Nice to know that we're not the only ones...

Seems someone else is now getting a barrage of comments from wannabe starlets: http://www.thedramateacher.com/mary-poppins-to-come-to-australia/ (Hint: read the comments) It's sad that youngsters out there are so used to the internet now ('now'... man, I'm getting old...) that they can't spot the difference between a posted announcement/media release and an advert/casting call. Nor do they seem aware of the likehood of anyone actually caring whether or not they post on some random website; or think "hey, look 50 people who want to audition. I should get their info and have them come in!" ... Sigh... it looks like our work is never done.

...several things indeed, Jeff; * Lack of intelligence. * Lack of nouse. If they are so daft as to miss such clear information, to the point of hilarity even...than no, there's no great Meryl Streep or Seymour-Hoffman amongst them, I'm not that sad to say. Just watched those two mentioned above, in the motion picture "Doubt" - based on John Patrick Shanley's play by the same name. The performances: Exceptional. The direction and conclusion: 'Dog's breakfast'. If I can get a copy of the play, I may just open this up as a forum topic, one day. Yes, I'm that disappointed by his handling. Original text may yet save him in my eyes. Unlikely though, I'm guessing. Cheers, Daniel.

I can rein them in alright, but only up to a point. As you would suspect, they have their own characters, and not all respond the same way. I've got this one "Rudolph" character who plain wants to do his own thing at any opportunity. His nose is red, too. But not shiny red. Just redder than the others. I'm a paranoid kind of bloke by nature so to allay this primary driver or flaw in my character I substituted-in the word, "hilarity". Had I come across Na's link on my own I would have thought it was one person under a list of names having a laugh. Three Aussies and a G.B. man. Nice. Hugh Jackman - for my - is still an open question. How'd he get in there? Kylie, I get: "Street Fighter", wasn't it? Only thing I like is sun-ripened mushrooms and tomatoes. Actors can ripen all they like, so long as I get my money's worth in the cinema or theatre or with a bought/hired DVD. However, it's unlikely there's one there, only because a future great actor - I would suggest - needs a high degree of intelligence, even in their formative years to point at. I'm sorry. I will, next time. I apologise for any distraction caused. You're not the sort of bloke who appears - to me - to be easily distracted, by the way, Jeffrey. Cheers, Daniel.

It's not just about being older or wiser: it's about basic reading comprehension. If the article posted above had said "And if you'd like to audition, here are some contact details" or something similar, I could understand. But nowhere does it say that. Instead, the people interested in auditioning seem to have missed the point of the information - which is just that, to inform of an upcoming production - and jumped right into, "hey this guy knows where the auditions will be". Does anyone actually learn reading comprehension anymore? (Or maybe this is more to do with the fact that critical thinking isn't taught in schools) Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

If critical thinking isn't in fact taught in schools anymore than that is just plain wrong. And kinda crazy. In the face of the continual and seemingly unrestrained march of science into all of our lives, the one thing that should be taught in schools IS critical thinking, I should think. It's no good for me to get into this, though. It upsets my way of thinking and distracts me from the ordinary working order of my mind. I don't even know what that means... I kinda do... I don't... I don't know, but I do... Arghhh... Crap! Enough! I'm outta here, for now -

Na, I'm so pleased you found this article and posted it. It did make interesting reading and you're right about the regulars on this site having heard it all before. What I found interesting, and perhaps concerning, is how many people thought nothing of posting their contact details online for the world to see. Inviting strangers to get in touch. Some posts included a physical description of a child to accompany the contact details. The other thing I noticed was how many people wanted others to contact them and give them info about the Mary Poppins audition. I would have thought that someone keen on being part of a show like this would be making better personal efforts to pursue this information and not honestly believe that there are going to be people 'in the know' reading their post and contacting them with the details. Here's a question for anyone who attends, or who's child attends drama, dance or performance classes. Are there any training establishments who instruct children, and parents, about how to properly get involved in the industry and how it works? What agents do, how auditions are conducted, where to look for legitimate opportunities and how to spot something dodgy or 'too good to be true'? I would love to know. I wonder also if advice like this would indeed be a valuable addition to the curriculum in junior performing schools? Let's be honest, many parents who's kids attend classes like this possibly know very little about the whole acting world, but are keen for their passionate, talented child to get involved and follow their dream. Letting their kids 'stab in the dark' online, or stabbing in the dark themselves on their children's behalf may seem like a good plan for a parent who is not aware of less risky, unprofitable methods. Maybe some enterprising agents, MEAA folk or benevolent professional actors might find a worthy, or profitable, place as a visitor to junior training schools chatting to kids and parents about this very subject. Just a few thoughts....... Tulipa.

I would say that, no, acting schools wouldn't give advice about agents, etc. Let's face it, most don't and won't; it's not because of lack of expertise or anything. I'm guessing it's because that's not the role of the educator. They're there to teach acting skills, not about agents. And let's face it, any parent who is more interested in finding an agent for their kid than actually teaching them about acting is more likely to be a wannabe star parent (ie. pushing their kids towards it for fame/money, rather than the child actually presenting an interest in acting). Additionally, it's more than likely that schools don't want to present such information and be overloaded by parents and kids with the constant questions that we're so familiar with. I think it's a good idea to add it to curriculum, but I wonder how many educators would think that a useful way to spend their time. I agree, the amount of info given out online is ridiculous. In this case, it suggests a serious lack of critical thinking on the parents' behalf as well as the kids. I made a similar comment the other day: that people are so busy getting free info from the University of Google that nobody even bothers doing their own leg work anymore. They just figure someone, somewhere out there will know and will have written/Youtube'd about it. And let's face it, most kids that are replying to the article (or similar articles out there) are probably more interested in the fame/money part of it than doing any actual acting... or for that matter, realising that doing acting requires actual work in itself. Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

As Noel Coward once said "Don't put your daughter on the stage Mrs Worthington...the profession is overcrowded, and the struggle's pretty tough, and admitting the fact she's learning to act, that isn't quite enough!"

Don't do the work, won't get the results. After a while of seemingly getting no results... -- Hey! (lightbulb goes off) ...I might do some actual work on this. (lightbulb goes off again, same one) I might start by organizing all these files I've copied off "Google University" - have a regular Google encyclopedia at arms-length reach and a kind of directional map of FAQs and ways of doing and trying things. The right way, or the way in which I will have some actual, sophisticated engagement with the industry I'm courting for myself as an aspiring young actress, or as a mum who wants her little darling on the stage for the world to see. Good start! Next: Critical thinking classes... (Do they run those anymore at Day college, i.e. TAFE?) Wait! Who needs classes? Classes come with learning and I hate school. Just show me the damn money, for Pete's sake. Here we go...what's this I've found...? A book. It's title: 'How to get on stage, get famous, and make a shitload of money in the process'. It's subtitle: All your questions on the entertainment industry answered in a handy and easy-to-follow indexed format. It's author: T.A. Regulars. -- I think I see a possible money-making opportunity, folks. Nah... I got out of the used-car industry ages ago. Huckster International Corp. - didn't feel I had the right material to make it in the industry, either. Never mind, someone out there might give it a go to help these poor individuals. The above in following-on: A tad roundabout in scope, I know. Cheers, Daniel.