Receiving our Final Grades

I hope that everyone got the grades they hoped for.

I am very gutted that I didn't get the grade I hoped for but the reason why I am so annoyed is that I'm not sure what I did wrong. I was all over the place while doing this course, starting by wanting to become a primary school teacher to then going back to being a professional performer. I was offered a job in America for the summer and worked continuously doing various jobs.

I admit I did struggle with the course as I wasn't sure which direction my path was taking me.

I now will not be able to do my PGCE as I did not get the grades I needed for the course. I believe I did the best I could but now I don't really have a need for a degree, of course I will still have to pay for the course in instalments which is gutting as this qualification is useless now.

I will leave all my work on here in hope that this will help some people with the course.

I have started a new blog at hollylavender.com if you would like to check that out, I never thought I would be a blogger and this course has inspired me to do so.

Over and out

Holly x

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