Showcases - The Insanity Continues...

<p>Emerson explained during a recent Q&A that their showcase approach is to invite graduates to participate in the fall after their graduation. This is to avoid the springtime glut.</p>

<p>Just curious. Do kids from schools without Showcases (eg NYU?) follow any standard course for seeking NY representation… or is it catch as catch can? Do folks know many kids who have to miss Showcases for various reasons and, if so, do they typically seek NY agents through another means?</p>

<p>@momcares I heard that NYU does a showcase but has auditions for it and only lets 10-ish people do it. Not sure how correct this is though!</p>

<p>I have been told (though this is unconfirmed) that so e studios do showcases and some do not </p>

<p>@attheballet, that is not correct at least not as far as the MT studio at NYU goes. I cannot speak to any of the acting studios.</p>

<p>The MT studio at Tisch (New Studio on Broadway) has two musicals this coming spring semester with the upper level students that they call “Showcase Projects” and potential industry reps are invited to them. They did the same thing last year too which was the first class to actually graduate from New Studio. (Prior to that the MT studio at Tisch was Cap21).</p>

<p>Of course this format means you need to be lucky enough to nab a role that will get you noticed and the juniors and seniors combined compete for them (which is new this year). Meanwhile though, all of the students are already living in NYC and can hit the pavement themselves a bit easier.</p>

<p>This is kind of an old article, but it does talk about how to get an agent. (Working professionally and getting seen helps.) <a href=“http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/how-get-agent/”>http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/how-get-agent/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>@Jkellynh17 - Good article. Thanks for the pointer!</p>

<p>I hadn’t seen that article before. Thanks for posting it. I think it is really good. </p>

<p>I think showcases are a great opportunity to be seen by agents, but all is not hinging on whether your school offers a showcase, or even if it does, if you get an agent as a result. This is not the only time you can acquire an agent. In fact, the more you build your resume and are seen, you might even be in better shape to get representation. </p>

<p>I like how the article says to keep doing theater. Yes, build the resume and also get yourself out there, so others see your work. You also make more connections along the way.</p>

<p>I also like how they suggest that a friend who has an agent might be able to refer you to their agent and that is a good way to get your foot in the door. </p>

<p>I also really like how the author suggests to create your OWN work. This provides you more opportunities to perform and to get yourself out there, and possibly have samples to put on YouTube, your website, or a reel. </p>

<p>To back up the above, I’ll share a bit about my own kid’s agent journey in the post college period. She went to NYU/Tisch. At the time, the MT studio was CAP21 which does offer a showcase. However, for her final 3 semesters at Tisch, she opted to do Experimental Theater Wing studio. CAP21 invited her to spend her final semester doing the showcase semester, but she turned that down because in her final semester at ETW studio, she did what that studio calls Independent Projects, and she created her own original musical, in which she played a lead. While she gave up the sure thing showcase, Tisch itself had a MT showcase and an Acting showcase at the time, by audition. This was hard to get into because only approx. 12-15 students from all of Tisch got into the MT showcase. So, while my kid gave up the sure bet showcase, she ended up getting into the Tisch MT showcase. She got an agent from that showcase. The agent was so-so. </p>

<p>Less than two years later, she really wanted a new agent. At the time, that same original musical she wrote in senior year at Tisch, was chosen to have a professional Equity production at CAP21 (CAP21 also puts on professional theater, besides its training programs). Her show was produced there and she played a lead in it. Her former classmate directed the show. He had another agent for his acting career. His agent came to see this show and my D’s friend told his agent that my D was looking for a new agent. This agent called D in afterward and offered her representation. This is an example of creating your own work, friend referral, and being seen on stage. This agent is still her theater performance agent today. </p>

<p>As an aside, I would say that even if you can’t create a musical, create opportunities to be seen onstage in NYC…concerts, cabarets, benefits, etc. My D is a singer/songwriter and is onstage in NYC in some capacity on a regular basis. Also, for her first four years out of college, she was in a musical comedy sketch group that performed weekly in NYC. She has been seen by important people in the industry at times in these capacities. You never know who is watching! Once, a company that sells a certain product internationally, contacted my D to say she was chosen in their new international campaign as a Rising Star and was going to be awarded money, a prize, and an event she would perform in. She thought it was a scam. So, the company called her agent. It was for real. I asked her to find out how this brand name company ever heard of her, and she said that an employee had come to see one of her concerts in NYC and went back to the office and told them about D. Also, keep in mind that in cabarets, you often meet many others in the industry. D is in a benefit concert this coming week with many Broadway and Tony winners. All of these experiences lead to more contacts! </p>

<p>The article also mentions attending agent showcases that exist (not through college). My D has never attended these because she has an agent. But these are worth trying…get yourself in front of agents! But on a similar vein, my daughter acquired a theater literary agent by being in an event too. One year, the National Alliance for Musical Theater selected one song from my D’s first musical that she wrote in senior year of college to be in their songwriter’s showcase at their Festival of New Musicals, which is only open to industry folks. Having that one song at that event led to being signed by an agent in attendance, as well as commissions by Disney and a major theater. This is akin in many ways to agent showcases that the author mentions.</p>

<p>These personal anecdotes are given to show that many of the points in that article are valid and really do happen to performers and so college showcases are not the only way to eventually acquire representation. </p>

<p>I appreciate hearing these real-life examples! D’s current agent, who she loves, also found her while watching a show she was in. I suppose, just as with job interviews in other industries, it makes sense that actors seem most desireable to agencies when they’re already working and are “not hungry”, and when they come with personal references. I know many kids at many different schools who have been “poached” by both talent and casting agents well before they graduate or do their showcases. Some of the most successful kids we know skipped their showcases for various reasons, so clearly not offering a showcase needn’t be a dealbreaker when considering various programs, though I’m sure they are a great experience and a huge help in getting started for some.</p>

<p>NYU Steinhardt MT does have a showcase for all seniors. Many of D’s friends got representation as a result of the showcase, but only a few are been sent out by their agents on a regular basis. So it is not just landing an agent, it is more will that agent keep sending you out for auditions and chose you over others that they also represent.</p>

<p>Being out there and performing is the key. Agents do not rely on showcases to form their client rosters. They will rely on word of mouth from casting agents and other colleagues. Agents are out many nights a week seeing performances at various venues. They will also rely on input from assistants and others who work for their agency. So an agent may be out there because they are interested in the composer of a specific musical. But if they are struck by a performance they may pursue that person or pass their name along to someone else in their agency.</p>

<p>I agree with al that uskoolfish posted. You could land an agent that doesn’t send you out on many auditions. The agent my kid landed from her Tisch showcase didn’t send her out that much (though her very first agent-submitted audition, the week of graduation, she was cast and become Equity!) She eventually switched agents and I already explained that the agent saw her in a performance of her self-created musical and was referred by her friend who had that agent. Being seen on stage can pay off. You never know who is attending. People become familiar with your work and it leads to other opportunities. This has happened for my kid in several capacities. </p>