sloopysnoop, Thank you so much. I only need 2 days, but I will contact you via message
Does anyone want a room at the Hampton Inn? We decided to keep our room at the Palmer House and are going to cancel our room at the Hampton Inn if anyone is interested. We are booked from 1/31-2/5.
Alright, which overly organized mom made a packing list for Unifides and can post it online so that a not-so organized dad can follow it and hopefully not screw everything up? (Prefer a male version but any list would do at this point). :-/
Music; phone; ipod; boom box, beat box, etc., earphones, resumes & headshots, (some stapled, some not), beltbox, travel humidifier, water bottle, gym bag, tap shoes, jazz shoes, ballet shoes, dance pants, dance top (2); matching socks for dance; dance underwear as needed, earphones, extra batteries, charger, safety pins,
Audition clothing (2 sets)-dont forget socks and appropriate hose/undergarments. Sweats to wear over dance clothes (this mostly for girls); boots, shoes, loungewear, casual wear for in the hotel, coats, gloves, pjs, girls: make-up and hair goods, bandaids: small drug store: ibuprofen, tums, etc., HAND SANItiZER, Cash, credit cards, reservation numbers, boarding passes, ID, 5th of JohnnyWalker Black.
Audition clothes, audition shoes, dance clothes, dance shoes, book, headshots, resume, Bose speaker. All else is just fluff 
Actually, that is what goes in our carry-on bags. We would not dare let the airlines touch that. In our packed bags we take throat coat tea, humidifier, lots of sanitizer wipes, cliff bars, extra audition clothes, extra dance clothes, safety pins, duct tape, masking tape, scotch tape, stapler, band aids, moleskin, pain meds, antiemetics, cough and cold meds, sharpies, casual clothes for both of us.
We always have music, resume and headshot in Dropbox on our ipad in case we need extras or in case it is lost.
What do you do with all that tape?
We use it to tape shampoo bottles to keep from leaking during plane flights. Have used it to tape pages of music in a pinch. We use it to remove pet hair from black clothes once we leave our house. At summer intensive loaned it to a kid to tape the sole of his shoe together in a hurry for a performance, and when I was in college I used tape to hem a skirt that ripped. Tape can be very handy!
If I was trapped on a desert island - and could wish for only one “tool” it would be an endless roll of duct tape- perhaps the most versatile invention of the modern age
I am new and mostly a lurker as D is a junior. Why do you bring a humidifier? How big is it?
We actually bring two humidifiers. We bring a full size one and a personal, steamer size one. We use them a lot this time of year because we are using the heaters so much due to cold weather and that dries the air and voices out too much. We also use showers to speed up the steaming of the room.
And that reminds me, I also have a hand held steamer for getting wrinkles out of audition clothes. Works great and no chance of accidentally scorching those all-important clothes.
We use a travel size humidifier. It uses an ordinary bottle of water. It is very small, about the size of a wallet. Hotel rooms are notoriously dry – flying dehydrates.
Copies of student transcripts and blank checks in case you need them for walk-ins
BAL!!!
pghmusician - Son’s dad took him to Chicago Unifieds. They had a wonderful time and son’s acceptances from his top two schools were the end result 
Have a book, work or other things to do on your own while you are waiting. Scope out areas you can go to to give your child some space to prepare. I would leave the room for about an hour each morning while D got showered and dressed and did her warm ups without me looking over her shoulder. Figure out what schedule makes your child most comfortable. Some may wish you to stay with them. My D preferred a little time to herself while vocalizing etc…Sometimes I’d go get her something to eat or drink. But sometimes I would go to the lounge and work. Having said that, she liked to keep some bottles of water, protein bars and other snacks in the room and with her stuff in case she got hungry/thirsty so if you’re able to pack some or get some drinks/snacks when you first arrive, those things are nice to have on hand.
@pghmusician Your phone so you can drunk text your friend from Pittsburgh after you have whatever those drinks were you mention 
Our ritual was a list per audition - we checked off items as they went into the suitcase or the car. You guys got this!
Those of you who have been to Chicago Unifieds before, what places around Palmer House do you recommend for eating/drinking/escaping that are within walking distance?
Great info here! Daughter is just auditioning for a summer program while in Chicago, supporting fellow classmates, and observing for next year. I am realizing now how organized we both are going to have to be with this next year!
@addicted2MT ,my personal fave, Target, is just two blocks away on State Street. If your D is like mine, she may love the Forever 21 that is on State Street on the way to Target. Stores are our escape!
It may be too cold for gelato but this place is amazing. http://www.yelp.com/biz/ge-pa-de-caffe-chicago-3
Also Wow Bao is pretty good cheap, fast Asian food (nothing fancy though). http://www.yelp.com/biz/wow-bao-chicago-3
If you head up Michigan Avenue to the Magnificent Mile area (where the fancy shopping is) there is a wonderful place called the Grand Lux Cafe. Owned by the Cheesecake factory- it is their even MORE over the top sort of place. A virtually endless menu- fabulous view, a desserts baked to order (I recommend the cookies)
alright…
Humidifier: never woulda thought of that, thank you both!
Beltbox: very neat - 3 weeks to get from manuf. though (grrr)
Sanitize everything!: makes sense.
‘Tape holds the world together’: got it.
‘Give the kid some privacy to warm-up in the morning’: …translation 'go find the lobby bar and drink that 1st bloody-mary. And remember its for HIS benefit, not mine.
Stuff my pants with protein bars and bottled water: Check!
‘Bring your checkbook, cause you will most certainly run out of money’: unhappy check.
‘Drink Froo-Froo Pear-tini’s provided by tramsmom and drunk txt major cook’. - Finally! something easy!
“…and don’t worry, have fun. It’ll all be ok”… … sigh. here’s hoping.