Walk-In Auditions

I just returned home after two awesome trips for NY Unifieds and Chicago Unifieds to support my MCA students and parents. I love being there as a source of morale for my famlies and just simply getting the chance to connect with our students outside of a lesson.
 
I wanted to write a quick blog post regarding walk-in auditions as this has become a pretty hot topic. If you are new to the college audition process and haven’t heard the term walk-ins before, first, welcome to the process and second, buckle up.
 
Walk-In Auditions are essentially exactly how they sound. If a school or program has gaps or room in their audition schedule, students who are already there for Unifieds are able to try to grab a spot to audition. Spots become available when students are ill, weather makes it impossible to travel, students don’t show up (don’t get me started on that, folks! Always cancel your auditions to make room for someone else), etc. Most schools will post a sign outside their door to indicate they are accepting walk-ins, but some will offer up the info if you just politely ask. Most schools make you pay a fee to audition or require you to submit a portion of (or full) application on the spot or by a deadline.
 
While this isn’t a new phenonmenon, it has been by far the #1 question I have been asked about this year. I attritube this to a couple things, but mostly, social media. Walk-Ins have become sort of a right of passage or a “cool” thing to do while at Unifieds. Also, everyone else is doing them, so shouldn’t I? I always tell my students that I don’t envy them going through the process in 2019 – everyone knows everything. The onslaught of information can be helpful, but it can also be overwhelming and at times, crushing.
 
I have been a part of, and heard, many debates regarding whether or not walk-in auditions are fair. I have opinions on this, but I want to attack this from a different angle. I want to really speak to the students and parents to focus on what the point of walk-ins are and who should and should not be doing them. They are going to exist, in some capacity, always – so, let’s start to look at this from a different angle. Maybe by eliminiating the pools of people who should not be doing them, we can all have better clarity on the subject. This blog post isn’t to discuss if I agree or disagree if they are fair or not.
 
I have some thoughts I would love to share with you. Obviously, these are just my opinions and as always, to each his own.
 
“Which walk-ins should I do?!”
When a student asks me this, the first thing I try to respond with is: do you need to do walk-ins? I’m then usually met with a confused pause. Let’s break this down a bit.
 
I’m a huge advocate for early auditions (November/December early action and sometimes early decision auditions.) Get a handful done early, hopefully gain some acceptances (and confidence) or tweak any material that feels off after completing some early auditions. If you gain an acceptance to a school that you LOVE early…amazing! The pressure is off and you can have fun during the rest of the audition season.
 
So then cut to Unifieds: are you happy with the acceptance(s) you have? Is it a school you can earnestly see yourself going to? Is there any program that is doing walk-ins that you would go to over that school? If not, let it go, Elsa. Take a nap, girl! Go for a walk! Visit a museum! Don’t walk into a school you wouldn’t consider attending. Which leads me to my next thought…
 
Karma
If you are an MCA student, you have most certainly heard me speak about my good friend, Karma. Put good karma into the universe and I promise you, it will come back to you. Especially in this industry. 
 
If you do a walk-in to a school that you have no intention of ever attending…why? For practice? I don’t think that is a good enough reason. You are taking a spot away from someone who might truly be interested in this program and would attend if accepted. If you are walking into a school you know nothing about, a coach or mentor has not advised is a good option for you, or upon research think to yourself “I’ll never actually go here” – I suggest you really listen to that thought.
 
The college audition process is a tiny morsel of what this industry will ultimately bring you. I am not making the comparison that college auditions are the same as professional auditions – they absolutely are not. But rejection hurts always. Being shut out of an audition call that you are absolutely right for because people decided to sign-up to audition for a character whose breakdown they don’t fit at all, hurts. We are in this together, guys. Practice putting good karma into the universe. You’ll be surprised by what comes your way.

Who should do walk-ins?
Walk-Ins are an amazing opportunity for some folks. They are a tiny gift in this otherwise over-crowded, confusing process and without getting into the nitty gritty – I do want to mention that I think walk-in auditions are fabulous (and fair in these instances – fine, I said it!) for the following people:

• You didn’t have success in the early rounds of auditions. Your school list has taken a big hit and you are worried about having options. A gap year is not on the table for personal reasons.

• You got a very late start. So late, you missed deadlines. Late starts happen for many reasons (illness, family, etc.) – so, no judgement. Now is the time to get to work. And people who feel angry at the late starters: I promise you, I have seen many instances that a late start was the only option for a student. Truly. Feel lucky if you had the resources to apply to many schools, have someone help you remain organized and the biggest one of all: have a supportive family who is behind your dreams 100%.

• Your goals have shifted. Maybe you started as an MT candidate, but as you have navigated the process, you are feeling like you really want a BFA in Acting and want to make sure to support that new dream with the appropriate schools.

• You had no idea what this process entailed and built an entirely unrealistic school list.

• A coach or mentor mentioned a school that is doing walk-ins that completely aligns with what you want in a program and thinks it could be a very viable option for you.

 
So, to sum up this post on walk-ins: they are great for the right person. They might be a great addition for your friend, but not you. That is okay. Use your best judgement and lead with kindness and thoughtfulness first.

Sending everyone love, hugs and broken legs.