ideas for gap year please?

[Princess Star]

hi all,
thanks for your advice, because my daughter was off to america for whole summer from june, i called Arts ed and mountview and managed to get he 1-1 auditions before she went for both foundation courses, she got accepted onto both of them! But, she got such a good vibe from Mountview, found the half hour she spent auditioning one of the most helpful acting classes she had ever had! So, she has accepted place with them! Now next thing is whether or not to try to get an agent? also, will need to get a job too! We've sent deposit so def going, let me know what your decisions are and next steps? But thanks for advice! oh and yes she loves working in USA hard work but teaching her alot of life skills and independance!

[pg]

You could try getting an agent, but to be honest she is likely to find it tough unless she's going for extra work (which could provide interesting/useful experience and some extra income, providing she can find flexible part-time work as well).

The competition for agency representation for young women is very, very fierce. If she looks really young for her years or has unusual looks or skills she may find someone to take her on their books. Agents are inundated for requests for representation. Many drama school graduates don't get representation straight away - and that's with the benefit of 3 years' training, drama school productions and a showcase and all the industry contacts the schools have.

I have two grown-up children: one is an actor, the other is currently training at RWCMD. My son didn't have a gap year, but my daughter did: she spent her summer doing stage-management and then the rest of the year travelling and earning money. She was fortunate though that she knew she had a place by Christmas (this was for music, not acting) so it did free her up to travel. The trouble with drama school applications is that it takes the whole blooming year, so it can be difficult to plan anything that takes you out of the country.

My top recommendation for a gap year is to fit in as much theatre as you can (either as participant or audience member) and to read as many plays as you can. Looking for really good audition speeches is a long job!

Any theatre she can experience as an audience member can be useful: local amdram, fringe festivals, local Rep, West End - anything and everything. Trying to work out what "works" and what doesn't can really help in the preparation for auditions. Sometimes you can learn more from watching less-than-brilliant acting than you can from watching the best in the business - providing you watch with a critical eye.

Foundation courses might be useful, but they're not essential. I think RADA's is expensive because they know they can get away with it! Here's the comment from NCDT: http://ncdt.co.uk/guidetotraining/courses/coursesfaqs/
Are foundation courses necessary and are they worth the cost? How else can I prepare before going to drama school?

Most accredited institutions now offer foundation courses, for those who wish to prepare for two or three-year programmes. Currently, the National Council for Drama Training does not accredit any foundation courses. They are by no means necessary preparation for drama school, but can be useful for some students. It’s a question of what’s right for you. The fees can cost more than £10,000 for one year, and there are no substantial sources of funding available.

There are other less expensive ways to prepare for drama school and build up performance or technical experience. Get involved with youth or amateur theatre in your local area to learn skills, get used to working as a company, and start finding out about yourself as a performer or technician. Make the most of the facilities that schools provide, set up your own drama group if there are none nearby - all of this will strengthen your application. Consider a FE course or part-time programme.

Drama schools also value a breadth of experience that is not confined to performing, so don’t worry if your CV isn’t filled exclusively with acting or stage managing.

[Princess Star]

thank you so much for your really helpful reply. I've been looking a bit today online (in between working!) my DD is def going to Mountview foundation, she thinks she can learn alot from the tutor she met. But this is part-time so she can do some part-time work, she is part of 2 local theatre groups locally so yes I must encourage her to get involved in their next productions. I have seen 2 agents advertising on the stage and on here, DJB management and Cassius management- wonder if i can get any feedback on them? I have emailed them and Cassius said no fees? My DD does have some experience 2 amdram performances this year, and just completed A level in drama and has done some modelling and a little acting work, but needs to get alot more experience. She has also been working 9 weeks in USA for Campleaders so i am glad she is spreading her wings a bit! As you say the drama schools start auditioning again soon! thats why she didnt want to be out of the country for too long, she did get recall for GSA which she loved, so not bad for her first year of auditions but think she has got a lot of development to do over the next year. Any advice is really, really appreciated thank you!

[Welsh Mum]

I would also add that from my DDs personal experoence of a gap year, then earning money (from a part time job) as well as getting performance experience is a must! This may of course depend on your family's financial situation, but the cost of auditioning for drama places is high (particularly when you factor in travle/accomodation expenses (though again, this may not apply depending where you live) , also if the deired recalls happen then there is more expense again. The cost mounts up early. My DD is now glad she earned money in her gap year: she has saved a lot and has a bit behind her to start living independently in London this year. However, it has to be a flexible job, as employers do not always realise that drama school auditions are NOT usually flexible !!

As well as working my DD kept up with classes in dance and singing, got more stage experience and tried to see theatre as well. A lot of time was also spent getting audition monologues, learning them, and finding altrenatives (the same also applies to songs). So it is a very busy year

[pg]

An actors' agency should never charge fees to represent adult acting clients. The fact that Cassius doesn't charge fees is a good thing but it doesn't mean they're any good as agents! They are obviously very new (which presumably is why they have open books) so it might be a good time to get on board (providing you don't have to sign a contract that binds you to them for a long period -ask for a mutual trial period). The only thing I've been able to find out about them is that they have been advertising for unpaid internships and an unpaid web designer . It's not really possible to judge whether they have the knowledge/contacts/experience to do well for their clients from what I've been able to glean from an internet search.

DJB Management has been going a bit longer I think (2006?). They seem to have a very small client list which suggests to me that they are particular about who they take on ( which is a good thing!). They do say they only take on clients who have trained or who are undergoing training - still worth applying though I would think!

[proudmum]

Thats great PS is she doing the acting or mt course? my daughter is doing the mt course and cant wait to start she loved MV and felt comfy there. D works p/t in Topshop and has decided she wouldnt be able to get an agent as they expect full attendance at MV so she would be limited in what she could do anyway (even if she managed to get an agent). Im sure our girls will meet

[Princess Star]

thanks everyone all helpful stuff for me to discuss with DD when she gets back from America next week! Proudmum i have some emails in my inbox from you from a few years back! hello again! Is your daughter doing the full-time BA or the foundation course? My DD is doing the acting Foundation course its on Monday, Weds and Thurs eve's i believe? She is going to be getting train up & down from Brighton to start so will be tiring but takes about 1.5hrs each way but she said she can study or go on internet have stuff to do that she would be doing at home. She will consider moving up to London if she gets a job sorted out up there, but she said she doesn't mind commuting, because she is also part of 2 theatre companies down here, so we'll see how she gets on. Also, we couldn't afford to support her moving to London, train works out cheaper option, she's got a 16-25 discount card, plus i'm going to look into booking advanced fares and oyster cards.

I have been in touch with both of the agencies because i have a younger daughter too that is interested, they both seem quite approachable by email.

It is sooo nice talking to you guys because you know what we're going through!

[proudmum]

Hi,she's doing the foundation course and its on the same nights as acting. A few of her friends from Brit live in Brighton but the ones that got into vocational are moving up,a couple in Chiswick and 1 at Wood Green. The rent is so expensive but their on the 3yr degree and the days are going to be so long that they cant face commuting again.
Like you say see how she gets on then decide. Has she joined the FB group?

[Princess Star]

ah so they might meet. Dont think she has joined FB group yet, shes back next week so will tell her too then, plus job hunting! like u say its expensive to live there if she was doing full time 3 yr she would def move up so will see how works out, where she gets a job etc. Sounds like you are going to miss her! and your other DD, i'm dreading it although ive had a taste of it for the last 9 weeks she's been in USA!

[proudmum]

Princess star hows your daughter enjoying MV? mine is loving it she is living with a lad doing the acting so I bet our daughters have met each other by now.