Search found 575 matches

by paulears
Tue Nov 07, 2017 8:28 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Boys Dance Solo - Musical Theatre Extended BTEC 16+
Replies: 3
Views: 3076

Re: Boys Dance Solo - Musical Theatre Extended BTEC 16+

Keep in mind that the standard of large numbers of the prospective intake are dreadfully low, so the audition system at many is not designed to prevent the good kids getting places, but to prevent the bad ones messing it up. I'm sure he will be absolutely fine - so many will turn up unable to do any...
by paulears
Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:29 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Is this commonplace ?!
Replies: 17
Views: 11708

Re: Is this commonplace ?!

Just finished one and starting another dance show. One has all their people a very consistent size, and the other has a variety of shapes and sizes. Catchment area about 15 miles apart, and very similar towns. Selection is rarely fair.
by paulears
Sun Oct 15, 2017 8:06 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Is this commonplace ?!
Replies: 17
Views: 11708

Re: Is this commonplace ?!

One of my dancer friends has kind of fell into the position of offering work of all kinds to her dancer friends, primarily via Facebook, and her posts always are size based. Need two size 8s for a well paying job in Essex tomorrow, or I need a six 14 for a photo shoot tomorrow in central London. She...
by paulears
Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:22 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Is this commonplace ?!
Replies: 17
Views: 11708

Re: Is this commonplace ?!

If you look at the jobs, there are always the special roles where any deviation from the jelly mould can be good, and I guess if you look at TV characters in soaps, the memorable ones are always the non-conformist ones and you remember them, so it's possible to argue that the people outside the jell...
by paulears
Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:14 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Is this commonplace ?!
Replies: 17
Views: 11708

Re: Is this commonplace ?!

There is a reality here that everyone nowadays seems to have trouble - we have double standards. If you are casting a show, then your dancers for all styles really, not talking just ballet - need to fit the jelly mould. Too many people nowadays are fat, me very much included. We're not allowed to ca...
by paulears
Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:59 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Interesting tweet - student numbers
Replies: 22
Views: 12710

Re: Interesting tweet - student numbers

I got rid of somebody over the summer for being totally useless with no aptitude for working backstage at all. Hopeless, and unable to manage the most basic task without repeated instructions. He's now at university I have discovered, doing Stage Management. This is scary. Totally unsuitable for any...
by paulears
Thu Sep 07, 2017 1:20 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: The New GCSE spec - any comments
Replies: 12
Views: 8830

Re: The New GCSE spec - any comments

My nieces HoD wants the 5 to be their standard for a C, the other departments, with a slightly lower results record are clinging to the 4. It does occur to me that all that fudging when we started adding stars to A grades has now gone, because you just add in a new top number so "I got a 9!!&qu...
by paulears
Thu Sep 07, 2017 1:16 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Interesting tweet - student numbers
Replies: 22
Views: 12710

Re: Intersting tweet - student numbers

180? wow - where would they put them all? It does make you wonder if anyone was actually denied a place at audition doesn't it? My guess is it's sign up for the funding, keep them until the census point passes, take the partial funding then shrink the numbers, then do the same 'cull' later - which w...
by paulears
Wed Sep 06, 2017 6:20 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: The New GCSE spec - any comments
Replies: 12
Views: 8830

Re: The New GCSE spec - any comments

My niece is a teacher, and even the staff cannot find out what new grade really equates to the C everyone needs to get - it seems to have changed twice already, so they're pretty in the dark, and they're teaching it!
by paulears
Sat Sep 02, 2017 11:20 am
Forum: Agencies
Topic: Brand new agency help please?
Replies: 27
Views: 16179

Re: Brand new agency help please?

If they don't know what their clients can do, how can they put them forward to casting directors in any meaningful way? Contracts will apply in most agencies because if they put effort into promoting people, they won't want them getting work direct, or through somebody else. Other agencies are chanc...
by paulears
Thu Aug 31, 2017 7:15 pm
Forum: Agencies
Topic: Advice on agency fees
Replies: 7
Views: 5453

Re: Advice on agency fees

Ten quid a month to belong to an 'agency'. wow! Considering agencies never guarantee any work, no way can they justify this. As for admin - their office effort should go into promoting their clients. If they don't get you any work, what actual admin did they do? It's a con - a rip-off - taking advan...
by paulears
Tue Aug 29, 2017 11:40 am
Forum: Can You Help?
Topic: At wit's end
Replies: 18
Views: 15779

Re: At wit's end

If you are brave - then send a link to your showreel to people on this forum, and ask them for honest first impressions. People have done this in the past and had useful results. You'll get a few 100% positive ones, but you're looking for the small things that help form impressions. I know that I ha...
by paulears
Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:51 am
Forum: Training
Topic: The New GCSE spec - any comments
Replies: 12
Views: 8830

Re: The New GCSE spec - any comments

Dropped a clanger here - the school was on the pilot, and I didn't realise! I've also got a suspicion about the A Levels too, having for the first time ever, to lose a student I took on for the summer to work in professional theatre before he goes to uni. He got good grades, but in my humble opinion...
by paulears
Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:37 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: The New GCSE spec - any comments
Replies: 12
Views: 8830

The New GCSE spec - any comments

With the first people now being through the new GCSE specification with less practical content, has anyone discovered how this has impacted? My local college are quite concerned that the 3 minutes of 'acting' won't work very well for them once they get down to serious script work?
by paulears
Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:34 pm
Forum: Agencies
Topic: Losing an accent?! HELP!!
Replies: 7
Views: 6194

Re: Losing an accent?! HELP!!

My grandson has two accents - and he is nearly 6. He has the local one he uses at school and the barm cake odd one he uses at home with his manchester mum. He switches between the two when he talks to mum and dad. He isn't even aware he does it but it's fun to listen!