Read This.....Interesting...

[musicaltheatregurl]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 6:01pm

We all know going into a career in MT is very hard and i just found this online and thought it was interesting, it was on allexperts.com site...a dad posted hoping to get info on how he could get his daughter into 'The business' and kind of help her along the way, and it was reply that struck my attention...
here you go:

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Expert: Sean Martinfield
Date: 5/19/2006
Subject: Getting accepted in a Musical Theater college

Question
Hello. I'm the father of a 13-year-old emerging 9th grader. She has been involved in Musical Theater for several years now, has taken voice lessons, has been in a dance company that competes, and has taken some acting classes. My wife and I really would like to prepare her for a career in musical theater - specifically to gain acceptance in a college for musical theater. We would like to put her in the best possible position to get a scholarship. What advice can you give us regarding this possibility? Do you know what recruiters would be looking for? She has won vocal competitions, participated in nearly 10 plays at our local community theater, etc. I'm not trying to be a "pushy" dad just wanted to be a purposeful one. Thanks for any advice you could give me.

Ron

Answer
Hello, Ron –

Thank you for the question. Put this reply in a box somewhere and bring it out again in two years.

You should be in dialogue with the counselors at your daughter's school. As a Theatre Arts graduate, I know that I attended the very best university on the west coast for Theatre Arts – at the time I was there. I'm not so sure I would make the same choice now. Today, depending on all my interests (both dramatically and musically, i.e., pop/standard or classical, etc.) I would be aiming for NYU or Julliard.

What you need to understand is that Musical Theatre is one of THE lowest paying jobs in all the Performing Arts – that is, if the wannabe performer can endure the process of earning their Equity Card to qualify for an audition in the first place and then be the right "type" for whatever role and compete against hundreds of other auditionees all answering the same physical description and with similar or better qualifications. If your daughter is to have the remotest chance of eking out a living in this field, then see to it she is a championship dancer by her Junior Year, that she can read music and play enough piano to learn her own roles, is no less than 5' 8", looks like Miss America and could be a Sports Illustrated Centerfold. If all that is happening, then every newspaper in town will have written about her, the high school will be scrambling for full scholarships, and the best conservatories in the country will be clamoring for her. If not, then be prepared to pay her bills for a long, long time while she stands outside the NYC Equity Office at 5 AM – rain or shine, snow or more snow.

And that is the Truth.

Most sincerely,
Seán Martinfield
http://www.geocities.com/broadwaybelters
Entertainment critic, THE SAN FRANCISCO SENTINEL:
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/news_in_brief/martinfield_060425.shtml
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and there you go .I still definetly have my love for Musical Theatre, and anybody going into this career should know that it is going to be extremly hard...so i just wanted to post it to see what you guys think

Byeee
Kays

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 06:01 PM

[musicaltheatregurl]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 6:07pm

I find the guy replying seems kind of cut-throatish...i dont know.. even though,i guess that how you have to be in this business

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 6:23pm

To be honest, this and the book Making it on Broadway have really affected my decisions on my career, but after weighing it out, I still think theatre is the best fit for me. However, I will try and go to a college where I can study more than theatre, or both equally, because when I'm auditioning, I want to be doing more than waiting tables.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 6:51pm

This doesn't surprise me. I'm aware of how incredibly difficult it is and I'm willing to work hard at it. I'm not giving up without trying. I can't picture myself doing anything but theatre for a living.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 7:22pm

I think he went a bit over-the-top with the looks thing.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:14pm

I think he went a bit over-the-top with the looks thing.

Agreed. Having perfect features may hinder more than help. If this guys daughter has an intresting face or something in her appearence that makes her stand out, it could give her an edge.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:16pm

Hence, why all actors must also learn how to write. Therefore, you can write your own material.

Hence, why I am a screenwriter/actor and hopefully a playwright too. I need to write more plays.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:36pm

Re Appearnace. I have a small-ish birth mark on my face which can easily be covered with stage makeup, but it makes me uniqie. I used to hate it, but now I love it.

[justagirl2]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 9:00pm

Yeah, not so sure I agree with appearance. Especially height...being 5'9, I've lost out on a lot of roles because the guys weren't tall enough, my other co-stars weren't tall enough, etc. I'm sure a majority of Broadway actresses are under 5'8.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 9:04pm

PS ... Heels. Who doesn't wear them if they need to?

[smilinggiggle]

Posted: 11/4/06 at 4:48pm

Ya, you definatley don't have to be 5'8. I mean...look at Kristen Chenoweth...