The Importance of Auditioning

On Sunday, I'll publish a new Clinic column on the website (www.PerformersParent.com) about one of the hardest things for young performers -- auditioning. For those kids who really want to be in a show, the audition is the "make or break" place, but do they really know what to do and how to do it to be successful? I'm very pleased with this column -- and I think you will be too, when you finally get to see it -- because it's got lots of great info, from someone who knows all about the subject -- Ben Stoner, the Crystal Lake South director.

Auditioning has been a big deal in the Conrad household. Greg has auditioned mostly for musicals, and I've tried to help him where I can listening to him sing, offering suggestions for "acting it out." And Andy tried out for shows last year, getting in to Our Town but not the other two shows of the year. He heard from a reliable source that he hadn't prepared enough for the audition, and he's been working to correct that over the summer for the fall play. We're keeping our fingers crossed for him! He had so much fun being in Our Town, and made a lot of friends, and it would be great if he could continue to be involved. But he's got to do his part -- it's like the lottery joke -- "God, please make me a lottery winner!" And God finally replied, "Well, you have to buy a ticket first!"

I only remember one of my own auditions -- I was trying out for the part of a nun in my high school's production of Little Moon of Alban. It was memorable only because I had a hip-to-ankle cast on my left leg at the time! So much for kneeling. (I did actually get the part...)

So remember to check the website Sunday evening (and if it's not up yet, check Monday!). The information you'll learn could help your child get a part they want in an upcoming audition.

Job? What job?

As of today, I have two days left of working at the job I've held for a year and a half. I've been working for a realtor part-time -- very part-time -- and I've really been feeling that I need to put more time into Performer's Parent if I want it to succeed (and I do!). It's been interesting training my replacement -- he's a young guy, married with a baby -- but he's a musician! He plays guitar in a Christian rock band, and I hope to have some of the group's music featured here, as soon as they finish the CD they're working on.

This is of course very exciting -- but very scary, too, because my husband's been out of work since mid-May. My realtor job doesn't make much money, but it's something. To date, Performer's Parent hasn't brought in Dollar 1! I know you're all surprised at that, right? But I'm hoping to get my first advertiser tomorrow, when I go talk to the owner of a great local music store who has expressed interest in the site. I recently used a very nice Groupon and bought some marketing things -- magnetic car signs and such. Honk if you see me driving around!

Updates on the performers around me -- Greg's still playing with the Erich Kraemer Group, and they have their next gig on July 28 at Offsides in Woodstock -- if you're local, come on out! He's looking at starting piano lessons with Performer's Parent friend Mike Potts. And he is getting his own band together, with a bassist and drummer all lined up.

Andy's getting ready for junior year, and is somewhat excited about choir -- I hope that will ramp up to VERY excited, especially as they get closer to the Disney trip that the band and choir will take in the spring.

Alberto's home from Illinois State University for the summer, playing in the pit band for St. Anne's Wizard of Oz, his second year in the pit for this great group.

Dave is trying to figure out where to take his talents -- he's entering his senior year of high school in Kenosha, and his mom says he wants to do something in performance. He's got a little bit of time to figure it out. Older sister Heidi returns to Millikin for her junior year, with a theatre minor pushing her forward.

Amanda's enjoying Millikin -- she's a vocal performance major -- and looking forward to her junior year. Last year at the McHenry County Fair Talent Show, she and Greg performed an outstanding version of The Civil Wars' Barton Hollow -- I'll try to find an MP3 clip of that and post it. They took second place -- should have been first! (By the way, I have the info and registration sheet for this year's County Fair Talent Contest -- cash prizes! -- if you want the info for your performer, drop me a note and I'll send it on -- the contest is for ages 14-21.)

What's your performer doing this summer? Let me know -- drop me a line -- send me a picture! Encourage your friends to check out The Performer's Parent. If we make it to 50 members, there may be a surprise in store!

A little wine with your music?

Greg's been busking lately (and every time Kevin hears me say that, he asks, "what is busking?" That's playing out on the streets -- the mean streets of Crystal Lake, baby). Sometimes he makes enough money to make it worthwhile; sometimes he thinks he's singing to himself. This week, while he only made $2 in tips, he got a bigger reward -- an offer of a regular gig!

The owner (manager?) of the downtown CL wine bar came out, asked him to come and play in the wine bar for a while, paid him $40 to do so, then asked if he'd play every Thursday night! He's getting a regular fee and the promise of tips -- well worth the time he spent playing on the corner. If you're not busy on a Thursday, come on down -- just north of the Olympic on Williams Street.

Besides that... gee, not much going on! I'm hoping to get a couple of guest posts soon from some fellow bloggers, and why have you all not written to me and offered your experiences as the parents of performers? Here -- maybe you need some inspiration:

- What was moment you felt yourself tear up over your child's performing?
- If your child is planning on doing this for a career, what's your biggest fear for them?
- Who do you think has had the biggest impact your child's performing, and why? And it can't be you. Even if it is.

Tell me, tell me! Or show me, show me! Send your pix, your MP3 files, I love it all.

Greg Plays Tonight!

If the rain holds out... Greg's band, EKG (The Erich Kraemer Group, which, I suppose, makes this technically not GREG's band, but Erich's) plays their first paying gig tonight! We're looking forward to going, although us old fogies aren't sure we'll hold up until the band starts at 10:30! They're playing at Wayne's Lanes in Woodstock, if you're interested in coming out and helping keep us awake until the band starts (and then I'm sure there will be no sleeping, with the volume of music -- although I'll let you know if my sleep-apnea-prone husband will try to defy the odds and nod off).

It's good to hear him playing with a band again, but we're itching (and he is too) for him to form a band that will play his music, with him singing lead. Playing lead guitar has been good for him, and playing with a group of older and more experienced musicians has been too, but that's not where he wants to be. As he has always been, he wants to be out front! (ALWAYS! Andy's baby videos are frequently interrupted with "Mom, Mom, Mom!") Soon, we hope. If you have a drummer, bass or keyboard-playing child or friend (18 or over), and they're looking to be in a band that has aspirations of making it big, not just goofing around, send me their contact info and I'll pass it along. Seriously.

And the other one... Andy said last night that he won't likely be in choir in his senior year, that he's only doing it his junior year to get to go on the Disney trip, which we suspected, but I really hope that this year catches his interest more than he says it does. He did audition for Madrigals -- big surprise to all of us -- and I think he really enjoys it more than he lets on, but we'll save that for later.

Next couple of days, I'll post some videos of tonight's show (I hope).

Auditions, Part 1

School's out, summer is here! Just thinking about what the kids will be doing this summer. I realize Greg's not in the "kid" stage any more -- he has a job, and doesn't get summer break. He's planning to audition for the Williams Street Reportory this month -- they're doing Company in February, and he says that's one of his "dream" shows. That would be fun! His band, EKG (The Erich Kraemer Group) is playing their first paying gig in a little over a week -- at Wayne's Lanes on the 16th at 10 pm -- come on out!

Andy's planning to audition for South's fall play, Desperate Hours. Auditions are not to be taken lightly! I recently talked with Ben Stoner, Crystal Lake South's director, about auditioning (the interview will appear as a Clinic column some time this month -- it'll be a MUST READ!!!). Lots of work to do to prepare for these auditions!

Speaking of auditions, I get the Disney Auditions site Facebook posts -- wouldn't that be something, to perform at Disney, either in the parks or on one of the ships? It's so much fun to watch those talented performers -- in the Festival of the Lion King, or in the parades, in the show on the Castle stage. I never had the talent to make it into anything anywhere near professional -- you'd know that if you've seen me dance -- but I can certainly appreciate it!

What are your kids doing this summer? Let me know! I'd love to hear your take on summer performing activities!

Music in the News!

I'm so happy to share this piece of news -- Matt Koll, the choir teacher at Crystal Lake South, was just named Teacher of the Month by Home State Bank! Matt has had both Greg and Andy as students, and has been a terrific inspiration and guide for both of them. Greg truly feels that Matt is one of the best and most influential teachers he's had. And Andy, who had no interest in choir previously, has really started stepping up in choir, partly because he wants to live up to the standards Matt has been working to instill in him. We're all very pleased to see Matt receive this honor.

And from the Saturday, May 19 Northwest Herald's Business section, a full-page article on music teachers in McHenry County! One of the featured schools, Music Makers for Life, and its owner, Theresa Villec, is a friend of Performer's Parent, letting us put flyers out on her counter. Great article! Here's the link to that article!

Battle of the Bands -- Proudest Mom Moments

Check out this week's Clinic column with tips for competing in a Battle of the Bands -- Greg and I put this one together. It's that season, when groups of high schoolers drive their parents crazy with garage band practice. We've been through this -- and it was wonderful!

In 2009, Greg and The Con Men -- the new, expanded group with the added horn section -- participated in several Battles. They competed in and won the Crystal Lake event, scoring way above their competitors. They won some great prizes, including several hours of recording time! That was very exciting for the guys -- they quickly had big plans. Then they moved on to the Regional event, which was scheduled for August.

The night before Regionals, they played at a Battle in Woodstock -- not a Park District competition. Out of 8 bands, they didn't even place! All of us parents were incredulous -- how could they not have taken at least 3rd, when they sounded SO much better than any of the other bands (at least we thought so)? One of the bands that DID place, though, was playing at the Regional event the next day also -- and I think the combination of the loss and the rematch spurred them on to work harder and play better the next day.

And that day -- was HOT! And the performance was outside, at a water park. And the Con Men were scheduled to play LAST! But believe me, they were fantastic. What a moment for us parents to watch the judges bopping along with Soul Man and Nothing Wrong, in a way they didn't for any other band. From their opening introduction -- "The neighbors hate us, the cops love us" -- to the winner announcement -- "You waited five hours to hear them!", we knew -- they had regained their mojo, they were once again the best band standing.

And two weeks later, playing against the winners of all the Illinois regional events, once again, they took first (to see videos of all their songs from State, check out www.youtube.com/TheConMenBand). We screamed, we cried, we tried to keep the drunk guy away from the stage. We wore our Con Men shirts, the boys hoisted the banner we had made for them -- and while I've had many moments that I was proud of my boy and his achievements, that was certainly in the top five.