Regrets

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LivingTheDream
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Regrets

Post by LivingTheDream »

Just felt like I needed to get this out and talk to some people who have experience in performing arts.

My dd is an accomplished singer and dancer, but her real strength is acting. She wants to pursue acting, rather than musical theatre, as a career, as acting is her passion and singing and dancing are her hobbies (although she enjoys all three immensely). She knows that while she is a good singer and dancer, she isn't strong enough to make it as a West End musical leading lady, and she is fine with this as she wants to be a straight actress. My dh and I are continually astounded by her performances every time we see her in a show, be it a play or a musical, but I do have a thought nagging me.

Should we have sent her to stage school? My dh and I privately discussed sending her somewhere like Italia Conti, Sylvia Young or Tring Park when she was nearing the end of Year 5, but she is very clever and we didn't want her academics to suffer, just in case her performing career didn't work out.

She wants to be a straight actress anyway, and definitely has the talent and determination to do it, but I can't help thinking that by not sending her to stage school, we almost 'cut off' her chances of making it in musical theatre (which, up until the age of 14, was the area she wanted to have a career in).

Am I just being silly as she doesn't want to do musical theatre anymore? Has anyone else experienced this/ got any advice?
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Caroline A-C
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Re: Regrets

Post by Caroline A-C »

My ds is at Arts Ed and says that there are many many students who have not attended full time stage school prior to this (my ds included). In fact, the head of his college says that they are looking for "trainability" rather than the already trained, so don't worry. If your daughter has what they are looking for she will get in regardless of whether she has attended full time stage school or not. Hope that helps and best of luck.
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2girlsmum
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Re: Regrets

Post by 2girlsmum »

Thank you LivingTheDream for posting this, and also thank you for the great reply Caroline A-C. My DD has just turned 13, does the usual part time stage school, does v well in her LAMDA drama and musical theatre exams, she has been lucky enough to perform in Oliver! in the West End and be one of the Von Trapp children in the UK Tour of The Sound Of Music and knows that after her secondary education she wants to go on to Drama College. Due to finances full time stage school is not an option and I'm already worrying about whether I should sell the house etc to put her into full time stage school to give her a better chance of achieving her goal, but reading your comments has given me hope that what talent she has will shine through at her audition and hopefully get her a place [-o<
LivingTheDream
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Re: Regrets

Post by LivingTheDream »

Well, 2girlsmum, your dd seems to have done pretty well without stage school! A West End debut and a lead in a touring production all before she hit adolescence! Well done her! And well done to your ds, Caroline A-C, for getting into Arts Ed! My dd has played lead roles in semi-professional productions (all regional), and I think Caroline A-C is right; as long as our kids have the talent and drive (and it sounds like they have!), they'll definitely make an impression, plus they've probably got more hands-on experience than those kids who have been at stage school since the age of eleven.
Last edited by LivingTheDream on Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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riverdancefan
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Re: Regrets

Post by riverdancefan »

Hi !!
I completely understand how you feel !!

Every now and then I get a complete panic that we are not doing enough for DS and by not being able to afford the likes of SY (he got a scholarship to IC but not enough to make it viable for us).
I have spoken to various professionals who have worked with DS and they have all said the same. what we are doing is enough, his training outside of a stage school is excellent, he is getting the best we can provide.
He works, not all the time but enjoys what he does, if he is at Sy or not, I cannot do anything about his height or his looks,we all know how subjective casting is , he will be cast as a child if he is right for the part, or not, no matter where he goes to school!
I am more concerned about his employability as an adult and I am happy with the experience he is getting...he gets stronger and stronger as a performer every term, thats down to the teachers he has now.

He is at a great state school, choice is , do I bankrupt and stress the family to send him to a vocational school that may or may not provide a better training in performing arts?? ( I am more than happy with his Conti associate school, he also has private drama and singing lessons and Irish dancing lessons)
or do we carry on as we are and get him every possible opportunity and make sure he is not too exhausted to enjoy himself (as he would be if traveling into London every day for school) He is doing very well, I have no intention of uprooting the family or sacrificing our lives at the alter of SY or IC, they are not the be all and end all of being a successful performer.

Bottom line is , no you are not depriving your DD as long as you feel she is getting the best from what is available...those that can afford to pay for Sy, Tring etc, lets be honest are not always the most talented, they can pay, and perform a bit, they get a place...simple as!. But that does not guarantee them work. Example of this is the recent NYMT production he is cast in - he was auditioning with SY, Conti, and other vocational schools attendees....none of them were cast, every single performer cast is at a mainstream school, but very very talented.
Talent and hard work (and a bit of luck) is the most important thing.
Don't feel bad, don't feel bad for not being in a finacial position to spend thousands of pounds for a vocational school, your DD is clearly very talented and will do well, I am positive of that, she knows what she wants to do and is focusing on that !! - well done for supporting her thus far =D> =D>
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Caroline A-C
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Re: Regrets

Post by Caroline A-C »

Well said riverdancefan. Apart from which, you will need the money for the college costs later on!!!!!
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bruno2
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Re: Regrets

Post by bruno2 »

I start to get panic attacks when I hear of parents thinking of selling their family homes to pay for drama schools :( :( Talented kids will always shine, so please remember this. :D You dont hear of families selling up when they have children have an obvious talented in some other subject.
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Welsh Mum
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Re: Regrets

Post by Welsh Mum »

In my DDs class in drama college NO-ONE has been to stage school. Most have only ever done amateur stuff, 2-3 of them had done a few minor professional things. I think learning skills - sining and dance - is possible to do outside stage school. I also think its good for youngsters to mix with friends who are not into performing, and have a rounded education where they also do things like play hockey, be prefects etc. Drama colleges like applicants with broad expereiences and interests along with talent that can be developed and trained. You DON'T need to go to stage school for that. I also feel selling houses etc puts a HUGE pressure on youngsters - being successful isn't only about hard work and talent - we all know that luck alos plays a big part - yet they will feel even worse if they are unsuccessful if they know thier whole family had gambled everything on them.
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LivingTheDream
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Re: Regrets

Post by LivingTheDream »

My dd is at a private school, so instead of having to pay school fees and fees for all her different lessons, we did wonder whether a stage school might be more economical. However, many of my dd's friends have gone to stage school on scholarships who are (in my opinion) no better than dd. I think I'd rather make sure that dd has good academics and then send her to stage school, as chances are only the real stars will get into stage school post-18. It's also worth mentioning that the majority of our nation's most esteemed actors and actresses (think Dame Judi Dench, Benedict Cumberbatch etc.) only attended stage school post-18. Gives me hope that dd's talent, along with her experience and local training, will shine through!
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Re: Regrets

Post by Fruitcake »

I think statistically you will find that most adults making a living from performing did NOT attend a specialist school such as SY etc, and, put the other way round, the majority of children who attend such a school do NOT end up making a living from performing.

Please don't get me wrong - I am not saying anything for or against specialist schools, just stating what I believe to be a fact. I have no opinion either way on whether it is the right or wrong thing to do to send your child to one of these establishments, and I know that most pupils who attend them have a fantastic time and learn a lot, and some DO become very successful.

As I said before, however, statistically it does not give a child a head start in the world of adult performing.

Livingthedream - I think you are doing everything right for your daughter. She is clearly talented and has already had success. I think you can stop panicking and be proud of what she has already achieved, and look forward to what lies ahead for her.
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nextinline
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Re: Regrets

Post by nextinline »

It is an interesting one this. Personally I think it is up to each family to make your own choice. However my ds has a different take on it. He said he wanted to stay in mainstream school to be amongst people who had no interest in the same things as him as well those that do. He felt he would learn more about different people and what makes them tick and that this would then feed into his acting. It does seem to be working for him. He is training to become a triple threat but at the same time remembers he is just a lad at heart.
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whateverlife
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Re: Regrets

Post by whateverlife »

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=16998

This is a link to something i posted a while ago. I am pursuing a career as a straight actress, and faced the dilemma of school over work when i was much younger. I thought you might like a read, sort of from the perspective of a child, who has now sort of grown up.

I dont know much about stage schools, but i know that for some people its worked out brilliantly. I would favour Brit school over a traditional stage school however. But then- Aaron Johnson went to stage school and now look where he is! (and im sure many others)

Good luck!
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Genevieve
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Re: Regrets

Post by Genevieve »

LivingTheDream wrote:I can't help thinking that by not sending her to stage school, we almost 'cut off' her chances of making it in musical theatre (which, up until the age of 14, was the area she wanted to have a career in).

Am I just being silly as she doesn't want to do musical theatre anymore? Has anyone else experienced this/ got any advice?
I think riverdance fans post said it all, and the others I agree with too - and ...
Your dd is not one-dimensional, she's good at other things too making her who she is, well rounded and interested in different things and they all need something to fall back on !!!- I'd let her grow and develop in an environment where she meets people of different interests and backgrounds where for her, it sounds like she'll be able to find her niche and reach her full potential that way - and stick to academic study route, and in no way will that prevent her going into musical theatre later if she is pulled in that direction.., studying at post 18 etc later on - its all about the audition on the day anyway - she can keep her hand in even outside of school ! As Welshmum and others have said... most MT students at post 18 haven't been to stage schools anyway !
Last edited by Genevieve on Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Caroline A-C
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Re: Regrets

Post by Caroline A-C »

Whateverlife - you're right, Aaron Johnson did indeed go to stage school but it was only a part time stage school. It really makes no difference whether you have spent your time at a full time stage school or not. As Genevieve says, it is all about how you perform at the audition and what the panel see in you.
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paulears
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Re: Regrets

Post by paulears »

There is a lot of excellent advice here. "she is very clever and we didn't want her academics to suffer" - rather sums it up, I think. You know she is an able person, and could probably do very well in education. Nothing ever says acting (or performing in general) is something they have to do from 20-21. Indeed, the evidence seems to be that by 30, many of these people who had this "passion' lose it and get other jobs, some in the industry, some outside of it. Youthful passion does not always last, because the harsh reality of the system is that only the very best and marketable ones even get a chance to try it. Look at many of the younger people who are on the celebrity list. It's so obvious that some are well educated, and other far less so. Do the same thing five years later and see who is still being talked about, and it's far less, but still the educated ones seem to be doing better.

Facebook is a great thing and I'm in touch with loads of the students I taught between 1994 and 2004 and I have maybe 3 or 4 fellas still making a decent living from Performing Arts, and probably double that from the girls. Far more gave up performing as low paid, and irregular work, often with dreadful working conditions, and re-trained as drama or music teachers, where they are now happy and earning decent salaries. Some are doing Arts Management, and doing very well - but a very large proportion are working in areas totally outside of performing arts. However, many ARE using what they learned, working in sales, or other areas where their acting skills actually work!

One thing I have noticed is that the passion many of the youngsters have, wanes significantly once they experience the proper training, and the actual jobs. Many wear rose tinted glasses, seemingly unaware that the job is nowhere as glamorous as they thought. I see loads of these kids in venues where I'm working, and the look on their faces when they are unloading lorries, getting dirty, sweating away hanging cloths and shifting scenery after a 6 hour drive from the previous venue tells a story.

The ones who have the most fun acting singing and dancing are the ones doing it as amateurs - where conditions are so much better. I've just had an email from a brand new Acting ASM who is starting with me in November. This is their first job since leaving their 'name' college. They didn't make it through the audition, but went for it as the venue is within travelling distance of the venue - so then re-applied to be an Acting ASM. I have a suspicion he knows little about back stage work, and is simply hoping one of the people who are in the show become ill so he can stand in. He's asked me for time off during the run for two auditions, and want's the script now so he can learn it now, as he is not very speedy at script work. The 'real' cast have a week! Not a good start! As for the time off? Forget it! He will no doubt think I'm very unfair - but it will be a baptism of fire for this fella.

My prospective daughter in law has just started working for Warners in a holiday centre. Job advertised as full time vocalist at 20p more than minimum wage, with split shifts, 6 days a week - so starts at 10am, finishes at 11pm, with time off in the day, and a requirement to sign away her european working time directive maximum hours. The vocalist job seems to include dancing, bingo, cashing up, and giving dance lessons - odd? How would you feel if this was what your sons and daughters had to do instead of having a part in Les Mis. Some of my panto dancers - who I have to say are always excellent get work in WWRY or Les Mis, or the other West End shows - but to get in those, you've really got to be so good, and have the audition and work experience.

Whenever I hear youngsters tell me they live, eat and dream about performing - I always get the view they're very poorly informed as to what the real world is like.

The fall off rate is HUGE. Of course it still means some of these keen people will make it, but there are plenty of shocks on the way.
One of my two sons is in the business, the other as far away from it as he can get. I wonder which one will be able to get a mortgage first?
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