My American Experience

I was lucky enough to work in America this summer and I would like to share with you what I did and what I learned there.
I was an assistant director for 4 productions for children aged 7-14. These productions were Oliver, Freckleface Strawberry, Hercules and Once on this Island.
I was able to assist with casting the shows as well as assist with directing. The audition process was long. Some sessions I had to sit through 1,000 children singing and write notes about each one. I now fully understand how casting directors feel at the end of a whole day of auditions. There was then the recall process and initial casting. Some days we were up until 2am in order to cast every child who auditioned. If a child auditioned for a musical they were automatically in a show wether it be an ensemble part or principle.
By working behind the scenes of a show I was able to look at how a show was produced from scratch and performed in just under 3 weeks. Some children I looked after were 7 year olds, how they managed to pick up choreography and learn their songs/lines for the show all ready for a full scale production in under a month is beyond me. These kids are extremely talented and they want to be there.
The experience was very long but it was worth it getting to know these children and learning the American culture. The key to being successful in getting a part is preparation. All the children who were main leads were confident with their audition repertoire.

Reviewing everything in Module 3

I decided that I need to review everything that I had for this module in order to see what I need to do and work on. 

Conclusion

1) I need to find an agent and/or another performer to interview to find out more information. I have managed to find a performer and a casting director and would now like to get an agent's perspective.

2) I would like to change my inquiry based around auditions, here is my current new title: 

How can emerging performers secure an audition in the musical theatre industry. As I returned from America I wanted to direct my inquiry on auditions as I have gained a lot more knowledge in this area and would like to expand further.

Ideas on my Professional Arterfact

Paula gave me a great idea to base my artefact on something that I know a lot about e.g. theatre. I therefore would like to use my findings and create a 2 act play/musical. The idea came when discussing where I am if I based my work for BAPP into a musical. I feel that I am at the stage where I have both acts written but there is still gaps in the plot that need to be filled. 

Here are my ideas written down as I find it easier for myself to visualise.

If there is any agents or performers with an agent on this course I would love to hear from you, Thanks

Returning from America

Hello Everyone!

I have returned from working in America for 4 months and what a journey I have had.

I was working as an assistant director in New York, working on various musical productions. I have learnt a lot and am excited to put all my knowledge into practice. 

My journey through BAPP has been a rollercoaster ride with my change of course and ideas throughout my journey. I have now decided that I would like to carry on studying and do an MA in musical theatre for next year. I am currently researching and looking into different colleges and what course they can offer. I am also looking at audition content for my audition so that I can show off myself to the full potential.

Should I get an Agent?

Should I get an Agent?

The answer to this question is undoubtedly 'yes'! Some people can get work without an agent, but in this day and age, if you want a successful career we believe you will need to have a good agent, who will offer you all of the following (and more)

• They help find and then secure auditions for you.
• They gather constructive feedback for you during auditions.
• They negotiate a contractual deal on your behalf when you get offered work.
• They do a lot of behind-the-scenes work making sure the right people know who you are, and what you are up to.
• They encourage industry professionals to be interested in you and your work, and invite them to see you perform.
• They fight your corner if a company is in breach of contract.
• They offer support and guidance at all times and help you make difficult decisions about the development of your career,
• They are there to be the 'bad guy' who liaises with producers when necessary, so you only have to focus on performing.

Overall, a good agent will provide you with consistent and valuable support in an industry which is forever changing.

(extract from secrets of stage success)

Self Promotion with Social Media

I have found Social Media beneficial in two ways:

1) It allows you to connect with various artists as well as friends/family

2) It allows you to promote yourself as a performer

When I started this course I have only used number 1, to connect with people I already know. Since then I have discovered different methods and tools that have allowed me to discover how I can use social media and make it beneficial for myself.  I already had a Facebook, instagram and twitter but I now have been introduced to delicious, youtube and google +. 

I am also new to blogging. I have found it very useful to keep in contact with various people including members on BAPP so that I can see what they are up and to help them out as much as I can.  It has been very reassuring to know that everyone is in the same boat and by getting feedback from tutors and other students has been very useful.

I did create a SIG on Facebook: getting into professional work. I haven't found this as useful as I originally planned. I found that because I was a member of other peoples SIGs as so many other students are, it was very difficult to keep in contact with all of them and contributing as much as I could. 

Auditions

What I am struggling to do at the moment is finding auditions that I want to attend. Most open auditions through the stage are mainly jobs such as cruises which I don't have an interest in doing. I do have spotlight www.spotlight.com which I have found fairly useful with finding auditions but not many want to audition me. This is where I think an agent would come in useful as they look for auditions for their clients daily.

Here are some links I found when searching for auditions in musical theatre:

Acting the song: tips for a more successful musical theatre audition

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.mdx.ac.uk/docview/1357482569?pq-origsite=summon

Hitting the right note: how to get a callback at a musical theatre audition

"If 100 of you audition for a commercial — and that's quite typical — 99 of you are not going to book it," Capra says. "But those other 99 actors did have an opportunity to create a relationship and create a memory in the brain of the director." 

The more auditions you attend the more you get to know people and create a relationship with them.


http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.mdx.ac.uk/ehost/detail/detail?sid=1c36f4de-f72a-408d-98b3-1c263a1b948d%40sessionmgr4005&vid=0&hid=4001&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d&preview=false#AN=27254495&db=bth

Spotlight: Musical Theater: Broadway Audition Breakdown

Preparing for auditions should always take much consideration as it makes a big impact on your audition. Know the show and the directer/casting directer and sing/dress appropriate for what the show entails.

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.mdx.ac.uk/docview/862816267?pq-origsite=summon

Vlogging

Documenting my life

As you all know I will be heading to New York in just under two months - yes I am very excited. I have decided that I am going to document my journey on youtube as videos - or as some people say it Vlogging. The BAPP course has inspired me to blog more and I would like to include different ways of doing this and whats better than doing videos.

I have entitled my channel no one lives forever, to motivate and inspire me to live my life and have a journey. I also want to give viewers advice on performing, such as choosing a performing arts college and what to do after you have graduated. I also have a background in fitness and want to inspire people to exercise and eat healthy. 

Youtube is a tool I have used for my "self promotion" heading in my inquiry, I therefore thought my first video should be me doing some sort of performing, so heres myself singing a cover of Alive (originally by Sia)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMjSKgo7gS-KHxKrNZSB8iw

SIGS

I am looking for people who are currently working in the dance/musical theatre industry. I would like to hear your journey after professional training including non-professional work. If you could include:

1. Whether you have an agent or are freelance
2. Have you always managed to find professional work after graduating
3. Are there any ways that you have had to promote yourself in order to find professional work?

My inquiry is based on finding professional work in musical theatre, I have decided to have specific topics that I would like to focus more on. There are Agents, Auditions and Self Promotion. 

If you would like to contribute or have any ideas for me I would love to hear from you.

Please leave comments below or if you prefer my email address is hollynkm@hotmail.com

Thanks

Why do we need Musical Theatre?

When I typed in "why do we need musical theatre" into google various links came up regarding training and if studying musical theatre is for you as apposed to why we have it. Musical Theatre is growing every year with more and more applicants applying to all the colleges, who have had to expand to accommodate these circumstances.


I also want to look at American Musical Theatre as I'll be heading to work in New York over the summer. I want to compare and evaluate the differences between West End and Broadway.
Here is a link on why British and American theatre audiences are so different.
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2011/mar/30/british-american-theatre-audiences

We have the Oliviers, American have Tony's, but are Americans better at Musical Theatre than the British?
Why Americans beat the british in Musicals:
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2011/feb/23/americans-british-musicals-west-end-broadway

Employment in the Musical Theatre Industry

What do agents look for in a Musical Theatre grad?

Stuart Piper, and agent at Cole Kitchenn explains that he does not look for a particular casting but chooses clients on who he thinks are special and who he thinks will become "tomorrow's stars." Piper describes that colleges are now trying to make their students triple threats having equal training in all disciplines. This therefore makes clients more employable as they are able to do different things including maybe playing an instrument.
https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2015/stuart-piper-agents-look-musical-theatre-graduate/

I have started to look at employment in American Musical Theatre as I know nothing about employment there. In the UK there are various ways of getting your foot in the door. I've heard that its a lot harder to get into broadway than it is the west end so I'm going to find out more information.
This was the first link that I found about the subject. Most of the advice given relates to work in the west end too. The first two tips have been useful to me.
1) Get tickets to see shows- (especially if its the show your auditioning for) this will help on so many levels and gives you something more to talk about at your interview.
2) Get in the right room - face to face is better than electronic. Attend opening nights, conferences- get your face seen.
https://www.theproducersperspective.com/my_weblog/2013/01/5-tips-to-getting-a-job-on-broadway.html

How to become a broadway actor/actress:

train train train - whats difficult is after college I now have to fund for myself and nowadays everything costs. It is a struggle to keep fit and also attend as many auditions as I can.
network - this has come up a lot in my research. Many people have said its about being in the right place at the right time- but you have to be in a place to start with.
always say yes - I agree with this to a certain extent but I will always remain professional.
see as much theatre as you can - I try and see shows as much as I can, usually I go spontaneously after an audition as I am already there.
take care of yourself - This has proven tricky as I work full time and its difficult to find time to attend classes.
show up and move on - go to auditions and accept that there is a high chance of rejection.
http://broadwaymusicalblog.com/2013/06/18/how-to-become-a-broadway-actor-or-actress/

How to make it in musical theatre

http://castings.thestage.co.uk/audition-advice/blog/posts/what-it-takes-to-make-it-in-musical-theatre

What it takes to train a broadway star

I found this an interesting article. Even broadway stars are continually growing and never stop learning. It is not enough to just sing and dance, performers need to be strong triple threats and be able to sustain their stamina for eight shows a week.
http://www.newyork.com/articles/broadway/what-it-takes-to-train-a-broadway-star-24415/

Genre of Musical Theatre

Musical (noun): a stage, television, or film production utilising popular style songs to either tell a story or to showcase the talent of writers and/or performers, with dialogue optional.

Elements of a Musical
Music and Lyrics - the songs
Book/Libretto - the connected story expressed in script or dialogue
Choreography - the dance
Staging - all stage movements
Physical Production - the sets, costumes, and technical aspects

Showtunes have been around for 2,500 years starting in Greece.  Greek dramas use dialogue, song dance integrated in their storytelling. A lot of greek playwrights were also composers and lyricists too. Athenian musical theatre died due to the Peloponnesian War which led Athens defeated in 404 B.C.E.

Musical Theatre Timeline

1700's-1800's
In the 1700's- 1800's Opera became very fashionable to the upper classes in Europe.

Late 1800's 
The first known musical was The Black Crook by Charles M. Barrs which ran for 474 performances.

1920-1930
Musicals were starting to become more known in this era. Some famous musicals include Oklahoma! and No, No, Nanette.

Mid 1900s
Composer Stephan Sondheim was influenced by the change to rock and roll music. Arthur Laurents and Sondheim wrote West Side Story in 1957.

1987
Les Miserable the world's most well known musical opened not long after The Phantom of the Opera opened in 1988. They both still remain the longest running musicals in the West End.

2000s
A lot of musicals are now adapted from films. Musical such as Legally Blonde, Shrek and more successfully The Lion King.

Reviewing Module 2/Starting Module 3

I have been extremely busy these past few months, working full time and now trying to organise myself before I jet off to America in June as well as finding time to do this course.

Reviewing Module 2 

I am currently looking at more literature on Agents, Auditions and Self Promotion. I am looking at online sources as well as books to help me with this.

I also have to consider who to interview and what questions I would like to ask. I am hoping to find an agent to help me with this but I have currently not had much luck in finding one.

Before I being Module 3 I want to talk about my journey so far in terms of my professional career.

I have personally struggled financially keeping fit and attending dance classes in order to find work. I therefore had to take up a full time anti-social job so that I can still attend classes and auditions during the day and work in the evenings/weekends. I have therefore become a very busy individual and have to organise my day accordingly to get this course completed.

I would like to focus this module on personal branding and how an artist can develop and become more known in the industry. Although I do not know many people I am hoping to speak to casting directors and agents in an interview to see what they see in clients and what sort of things they look for when auditioning.

Meanwhile I have recently been offered a job in New York for the summer where I will be working at a summer camp teaching children dance and musical theatre. I am very excited about this opportunity as it will allow be to get back into the industry as well as network with individuals from around the world.