NotaPushyMum.Com

Playing Devil's advocate : If they had chosen a date later in the summer, more people would have finished school and therefore more would be away, the busiest times for holidays are first two weeks in August, because people like to break the summer up evenly (according to a travel agent friend).
On the other hand around the country most schools generally finish sometime during the last full week of July, which this year is 22-26th July, which would cause the other problem that many may have to miss one of the last days of term to attend.

francescasmum wrote:Playing Devil's advocate : If they had chosen a date later in the summer, more people would have finished school and therefore more would be away, the busiest times for holidays are first two weeks in August, because people like to break the summer up evenly (according to a travel agent friend).
On the other hand around the country most schools generally finish sometime during the last full week of July, which this year is 22-26th July, which would cause the other problem that many may have to miss one of the last days of term to attend.

Agree with you totally francescasmum. There will never be a good time to fit in with everyones schedules, holidays, schools etc with these things, just like any other audition or casting.... If people are that motivated to do it, they will find a way, or they will prioritise what is most important to them. Good luck to everybody.

JJ x

<puts up hand nervously>

I think audition dates during the school holidays are really sensible. It means that no-one has to miss school to attend.

Unfortunately there will always be opportunities that some people can't make. I expect every audition process ever devised seems unfair to someone. You could cancel your holidays...
That's not a serious suggestion - it really isn't - but you could.

I'm sure they will be very busy but it's great that people get a chance to be seen if they are available.

Drama school first round auditions at some schools are two short speeches - in and out in around 10 minutes or less - and you have to pay for those auditions (and often don't get much flexibility on audition dates).

We'll be away for 3 weeks from 19 July. We always go away at this time of year and accept that Flo can't be involved in anything that would require her to commit to being around then. So she passed up the chance to audition for SoM in Regents Park this year, ditto in another location last year, she will miss the opportunity to perform at a couple of music festivals and can't attend auditions of workshops at this time.

That's life. She needs her holiday and so do I. Maybe we have a different perspective because Flo has lots of opportunities and is constantly involved in things at other times.

...note to all our young hopefuls - Flo's diary isn't full of feature films and West End shows, but she is constantly 'working' on things that excite, inspire and stretch her abilities, most of which come through networks she has built, steadily, over the past few years. The pay isn't great, but she doesn't need to feed herself...yet, and red carpets are few...but she has experienced being recognised and it's not high on her 'to do' list

Anyway, what goes around comes around. There's always another audition on another day, so be patient and your day will come. Meanwhile enjoy your holidays!

Hope this helps

Deb

Flosmom wrote:We'll be away for 3 weeks from 19 July. We always go away at this time of year and accept that Flo can't be involved in anything that would require her to commit to being around then. So she passed up the chance to audition for SoM in Regents Park this year, ditto in another location last year, she will miss the opportunity to perform at a couple of music festivals and can't attend auditions of workshops at this time.

That's life. She needs her holiday and so do I. Maybe we have a different perspective because Flo has lots of opportunities and is constantly involved in things at other times.

...note to all our young hopefuls - Flo's diary isn't full of feature films and West End shows, but she is constantly 'working' on things that excite, inspire and stretch her abilities, most of which come through networks she has built, steadily, over the past few years. The pay isn't great, but she doesn't need to feed herself...yet, and red carpets are few...but she has experienced being recognised and it's not high on her 'to do' list

Anyway, what goes around comes around. There's always another audition on another day, so be patient and your day will come. Meanwhile enjoy your holidays!

Hope this helps

Deb

That's a great philosophy if you have a younger child who still has choices ahead of them - who isn't in the dreaded teen age bracket where work chances become slimmer, or you have a child whose main focus is perhaps musical theatre for instance. However, when you have a child in the mid teen age bracket where casting opportunities for straight acting (no MT) are few and far between and combine that with a child who has a passion for classical theatre, then its a different situation. The opportunity for straight/classical acting roles where height is NOT an issue and location is NOT an issue and where its nothing to do with musical theatre, rarely, if ever, comes up!! Couple that with the prestige of the Globe and the opportunity to learn from these craftsmen, means it is a big deal that we are on holiday. So I just wanted to point out the other side of the situation.

Also this is a massive deal as its the first time they've performed anything in the new Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

The annoying thing is it will be a quick 'whittle down' round but DD is available for all the other dates given.

Sorry if I sounded blasé. If this is your passion and your dream then, by all means, move heaven and earth to make it happen, and I will be there to give a nudge or a shove to any moveable planets that I can, if that helps you.

We are close to Stratford on Avon, so we're hopeful that Flo will get her chances there when their need coincides with what she has to offer.

Enjoy your summer.

Deb x

Totally agree - you have to make a decision where your priorities lie and what might be good for one family might not work for another. We didn't get our WE contract extended recently as we decided to have 2 weeks in Florida. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. It's not for us this time round - but I wish all those that can make it all the best - we look forward to coming to see you !!

I really would rather be away in holiday
Emma7 I feel your frustration but what isn't sensible about the date they have chosen?
It's out of term time, so no need to take time off from school, it's before August so many people haven't left for their holidays, if private schools break up earlier they can't really do much about that...
It's a very sensible date I think, I guess they will never fit in with everybody..
If it had been 4 days later DS would have been with NYMT and unable to go.

Well, I guess I didn't realise that West and Central London private schools were on such a different schedule. Maybe we start back up earlier in August? Anyway- in these parts, end of July feels like the middle of the holiday for us. As for missing school, I quite agree about that, but - there are always weekends? But, then, I suppose many children will be off on school trips or other end of year activities- so, as someone said- it will never suit everyone- of course I understand. I suppose I was just expressing the frustration that Netty spoke of. Also, the Globe experience, really does sound different and special as opportunities go- not in a commercial way, but an unusual educational opportunity. I hope it works out for someone and they let us know what it's like.

emma7 wrote:Well, I guess I didn't realise that West and Central London private schools were on such a different schedule. Maybe we start back up earlier in August? Anyway- in these parts, end of July feels like the middle of the holiday for us. As for missing school, I quite agree about that, but - there are always weekends? But, then, I suppose many children will be off on school trips or other end of year activities- so, as someone said- it will never suit everyone- of course I understand. I suppose I was just expressing the frustration that Netty spoke of. Also, the Globe experience, really does sound different and special as opportunities go- not in a commercial way, but an unusual educational opportunity. I hope it works out for someone and they let us know what it's like.

I know - there are going to 16 very lucky and fortunate young people!!
fantastic experience !!
so I completely understand the disappointment of not even being able to go for it

I wonder how authentic an Elizabethan experience it should be for these kids You might like to read this clip "Elizabethan child actors kidnapped and whipped"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22938866

Fascinating, Hecouldshine. Thank for sharing this.

What happens if when they've got the lucky 16 children, but their schools refuse time off school or they come down with something serious and miss rehearsals, Shouldn't they have a few more in reserve? Still think it's unfair that they don't offer dates at the end of the holidays as well. Some of us can only get away for cheap deals or stay free with family or for one week i.e. the same week they are offering auditions. Best of luck to the rest of you though.

I'm sure they will have a reserve list Livy2

Flosmom wrote:Sorry if I sounded blasé.
Deb x

No, you didn't sound blasé at all. You offered one opinion from 'your' point of view and I just came along and offered another perspective from 'our' point of view.