Question on Courses

Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 03:15 pm

I'm from Singapore. I'm now working full time in Australia. But that isn't a question is it. It seems like in Australia, everyone who is in theatre anything has done a lot of courses or gone to University in theatre or something. I have NO qualifications. I can SAY that I can sing and I can certainly SAY that I can act, but obviously without pieces of paper, I obviously do not have anything to back up my claims. (Well, other than someone hearing me singing. I used to busk.) So here is my question. What are courses to take if I was interested in musical theatre? What is the MUST HAVE STUDIED things that meet the requirements for directors to even give you time of day to audition and where can I take these courses if I'm already 25? (I was reading the NIDA brochure. It seems that the minimum requirement to join any NIDA courses is that you be under 20 for some reason) What are the places that are reccomended for inner Sydney where one should go to get pieces of paper? PS. I moved this here because it was on the wrong forum. I still don't know if it's on the right forum yet.

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selphie_trabiaThu, 22 Jan 2009, 03:15 pm

LabrugThu, 22 Jan 2009, 03:32 pm

Courses

The BB is possibly not the best forum - Green Room for general discussion and gossipping.

In all honesty, I think you get a very mixed response to such a question as some people will say you need to go to the top courses, NIDA, WAPAA, etc and then there will be those who tell you experience is key.

Personally, sometimes the bit of paper isn't worth a cent because it is not about how much you know, it is about what you can do, how you look and how far you are prepared to go. Add a little pinch of who you know and the world opens up.

But to get started with, the local community theatre scene is not dependant on qualifications. All you need is the passion, perhaps a dash of talent, the ability to work well within a team and an open mindedness about learning new things.

If you want to go Professional, you may need an agent willing to represent you. For that demonstrable experience and evidence of at least some training will go a long way.

Some of the Uni's (NIDA, WAPAA...) offer short courses or workshops so it may be worth while looking into those. There are private sector organisations that offer training programs also but tread with care in this area. Sharks lurk. Do your research.

The union is a good resource also - www.alliance.org

Most important - your belief in yourself. Good luck.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

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NaThu, 22 Jan 2009, 05:11 pm

I disagree with

I disagree with this: "Personally, sometimes the bit of paper isn't worth a cent because it is not about how much you know, it is about what you can do, how you look and how far you are prepared to go. Add a little pinch of who you know and the world opens up." Actors from NIDA and VCA have (according to rumour and some personal first-hand info) received jobs immediately upon leaving uni, without as much effort as those of us who either didn't study, or didn't study at those particular places. Sometimes the piece of paper is about contacts and the name of the institution, rather than the study itself. (I would add, I've not heard of this applying to WAAPA) Jellyfish shadow puppet for sale at Puppets in Melbourne

LabrugThu, 22 Jan 2009, 09:39 pm

Concession

I will concede this - the bit of paper works better for some than others - which is why I try to emphasis the importance of more than just education.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

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selphie_trabiaFri, 23 Jan 2009, 08:49 am

I've had a few experiences

I've had a few experiences where I couldn't even book an audition at all because I have no Australian experience (except in an amateur Rocky Horror Cast) and don't have any papers. They didn't even see me act or sing or anything. Admittedly, I haven't acted in Australia since Rocky Horror but I was in hospital.

LabrugFri, 23 Jan 2009, 09:12 am

What?

If I may ask, what did you audition for? More specifically, who?

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

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Walter PlingeFri, 23 Jan 2009, 09:27 am

I suggest not paying

I suggest not paying thousands of dollars for a "degree???? in musical theatre" go get some singing lessons, dance lessons acting lessons at at least haLF the cost... network, perform in amature theatre companies, research and find an agent. Unfortunately this industry is about 2% Talent and the other 98% about what you look like, your height, your weight, who you KNOW etc.... Unfortunately its not what you know its who you know. as cutt throat as it sounds its true. I wouldn't be paying $10,000 a year for some lectures on the stanislavski method, the history of west side story and a half year and and of year performance.

selphie_trabiaTue, 27 Jan 2009, 09:00 am

It was in 2006. It was for

It was in 2006. It was for a play. I didn't actually get to audition - I got a letter back saying that I had no Australian experience and that other actors who applied were more qualified. It was just something I noticed as well, when I talked to other people at auditions, that it seemed like everyone else had so many qualifications. That being said, what on earth is the Stravinski method?

Walter PlingeTue, 27 Jan 2009, 07:11 pm

Stanislavski is a person

Stanislavski is a person who created a method to "acting". Google him... Read his books... He s very famous indeed... but I wouldn't pay $10,000. Like I said you don't need a degree in acting! You will also find a lot of talk goes on at auditions... heaps of sh!t talk. "I've done this... and when I worked with him... and did you know that the casting agent is after.... blahblahblah. this industry can be full of so many horrid people with lots of horrid banter. You can be qualified without going to VCA or WAPPA or Ballarat

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