<p>I've read that schools like CCM, CMU, and Michigan send their graduating senior MT students to NYC for a showcase in front of Broadway producers, casting directors, etc - and that many of these grads leave NY with contracts and, in essence, the beginning of a performance career. </p>
<p>Seems to me these programs offer a huge advantage compared with those schools that do not offer this opportunity to its grads. So my question is, how many other schools do this? And is this in fact the advantage I perceive it to be?</p>
<p>Many schools have showcases (more every year is my impression) and this thread has lots of interesting comments on the importance of showcases. </p>
<p>There are other threads relating to the topic that you can find using the CC seach capability.</p>
<p>Please understand that the contracts, for the most part, are with agents (a good thing, of course). Agents then can submit them for auditions. The showcase is not an audition to be cast.</p>
<p>Actually that’s not totally true soozievt. My daughter had an internship wit a very well known CD while in high school and their office send some junior people to the college showcases as did some other casting offices. </p>
<p>But as EmsDad said, this has been beaten to death on CC, check older postings.</p>
<p>I realize that casting people also attend showcases. Afterall, my D was in a college MT showcase and got an agent at that and I know the list of who attended. However, the OP’s post came across as if the showcases were about being cast and I think the showcases are primarily about being seen by casting people (generally speaking) and by talent agents and possibly being offered agent representation. What is more typical, and what was my own kid’s experience is that talent agents then call a person in who they saw at showcase and may make an offer to represent them. Casting people also may call a person in then to audition for something. The showcase itself is not an audition to be cast is what I was trying to say and what seemed a little bit what the OP implied.</p>
<p>You’ll see that the most recent posts refer to what sometimes happens for students fortunate enough to be in a showcase. A new wrinkle - one note that’s come up recently in the industry is that showcase results are not necessarily what they used to be. Especially in the past year, several folks we know from colleges, agencies, management offices, etc have admitted that the economy has impacted how many folks show to see the talent, how many invitations to meet are offered, etc. At least last year, the numbers for invitations, specifically, were lower for many schools. And, according to the agents and managers it wasn’t related to the caliber of talent. Keep in mind this is just what our household and friends in the industry have heard, not everyone we know. And,of course, exposure is still exposure.</p>
<p>So my point is that this is a common question which has carried some weight in the past for certain folks making final choice decisions on schools. It would be interesting to consider more recent years activity and those upcoming in the industry. The impact of a school providing a showcase today might not be what it was even two or three years ago. By no means am I against showcases - I had a child participate in one in 2010 and have one preparing for hers this spring. Just food for thought.</p>
<p>I found it interesting that some school offering showcases don’t take the whole class. I think I remember that being the case at Syracuse. Also, how much would the overall rep of the school factor in to who attends the showcase? in other words, it seems reasonable that NYU and UMich are going to attract more industry interest than BFA Podunk…even if they trek the class to NYC.</p>
<p>We went to a master class last summer with agent/casting director and he said don’t put a lot of emphasis on this when picking a school. He said there are hundreds of showcases that they can only get to a couple dozen. He said no talented kid is going to sink or swim by a showcase. This a business about showing up and going to auditions and being seen when the jobs come up, An agent might get you in the door faster but won’t get you the job. There are a lot of people working who never had a showcase. Of course, some schools could get you out there faster if you get that opportunity.</p>
<p>A lot of schools also pair up in order to attract more attention to their showcase. This year Coastal Carolina is attending their first NYC showcase (with our first BFA graduating class!). We joined with Otterbein and CCM Drama who already have an established reputation. I think the concept of schools being together can work as a nice ploy for agents. But, as it’s been said, showcases are not the end all be all, just a good introduction to the world. A senior MT’s “coming out” (debutante-style) if you will.</p>
<p>Though I’m no expert, there may be another factor as well. If the number of recent alum from an individual school who are currently working on Broadway, national tours etc – is noticeably trending upward – perhaps there might be increased industry interest in that school’s senior showcase in a given year or two.</p>
<p>I agree that a showcase is but one opportunity among many for these talented BFA grads entering the field. But it is a nice one nonetheless.</p>