I need an acting carrer!

I want to thank you for posting that about your stepson - all his auditions, his age, his insatiable desire to perform... and what he went through so far on his way to 'success'... my daughter has just turned 9 - we've been on this roller coaster since she was 6 - she couldn't even get parts until this year and even then, learning she was 8 and then 9, people weren't sure but gave her the benefit of the doubt - which was lucky for her because she landed herself parts then - but up until this year, the only way she could perform was enter talent quests and eisteddfods (which she wins or comes 2nd) but its not the same as doing a stage performance, a play or something, is it :) Anyway, I showed her your post about your stepson and I could see in her eyes that it helped in some way - she is as determined as ever but she seems to be aware that landing roles isn't an instant or a guarantee... especially at her age and given the fact we live in Mandurah - which is not a bad thing because not having the same opportunities as the city kids, she is forced to have "a life" and be a kid... which is important - if we lived in Perth, I fear she'd be like your stepson - I'd spend every day sitting and waiting during her auditions! And like you, I'm not a stage parent - I insist she does other things and I have tried to interest her in other paths but the funny thing is ever since she could walk and talk she has always said when she grows up she's going to perform for people! Heck, maybe she knows something I don't :) But thanks for your post - it is so timely... my daughter is going to try out for an audition coming up that I'm told kids are welcome to, and they give them a pretend type audition, but they never give roles to kids under about 10 years - other parents have told me this many times too... but this time I did the unthinkable and have everything crossed, fingers, toes, eyes!, that I haven't harmed her chances - IF she ever had a chance... you see, the stupid thing I did was to enquire about an audition pack for her (she wanted it) and in conversation standing there, I was asked her age, which I gave, and got the usual reaction! So I explained she'd already had a speaking/singing role in The King and I and part of the chorus, singing and dancing, in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - in addition to some very small school stuff, and then I got the spiel about the long hours and late nights... so I mentioned she is a night owl and late nights are the norm for her - other kids go to sleep but she's just coming into full gear around midnight! I still got "that" look. Then I found out my daughters class at school is having their first holy communion the same day as the audition! She's not a catholic but she is expected to be part of it - it's a big deal for the catholics! The catholics among you will certainly understand this and no doubt be mortified by the mere suggestion that my daughter would even think of missing this... so here's the awful thing I did... do you think I've hurt her chances doing this? I emailed the person in charge of the auditions and explained and asked if she could register at 11 am instead of 9 am because of this church thing... this person is away and hasn't read this yet but someone else did and told me that the answer would probably be no and if my daughter was serious she'd have to show her dedication by being there at 9 am. So I left the choice to her and she's going for the audition... I then sent a second email to the audition person to tell them to ignore my first email, no longer required an answer because she had decided to risk the wrath of her school by going to the audition instead that Sunday morning - and I hoped this would prove HER dedication and that she would be given a fair audition in return, given that she is only 9 yrs. So - what do you think? The reason I felt the urge to do this is my daughter is like alan's stepson... and the first time she auditioned for this particular place, whose name I won't mention, she was about 7 I think... and she was lined up in 2 rows of young kids and they were all made to sing together - nothing individual - AND she had a tall boy standing in front of her so she wasn't even seen, let alone heard! Then they were told thank you, you can go now. My husband was there to collect her and he heard one of the male organizers say to the other, "Well, that's over, now we can get on with the real auditions!" To say my daughter was devastated is putting it mildly. She wanted with every fibre of her young being to be in that particular production - even if she was just a singing curtain for heaven's sake! :) She had rehearsed weeks in advance, even asking a drama teacher at school to help her in her lunch breaks - she was just 7 but took this as seriously as any professional adult. She was early at the auditions, she did everything right - she was sooooooo keen. To end up singing in second row, behind a tall boy, and not be seen or heard - well, you can imagine... So now you know WHY I'd want her to have a fair audition with these people this time - if she is going to miss what is the most important event in the Grade 4 schedule this year to do this audition, knowing what I know from last time, I certainly don't want her to waste her time for nothing. Whether she gets a place or not is neither here nor there - getting a fair audition IS what matters this time round. My emails were not rude or aggressive - they were just informational. I figured if they are going to be concerned about her age, 9 yrs, and her 'dedication' and wonder if she'd be a risk and therefore not take her seriously and give her a "Clayton's audition", I figured if they knew what she was giving up to attend, they would at least give her a fair go - especially as she has been in 2 productions already this year and proven she is old enough and capable enough... I just didn't want her rocking up again at 9 am - then we wait heaven only knows how many hours, then she is called with other youngsters, lined up in rows and no real audition given - just humouring the young ones... know what I mean? what do you think? Huge no-no? Sensible? Hard to tell? I don't intend doing it again - it's just this particular company - because of past experience - and the fact she is foregoing something taken very seriously in the Catholic school calendar in order to have an audition with them again... shouldn't they know? This means so much to my daughter - I wish I hadn't sent any emails... but then part of me realizes, if the same thing happened as last time because of her age, and she'd sacrificed what she has this particular sunday, for nothing, then I'd be angry and wish I HAD told them... I do realize it is not the done thing... but, under these circumstances, if they did to her again what they did a couple of years ago, I don't believe that is acceptable either... or shouldn't be. But on the other hand - we're just talking about a theatre company in a country town - not the West End in London or Broadway... producers etc. are still people, aren't they? Surely they'd understand why I'd want them to know - and give her a fair go this time? What do you think? Aaagghhh! There are times I wonder why my daughter couldn't be obsessed with golf or something else instead!