like the idea of knowing that you might NEVER be in a main stage musical while in school – trust your personal barometer and cross NYU off the list because you’ll hate it. If you want excellent MT /acting training and are not significantly concerned about the things I just listed, please consider it and examine the training you’ll receive there to see if it is for you or not. </p>

<p>CMU was off of my daughter’s list the winter of her junior year in HS for reasons that had nothing to do with how excellent the MT training is. Why? Simply because she didn’t want a tiny program with maybe 6 students admitted/year and she had the impression (rightly or wrongly) that the interaction between the fine arts department and the rest of the full CMU was virtually non-existent and knowing people outside of her major was important to her. It didn’t matter how great their MT program was. Same for many other schools whose programs were tiny, or not in a city or not part of a larger university – out because of her personal barometer. </p>

<p>And now can I confess that I didn’t know until recently what a senior showcase is for and I know nothing whatsoever about agents and that whole world? Oh grasshopper, you have so much to learn.</p>