<p>Thought I would begin a new thread specifically on summer "to-do's" for students who are in college and majoring in MT. I have a freshman BFA MT so I'm new to this. I'm trying to figure things out by reading the various summer program threads but I'd like to know more about college-aged students in particular.</p>
<p>Is there an optimum path to take when an MT student is in college for the summers? How important are these summer stock programs? When are they best done? Do you have to start right after freshman year or can you wait a year or two?</p>
<p>How important is performing in the summer, particularly if your student goes to a school where they are not allowed to perform freshman year? What if you don't want your child to go away from home (to one of these summer programs, for example) because they are away at college much of the year? Is that a hindrance if they stay home and don't do a "prestigious" program?</p>
<p>What if you want them to get a job and earn money for college? How do you balance trying to give them the best opportunities for MT success while also teaching them life lessons about earning their keep and having a stake in contributing $$$ to their education?</p>
<p>Bottom line is -- is it a personal/family decision and one that should be right for the student and family? Or will the MT student miss an important opportunity some where down the line that they should have taken in the summer?</p>
<p>Any advice or experience with this? Thank you!</p>
<p>It is a personal decision for the student and their family.</p>
<p>I encourage my students try to work professionally at a theatre as a performer at least one before they graduate from college. This is the career they will be entering into in a very short time. They learn a lot from working in a professional environment, make contacts with professional directors, choreographers, etc... as well as with peers and professional working actors. This can help make the transition to working professionally after school a little less scary. </p>
<p>Some people audition for these opportunities following freshman year, many will wait until they are a little older. It really depends on the student and their family. Depending on finances, educational expenses, personal choice, etc... students will make very different choices in terms of what is right for them.</p>
<p>Although I teach in a BA musical theatre program during the academic year, I am the artistic director of a summer theatre in the summer. I know that many performers who have worked for me in the summer have been offered roles at year-round theatres (after they graduated) with the directors they worked with at our summer theatre. Many others have made connections for roommates, sublets, survival jobs, etc... </p>
<p>When I was in a BFA MT program -- years ago -- I had worked at a professional summer theatre near my home for three years in HS. The summer before freshman year in college I waited tables all summer to earn money for college. The summer after my freshman year I waited tables most of the summer, except for a 6-week summer theatre contract that took me away from home for those weeks. I worked as a camp counselor the summers after my sophomore and junior years, and worked in summer stock the summer after I graduated. I had friends who did summer stock all four summers, some who worked in theme parks, some who did summer training programs, some who waited until the summer before senior year to try to work professionally as a performer in the summer, some waited until the summer after they graduated, etc...</p>
<p>Most summer theatre companies do pay, so it can be possible to earn money and perform in the summer. Although -- it may not be as much as if one were to wait tables all summer :) </p>
<p>This is also a question that your child should feel free to ask the professors and older students at school. They will be able to offer loads of advice! :)</p>
<p>I would just like to echo what KatMT had to say. For us, we highly encourage students to do summer theatre. It is their first opportunity to truly live in the day to day life of the performer. The hours are long, the pay is sub-par, but I wouldn't trade the experience I got there for all the academic training in the world. (I worked six years of summer theatre as an undergrad and grad student oh so long ago - and still do at least one summer show per year.)</p>
<p>This is also their first chance to begin the network of friends that will stay with them them their entire career. My one caveat would be to have your child check with her profs - there are quite a few summer programs that offer very little to young artists. Beware of unknown companies that offer "college credit" in lieu of money, and beware of internships that offer no money but "great experience." But this is just a guideline, there are exceptions. </p>
<p>Audition season begins soon.<br>
Good luck!</p>
<p>Could anyone help me with this?..... Several weeks ago there was a list of summer programs for college students audition for. My D and I have searched and searched and can not find the list. If I remember correctly, many of the names were also links to the different websites. Any help finding this information would be greatly appreciated!</p>