One of the first things most people face when they are offered a place at convention, is how will I pay for it?! Answer: Fundraising!
Why does AMTC UK charge? Well, because you are paying for hours upon hours of training and support to start with. The competitions at convention are of a very high standard, and if you don't work hard to prepare, you will feel like you wished you put more in. You are absolutely NOT paying to audition for anything (any role, casting etc). Sometimes people get confused. YOu are also NOT paying to join an agency, AMTC UK is not an agency, it is a convention and training.
What else? Well when you get to convention, your time is spent either in a competition, trying to impress judges and get call backs to speak with them, or you are in seminars, which are fab. They are sometimes practical (like dance), sometimes advice (like a model scout talking about what they look for) and loads of other subjects - I went to 20! You will have a really, really busy week!!
So how do you pay? If you are lucky, you don't have to worry. Most folks though, me included, fundraised.
I raised several hundred pounds by doing a sponsored swim. As a group I worked with others from Berkshire to collect raffle prizes (we went into shops, bars, restaurants etc and asked -people are usually nice and want to help!). We each gave donations, had tickets printed and then sold them. One mum sold £350 worth! We had a curry and quiz night (£900 shared between us), a disco, and also sent a lot of letters to companies local and national to ask for help.
Recently: Bag Packs! Ask your local supermarkets - be persistent, some say no, some say yes. We raised £700 in four hours at the last one (thank you Morrisons!). We have just made new raffle tickets, have done a sponsored walk, and have loads of things planned. it is important you fundraise for yourself, and if you can add to it with a group. You MUST do something at least twice a month though - remember why you are going, how much fun it will be and work hard.
Had success fundraising? Send me your ideas to share!
The photos on this post is me winning another award :-)
1 comment:
ERIKA VINCENT -THE BIZ THEATRE SCHOOL AND OFFICIAL AMTC SCOUT FOR THE SURREY AREA UK
Just wanted to say a big Hi to everyone involved with AMTC. We are just so excited that we are finally going get the same chances as the US have had for years. There is so much talent here in the UK and especially in Surrey where we are based and we can’t wait to show you what we can do.
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you and tell you a little more about us and why we are so delighted and honoured to have been appointed the official scout for the lovely leafy County of Surrey, near London in the UK.
My name is Erika Vincent and I run The Biz Theatre School and our agency Biz Management based in Surrey. I have been in show business for over thirty years since making my stage debut at the age of four in a Royal Gala in The West End. Since then my career has taken me to the English National Opera Company at the London Coliseum where my performances included La Traviata and Simon Boccanegra, to The Royal National Theatre where I performed in the European premiere and Olivier award winning production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George, and into The West End where my credits include Maria Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes with Ron Moody at the Cambridge Theatre as well as numerous productions such as West Side Story, Mr Cinders, The Merchant of Venice, The Wizard of Oz and The Beggars Opera .TV appearances include my television debut at the age of nine in Junior Showtime, several Royal Variety Performance (Where I was honoured to perform in front of HM The Queen, HRH Prince Philip and other members of the Royal Family) and feature films such as Heaven's Gate with John Hurt and Kris Krisstoferson, (directed by Michael Cimino).
Having gained all this experience, I am so keen to pass it on to the next generation and for them to really have the opportunity to live their dream. For me it was a hard slog all the way, countless auditions , countless rejections -being told I was too small, too tall, too fair, too dark but I never gave up and kept trying. At least in my day they had proper open auditions, which is how I got my first big break in the West End Production of West Side Story. Now because of shows like Pop Idol etc, most companies do not have the time to waste with open calls seeing ‘no-hopers’ who just want to be famous but are not prepared to put in the graft. This is why it is so hard now to be seen by casting directors and agents when you are just starting out in the business. This is why I believe in AMTC and the fantastic opportunity and training it provides and why I am so keen to get involved. How wonderful to have access to all these top people in the business in one go and to get the chance to meet the sort of people it would be impossible to get to see in the normal way. We are really looking forward to learning so much from the whole experience. My one regret- I wish they had AMTC -Europe in my day!!
For further details about us please look at www.thebizgroup.co.uk
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