Soon to graduate - lessons learn

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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Hello My S is a Sr at Otterbein, MT with Dance concentration. I used to be a very active member of the forum, found invaluable advice and I made many friends that I still keep in touch with today. My S journey is a good one, not absent of ups and downs but he wouldn’t trade it.

These are obviously just from my point of view as a mom who is close to her son. I’m not trying to start debates. I have no affilation, professional experience and could be completely off the mark here but I’ll list a few of my thoughts. I can hardly believe we are almost on the other side.

My S is in his final semester. He is currently interning at Roundabout Theater Company/Jim Carnahan casting in NYC. Otterbein is one of the few programs that offers this. So far S is loving this expereince, to be on the other side of the table is so interesting. Corse he won’t give me any scoop…but he is finding it helpful. I like that internship is easing him into the city. He’s getting to know the neighborhoods etc and there is no pressure for him to find work…yet… He’ll start pounding the pavement the minute internship is over. He is subletting from an alumni, they are a small close knit group those Otters. Check them out at Ottersintheapple on instagram

Don’t sweat your resume’ - honestly throughout this journey we’ve realized type and the audition are what really matters…type first. Just make sure its neat.

Most everyone auditioning is very talented - in the professional world its taken to an entirely different level. Fact is you have to get used to rejection and move on from it. There is far more being considered than your level of talent. Schools are basically casting for their next few years of shows. They are evaulating if you are a good fit for those. Professional shows are looking for the right type. S has been at professional auditons where they announced things like “All 20-25 year old white females are dismissed, thanks for coming”, “all men under 6’ tall are dismissed, thank you for coming” “typed out” as they say. So be you, find material that sits well on your voice and is easy to sing if you are really nervous. Know your materail and have fun with it. Pay attention to the schools requirements. This part of the journey only happens once (thank goodness, huh?) Every person behind the table wants you to do well, they want you to be who they are looking for! So try to relax! My S dropped his dance clothes in the TOILET at one audition…in the toilet, while trying to change in a stall… we had to buy shorts from the campus store. Guess what, he got in.

Which college - from what I can see it really dosn’t matter in the professional world where you went to school. Sure some schools may open up more doors, some may bring in casting directors on stie etc but…if you are the type and the right fit for the role it doesn’t matter which school you went to or if you even have a BA/BFA. If you don’t get into a “top” program of if you don’t get into one at all…your journey is not over, its just taking a different path than you expected. But that’s life, really.

Once you get to college don’t be consumed with being cast. Its great to be in shows but there are down sides…like the grueling schedule. You are young adults trying to figure out who you are in this world. College casting is not a pre cursor to success. So try not to freak out if you no longer get every lead role you are after. FInd things other than theater to be interested in. Its as equally important to be a well rounded individual as it is to hone your craft. I think the most important lesson is learning your type.

Take the summer off - looking back I would have insisted my S take a summer of two off summer stock. Yes he’s incredibly grateful to be cast but he also got burnt out to the point he lost his passion. He was not cast last semester at school and it was exactly what he needed. He taught spinning class at the local gym, took a lot of yoga classes, starting writing music, self taught himself the piano and actually got to have a little bit of a “normal” college experience. After finally having a bit of down time for the first time since he was a freshman in high school he feels his passion for performing quickly coming back. Right in time for Sr Showcase which is in later March.

I’m sure others will have more to add or may not agree but these are our personal lessoned learned so far. Best of luck!

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@MTMajorCook -I think that this is my most favorite post, ever. Thank you for your honesty, and for earnestly potentially helping us all out! Although my D is at the beginning of her collegiate journey-I get so much of what you said: The highs and lows; the weighing what Summer should look like for each individual; the fact that so much of it is decided before they even walk into the room; the fact that casting in college and/or going to an esteemed program doesn’t guarantee “success”.

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Excellent post, I would also adddo not freak out if you don’t get an agent right out of showcase. Sure it makes things easier, but you can do a lot with self-submissions and small projects can turn into big ones if you knock it out of the park.

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@MTMajorCook Can’t believe he is graduating… those 4 years went FAST! Looking forward to hearing more of his journey!!!

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Thank you so much for these valuable insights!

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Great thread @MTMajorCook - here are some of my thoughts as a fellow 2018 parent.

Four years ago my D auditioned for both acting and MT programs - not sure of which path to follow. I thought she would tip towards MT -
she had the largest amount of experience there (primarily b/c that is the focus of youth/school theater) But though she was accepted to both types of BFAs, she went with Acting, and has loved it. One thing that I have learned, primarily by following the stories on these forums, is that while there are in training between acting and MT- there are more differences between them than I would have realized in 2014. By NO means do I imply that one is more rigorous than another, or that being a part of one precludes a student from doing the other as well. (D has numerous MT friends whom have been doing straight plays, and vice versa… an Acting grad from her studio last year just picked up a spot in Dear Evan Hanson). But, at least at MY kid’s school (NYU), the curriculum, and the training is very different. Some schools are different. I know CMU uses a combined approach, and D had 2 HS friends who were acting majors at Otterbein, and they have posted many pictures of vocal recitals etc - so that seems to be a thing there. So IF you are auditioning MT, and get a redirect to acting, or are auditioning for both types of programs - that may be something to check out. Via her training, my kid has really shifted directions in how she sees her career moving forward. Last summer she was offered a spot doing musicals in Upstate NY - even cast as Katherine in their production of Pippin. She decided she wanted to take the Shakespeare gig she was offered in Boston instead. I would NOT have seen that coming in 2014 - be prepared for paths to shift.

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These posts from senior parents are SO helpful. Keep them coming!

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Thanks for sharing. Great advice, so helpful. Best wishes to your son @MTMajorCook! I look forward to a follow-up sometime down the road…

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Can share a similar experience. My D gradated in May with the BFA-MT, and decided now was not the time to rush right to NYC or Chicago. She has performed locally in three shows since graduating (two professional, one community theater), and works part time for a Performing Arts center. She’ll audition in a few weeks at a national call and see where that takes her. But performing locally/regionally as well as getting experience in the business side of theater life is working quite well right now, both for professional and personal reasons. She is saving money so she’s set if and when she makes the big city move.

My biggest piece of advice for those embarking upon this journey, both for kids and their parents, is to be open to the entire college experience. You don’t know what will happen; you might be drawn more to acting than singing, singing, than acting. Or maybe you find you develop a passion for directing. Or like my D has found, teaching. Or you take a class in history and find you absolutely love that subject and switch. You might meet that special person, and that relationship may have a lot of influence on your path post-graduation. So go into this not with blinders on, but with your eyes wide open to all the possibilities.

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@jeffandann I remember you talking on the forum last year and being so helpful . I can’t remember where your D was at school?

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Ok @jeffandann never mind I saw you posted about Ball State :slight_smile:

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S is a senior MT at Baldwin Wallace. He (and his classmates!) are focused this semester on getting ready for showcase in April and, for some of the seniors, final shows. He is not cast in the spring show so decided to pick up one more choreography gig with a local HS. His current plans are to move to NYC a few days after graduation.

I will add to @jeffandann’s advice. S is in a BM program. He didn’t realize how helpful the extra music theory/solfege classes would be. He feels he is so much better and sight reading and picking up harmony than expected to be. It was not something he looked for in a program necessarily but it is serving him well. He also continued to choreograph all through school and could potentially continue to do so once he’s moved. He also picked up some film/photography courses along the way. His “extras” stayed in the arts (I wanted him to take some business courses but alas, I’m just mom).

He and two friends produced a show the summer after freshman year. They did everything from soup to nuts and learned a TON (especially about the COSTS!). Perhaps that was more beneficial than taking that business course! He followed a fairly typical MT trajectory - summer stock, then summer stock at an equity house (earned his equity card). Unlike some of his classmates, he is choosing to move to NY rather than look for a second regional summer contract. It makes me nervous but he is getting excellent advice and guidance so I keep my mouth shut. He did renew his passion for piano and can accompany himself fairly well.

The best advice he got, and followed, was to take advantage of what YOUR program has to offer and be fully engaged!