<p>Not a current student at all. My son is a current student at a conservatory program. I also have a son who has been in the business for years. </p>
<p>I’m not saying you should pick a school based on the showcase. I was just expressing those are school that those top casting directors and agents know. I know a lot of people don’t know how NYC works but sometimes it’s based on who you know and where you went to school. When they’re looking for fresh faces… yes they go to the schools who are known to have great young actors. </p>
<p>I think when looking for a school. It’s all about what you want in a training. What can that select group of faculty teach you. What type of artist do YOU want to be. School gets you in the door but after that you have to be you…</p>
<p>complexlife, my apologies for saying you were a student. When kids and parents use the same username, it can sometimes cause confusion. In any case, the claim you made was overstated, regardless of how many people you know in the business. My family has been involved in the theatre community in NYC and elsewhere in North America for decades, back to the days of my grandparents. I know hundreds and hundreds of working professionals in all aspects of theatre and I would never make the definitive statements you did in your posts 5 and 13. You are not painting an accurate picture for those here who “don’t know how NYC works”.</p>
<p>I agree that you shouldnt overplay the importance of a showcase because there are no guarantees, but for Gods sake dont downplay it, either. Agents do indeed flock to those things and sign people all the time. In fact, other than at the Big 4 agencies (CAA, WME, ICM, UTA) and some of the power boutiques where they are typically only interested established talent, the invited agencies would consider it negligent to not have someone in attendance - even if its only an assistant. Scouting new talent is a big part of their job and theyre deathly serious about it. </p>
<p>Also, complexlife may have overstated a bit, but his/her list isnt entirely inaccurate, either. Agents, managers, producers and casting directors definitely flock to those. I know a lot of people from those schools who were signed by good second tier agencies from their showcases with the most common suspects being Abrams, Harden-Curtis, Leading Artists, CESD, and Buchwald. A few also creep slightly up the chain each year (except 2009) and land at places like Gersh and Paradigm with the odd person occasionally landing Big 4. (Yes, tiers is a bad word on this forum, but you can definitely rank agencies as per clout. :))</p>
<p>Those showcases certainly arent the only ones that are well attended, but you can rest assured that youll be seen by people who can help you if youre in one. There are no guarantees with it, of course, but it can be a big boost. Then, thats New York and LA is a much tougher nut to crack if you arent already in the union or youve aged out of being able to play teens on-camera </p>
<p>^ Sounds about right though it’s really more whether you LOOK like you should be able to drive or not. Put me in charge of admissions at a program trying to build a name for itself through recent alumns working high profile gigs and I’d specifically recruit a majority of talented high school seniors who still look like they’re 12 instead of the token one or two you see in most BFA companies. The rest would be total hotties or extremely unique character types. 18tpy is a big deal in LA and that showcase would become a big hit real quick! LOL</p>
<p>Can’t believe I’m moving out there in September …</p>
<p>Fish - I 100% agree with everything your saying.</p>
<p>I feel like always mom is taking what I’m saying in the wrong direction. I was simply saying that sometimes people flock to those schools. I apologize if you feel I was out of place.</p>