Hello anyone that could comment on the value of attending SETC as a junior for the high school auditions?
I am a big proponent of SETC, the International Thespian Conference in Nebraska, and various large, regional Thespian auditions. Here are the advantages that I have seen:
- The number of callbacks that you receive may help guide you in the audition process. Some students receive large numbers of callbacks including some very competitive schools, while others receive a very limited number. If you analyze your callbacks objectively, it can help you determine what types of schools might be a good fit, whether or not your material stands up well, etc. Doing these in the Junior year, like SETC, or at International Thespians in June gives you time to make adjustments prior to the start of the audition process.
- Some schools will work with you on your material during callbacks. This can be invaluable. At a minimum, you can ask about ways to improve your audition during callbacks.
- You may find some "hidden gems," schools that you didn't know about that are a really good fit.
- I know many students who "paved the way" to acceptances at regional auditions, and in some cases, received legitimate, on-the-spot acceptances and scholarships. My d received an acceptance and a very large scholarship to a well-regarded program as well as at least two other acceptances as a direct result of attending these types of auditions. Early acceptances can help relieve some of the stress during the audition process (it has really helped my d a lot).
- It is usually possible to meet and chat with theatre program faculty members from many schools at these events, including many program heads. This is also invaluable.
- For some programs, these types of auditions serve as a prescreen and you can skip the conventional video prescreen process as a result.
Some students, however, may not find many or any schools of interest at such events. For other students, the cost-benefit ratio may seem unattractive, since final acceptance decisions are limited at these types of events.
Can one participate in these festivals and SETC if your school does not I wonder? Guessing we could register D and take her individually??
I took my D to SETC her junior year of high school. It was a terrific experience for her. It was a nice way to check out some colleges, and of course to get that audition experience and feedback. And there were some excellent workshops as well.
Did your D get any call backs from her auditions that led to anything? I am also wondering about the festival this summer in Nebraska. I know someone interested in going but not sure if the travel is worth it since they are east coast. Wondering if they should go for the college stuff alone?
The SETC callbacks, at least when she went, were not additional auditions. You were called back to meet with the school and they talked to her about their program, her interest, and her audition. She did actually get a few offers that summer (between junior and senior year) from schools that saw her at SETC. None of the offers were from schools that are really talked about here on CC, but she did research every program that contacted her to see what they offered. It was really more about the audition experience for her.
My son was selected as “Best of Fest” at the northeast Thespian conference in his Junior year (that was the impetus for pursuing MT major). He was invited to perform at the annual conference in Lincoln that summer. Unfortunately his school did not have a Thespian group. I checked the bylaws and they said he could attend with another school’s group if his school did not have a chapter, but the powers that be didn’t want to bend. He ended up attending a pre-college program instead, which for him was a great decision. This was two years ago.
We took our S to SETC his junior year. His PA HS did not go, nor did anyone else from his school go on their own. You do not be a resident of a “member” state to attend as a HS student. I can’t say enough positive things about the experience. He learned a lot from the workshops and got a good idea of “where he stood” with his audition material. His audition also worked out as a passed pre-screen for one of the terrific programs on this forum. If you can make it work, go. We’re here again as we speak- this time auditioning for summer theater work. The hard part will be deciding which ones of the many overlapping workshops he will have to forego.
Can someone tell me - do the parents attend the workshops at SETC with their HS kids or how does that work? My D and I would be on our own - our school doesn’t go - so do I stay with her or would I be free to volunteer? Is it better if she brings another MT friend? Don’t want to send her off on her own if most parents stay with their HS kids or if they’re all there in big groups, but also don’t want to follow her around if no one else does. We don’t know anyone who’s attended so not sure. It looks like I wouldn’t attend the auditions but do I go to other parts of it? Is there a mix of ages in the different sessions or is it set up so HS are separate from professionals? Maybe more details will go up when registration opens, but I’m just not sure what goes on since it says it’s four days long. Is it just open to HS juniors and above or can any HS age go? I think we’d like to try it for the audition experience alone but we are just trying to figure out how this all works and don’t see a lot of detail online. Thanks so much!
@ourturn2 we are going to SETC in March also. I just was thinking I need to register this month. We aren’t going with a school either. My D is a junior and we are only going for I think wed and Thursday when they have the jr auditions. If you email SETC they are very nice about answering questions. Maybe we could meet you all down there
Also as a parent my hubby and I were just going to hang out and maybe check out the college fair portion when she auditions etc. seniors can go too as they audition st s different time or day can’t remember
Thanks @theaterwork - that would be fun! I will send them an email and we’d love to meet up with you all too. My D is a junior and she’d love it. I saw registration opens next week so I am trying to figure out if I should register to volunteer or just go check things out. I didn’t know when the auditions were so knowing Wed & Thurs helps. I appreciate it!
I didn’t know you could volunteer… The lady told me to at least come in on wed to get registration materials and then we would be safe to leave Thursday evening. We can’t stay whole time because of D will have musical rehearsals for their show in April
If the auditions are on Thursday, you may want to try to stay through Friday morning if possible. The school reps who were in the auditions are often only at the tables in the afternoon on the day of the auditions, and depending on the number of “callbacks” it could be helpful to be able to stop by some of the schools tables on Friday morning to talk to the school representatives. if not possible, not the end of the world, but something to think about if schedule allows.
We are going to SETC too! D is a junior. Let’s connect b4 the event so we can meet up. Registration opens next week. Thanks you again for all of the info that those that have been before have provided :)!
I went with my D when she was a junior - wow so long ago. She attended the workshops on her own. I spent some time going through the exhibit area and picking up materials to share with her. I also sat in on a couple of college information sessions. And I hung out for a bit in the area they were holding the professional auditions and just watched - especially the dancers out in the lobby working on choreography.
Ok so let’s try to connect there @brightstaral and @ourturn2 my D would love to meet some people from other places.
My H and I dovetailed attending SETC with junior S three years ago - Wednesday p.m. through Sunday a.m. (we did not register or volunteer, since we did not know what we were in for). Both of us attended a few workshops where there was room (we were invited by the presenters/door managers - don’t know it that has changed) - and learned a lot in the process. I sat in the back of the room and S sat in the front - no one would have guessed we were related. When I could not, or did not want to attend workshops, I watched his “stuff” and sat in the communal areas. I did a bit of “eaves dropping” on some very enlightening discussions and actually inserted myself into a few conversations to ask questions. People - whether “experts”, teachers, other parents or auditionees - were so nice about sharing their knowledge. I again watched the “stuff” of S and his cohort of college freshman auditionees last spring. I did not attend workshops this time, but again “overheard” some useful tidbits and walked through the exhibit hall. Since S had attended before and felt pretty confident about “going it alone”, I also took myself off for some sight seeing. Even riding on the shuttle system full of SETC attendees or eating in the nearby restaurants was a “earning opportunity”. One thing I did not do, but would like to, is to attend some of the many school, amateur, and professional theater productions offered throughout the convention venue and nearby vicinity. Maybe next time. In order to see the convention keynote speakers (Including Ben Vereen last year and Norman Lewis three years ago, among others) you would need to register.
@theaterwork - they have a volunteer section on their site and it says if you do 10 hours, they waive your registration fee. I just thought if I was going to be sitting around a lot anyway, I might as well make myself useful but didn’t want to commit if my D would end up wanting me to do something else. Thinking maybe I’ll just wander around this time and not lock myself into anything since it sounds like so much is going on. Also, along with @brightstaral, the more the merrier - count us in on meeting up.
@KatMT - That makes sense - thank you! The more we can learn about the different schools, the better and as long as we’re making the trip, I’d like to get all that we can out of it so I think we’re going to stay most of the weekend and check it all out.
Thanks @mom4bwayboy - that’s exactly the kind of info I was looking for!
Can anyone please “break it down like a fraction” as Bernie Mac would say, the actual process that occurs during SETC for college student summer stock auditions, including the individual state “prescreen” auditions/applications? #Clueless