WAAPA
Fri, 14 May 2004, 12:12 pmSM10 posts in thread
WAAPA
Fri, 14 May 2004, 12:12 pmNow that I have asked about the money...thanks for the replys btw.... does anyone have any suggestions, hits or tips, on getting into WAAPA. I have a fairly impressive CV including SMing a show at Convernt Gardens in London, but other than that does any one have any suggestions on what they are looking for?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Re: WAAPA
Sat, 15 May 2004, 03:58 pmHi again, Mitch.
Look, my suggestion really would be to call up the head of the course, tell him/her that you're applying for next year and ask him/her if it would be OK to buy them a coffee to discuss your application because you're not 100% sure if you're what they're looking for.
Something like:
"Hi Mr/Ms__________, my name is Mitch Thomas and I am considering applying for your stage management course next year. But I'd like to ask your advice about my application. I've had recent experience SM-ing, and I love doing it, but I'm not 100% sure that I'm the sort of person you're looking for... I was hoping you might let me buy you a coffee in Mt Lawley to discuss it. Would this week be suitable or next week?" (and then be quiet and wait for their response - don't be tempted to rattle on if there is silence).
In other words, you're asking for his/her *advice* about your suitability. When people are asked for their advice, it usually brings out their helpful side. Exactly like you've done on this forum! :o)
The plus side on this is that you're bound to make a good impression on this person if you're up front and genuinely trying to have a balanced discussion with them.
Odds are they won't meet you for a coffee, but the genuine-ness of your approach should dispose them to at least speak with you -- even if you have to make an appointment to come into WAAPA to see them, or it's right there on the phone.
At the very least, you'd be demonstrating a level of pro-activity which could hold you in good stead for your presentation.
I've never used this approach for a course application before, but I've used it to separate myself from the pack in job interviews... so I know it works at that level.
Think about it like this - there are ONLY desireable outcomes from this type of approach (and you should be happy with any one of these):
1. You meet/discuss, and separate yourself from the rest of the pack.
2. You meet/discuss, and decide you couldn't possibly spend 3 years under the thumb of this person.
3. You meet/discuss, and decide the course isn't actually what you thought it was and decide that you'd rather try elsewhere/go it alone.
4. You don't meet, you discuss on the phone and bring up the discussion at the formal interview to jog their memory of who you are - chances are you're the ONLY person who had the guts to ring.
5. They respond with "Policy prohibits meeting applicants outside of the formal interview." (so make sure you haven't lodged your application before the call so you can tell them that you're not YET a applicant - you're just making sure you're not wasting their time and yours.).
The upshot is, if you think of the informal meeting and the formal interview as YOU assessing THEM for their suitability to YOUR GOALS, not vice versa, you will be able to calm yourself down (a lot).
WARNING: Have a set of intelligent questions (that you *really* want answers to) ready for the meeting/phone conversation, so you don't just start going "ummm.... ummmm.... ummmm...."
I wouldn't go nuts about it, either... I helped (a little bit) a friend of mine get into that course in 1998 and her interview assignment didn't look all that difficult. Mostly it required a reasonable grasp of staging ideas (set design/lighting/sound fx). Crazy as it sounds, they're probably not looking for someone "world class" in these areas - but someone who can come up with PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS to problems (the heart and soul core strength of all good stage managers).
If things haven't changed much (and I have no idea about this) what they're probably looking for is a sense of proactivity and the willingness and self-reliance to make sure things get done.
Hope that helps...
Jason
Look, my suggestion really would be to call up the head of the course, tell him/her that you're applying for next year and ask him/her if it would be OK to buy them a coffee to discuss your application because you're not 100% sure if you're what they're looking for.
Something like:
"Hi Mr/Ms__________, my name is Mitch Thomas and I am considering applying for your stage management course next year. But I'd like to ask your advice about my application. I've had recent experience SM-ing, and I love doing it, but I'm not 100% sure that I'm the sort of person you're looking for... I was hoping you might let me buy you a coffee in Mt Lawley to discuss it. Would this week be suitable or next week?" (and then be quiet and wait for their response - don't be tempted to rattle on if there is silence).
In other words, you're asking for his/her *advice* about your suitability. When people are asked for their advice, it usually brings out their helpful side. Exactly like you've done on this forum! :o)
The plus side on this is that you're bound to make a good impression on this person if you're up front and genuinely trying to have a balanced discussion with them.
Odds are they won't meet you for a coffee, but the genuine-ness of your approach should dispose them to at least speak with you -- even if you have to make an appointment to come into WAAPA to see them, or it's right there on the phone.
At the very least, you'd be demonstrating a level of pro-activity which could hold you in good stead for your presentation.
I've never used this approach for a course application before, but I've used it to separate myself from the pack in job interviews... so I know it works at that level.
Think about it like this - there are ONLY desireable outcomes from this type of approach (and you should be happy with any one of these):
1. You meet/discuss, and separate yourself from the rest of the pack.
2. You meet/discuss, and decide you couldn't possibly spend 3 years under the thumb of this person.
3. You meet/discuss, and decide the course isn't actually what you thought it was and decide that you'd rather try elsewhere/go it alone.
4. You don't meet, you discuss on the phone and bring up the discussion at the formal interview to jog their memory of who you are - chances are you're the ONLY person who had the guts to ring.
5. They respond with "Policy prohibits meeting applicants outside of the formal interview." (so make sure you haven't lodged your application before the call so you can tell them that you're not YET a applicant - you're just making sure you're not wasting their time and yours.).
The upshot is, if you think of the informal meeting and the formal interview as YOU assessing THEM for their suitability to YOUR GOALS, not vice versa, you will be able to calm yourself down (a lot).
WARNING: Have a set of intelligent questions (that you *really* want answers to) ready for the meeting/phone conversation, so you don't just start going "ummm.... ummmm.... ummmm...."
I wouldn't go nuts about it, either... I helped (a little bit) a friend of mine get into that course in 1998 and her interview assignment didn't look all that difficult. Mostly it required a reasonable grasp of staging ideas (set design/lighting/sound fx). Crazy as it sounds, they're probably not looking for someone "world class" in these areas - but someone who can come up with PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS to problems (the heart and soul core strength of all good stage managers).
If things haven't changed much (and I have no idea about this) what they're probably looking for is a sense of proactivity and the willingness and self-reliance to make sure things get done.
Hope that helps...
Jason