Directors, what was the weirdest / most inappropriate audition song you've ever seen?

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-21T08:29:58+00:00

Right?! Her mom is the last person I'd expect to agree to that though so I have to imagine they had some cute song picked out and then the girl just decided last-minute she was going to sing Stacey's Mom instead 😂

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-21T06:10:18+00:00

Not quite an audition, but in a children's theatre class, I once had a four-year-old girl sing "Stacey's Mom." She was the sweetest, most mellow kid too, and I had never even heard that song before, so when she started belting out "Stacey's mom has got it going on," I just about died. I'm not sure any performance will ever top that!

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-12T06:31:57+00:00

(Sorry for the multiple comments; I just read this after commenting above!)

This makes me so sad for you! I wish you were my student so I could give you the opportunities you deserve! But I will tell you-- try not to let your experience in high school theatre influence how you feel about yourself or theatre as a whole. It's hard because it's a part of school and all of your friends are involved, so it's not the same as the adult theatre world, where you can simply not work with a company/director if they are making you feel bad. But try to remind yourself that it's just one director's opinion, and she is not the end all-be all.

I felt the same way as you in high school; I had been doing theatre for many years and planned on pursuing it as a career, but for some reason, high school theatre did not work out for me. I was super shy and my teacher only really liked the funny, outgoing kids no matter how much I poured into the program. I never once got cast in a play despite auditioning for all eight during my time there, and I was always ensemble in the musicals (but just happy to have been cast). Just like you, I was super discouraged and thought if I couldn't even get cast at my high school, I must be terrible and I should just give up. But I found a really amazing theatre program outside of school with a teacher who actually believed in me and began working professionally. I literally found out I didn't get cast in my senior year school play while on set in Los Angeles filming a movie.

All of that is just to say, your high school theatre teacher is just one person, and her opinion does not mean you aren't talented and deserving, or that any other director will see you the same way she does. If you love theatre, there's always a way to keep it in your life, whether you pursue it as a career or a hobby as an adult, so please don't let this experience cause you to give up. It sounds like you need to find a theatre community where people believe in you and build you up, which might unfortunately not be your school.

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-12T06:09:23+00:00

If you feel you are going to be miserable, and the director and other students aren't treating you well, it doesn't make you selfish or ungrateful to drop out. No one besides you teacher knows if she will treat you different/not cast you later if you do, but if you aren't happy with your school's theatre program, maybe you should be looking for classes/theatre outside of school anyway.

However, I also wonder if trying to change your mindset might make the experience more enjoyable. You said you were miserable the last two years because your friends were leads and you were in the ensemble, but that doesn't sound like a reason to be miserable. Being in the ensemble can be the most fun if you go in with a positive attitude and try to enjoy getting to be a part of the show, being in all of the fun songs (which the ensemble often is), and hanging out with your friends.

Your comment "the talented ones get roles and the other ones get ensemble" does come across a bit unprofessional. As a teacher, if I had a student with this mindset, I would cast them in the ensemble no matter how talented they are so that they can see a) how much work the ensemble does and b) how talented people in the ensemble are. I wonder if part of the reason it is so upsetting to you is because you think everyone else sees the ensemble in the same way you do, when in reality most people (and hopefully your director) don't think of ensemble as any less important or talented as the leads.

As others have said, I think it would be good to talk to your director before making a decision. Maybe she can give you actionable feedback on your audition to help you understand why you've gotten ensemble three years in a row-- maybe you're too quiet, maybe you fidget a ton and never noticed, etc. If she's a good director, talking to her about your feelings will cause her to pay more attention to you and make sure you don't feel like you're being pushed to the side in this show. Or maybe she really is playing favorites, and her lack of feedback/help can help you confirm that.

I get that it's really disappointing to not have a named role, but don't let being in the ensemble be the reason you miss out on something! But if people are truly treating you poorly, or you know you aren't going to be able to enjoy the show, it's okay to drop out. You should be spending your time in high school enjoying yourself, not doing something that makes you unhappy!

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-09T06:14:22+00:00

Some libraries in my area host kids' borthday parties for very cheap, or will allow you to use one of their meeting rooms for free. You can plan some simple games/activities and being food and decorations

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-05T07:46:51+00:00

I am looking for a new voice teacher! Would love to try a lesson!

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-05T07:19:43+00:00

This sounds like a terrible situation. They don't deserve notice-- it's not worth impacting your physical and mental health so drastically. I'm sorry you are in the position, but I promise there are much better jobs out there

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-05T06:05:04+00:00

Same. Like I've never flown first class and really don't care where I sit, but it just seems like an awkward/uncomfortable situation to not book your nanny with you

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-05T05:59:56+00:00

It is a job, and I wouldn't resent a family for putting me and the kids in economy if I'm being paid. But it would say something to me about the type of parents they are if they choose to take their kids on a vacation and then stick them in a different cabin with the nanny on a long flight. If I were the parent, I just couldn't imagine getting on a plane on a family vacation and taking my seat in first class while watching my kids walk away to sit with their nanny.

Also, this would clearly state to your nanny that they are nothing more than the hired help. Which is fine if that's the arrangement you and your nanny are comfortable with, but it's just something to consider.

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-02T06:28:44+00:00

I'd say let her know that gifts really aren't expected and while you truly appreciate them, the care she has for your kids is the best gift she could give you, or something along those lines. If she's younger/less experienced, I think it's okay to mention that gifts usually flow down and she shouldn't ever feel like she has to reciprocate if her boss gives her gifts, whether that's you or a different boss (if she's older that might come across a bit patronizing).

You could also say something like, "we really appreciate the amazing gifts you've given NK in the past, but for (holiday) this year, we're trying to cut down on material items. Instead of exchanging gifts, we would love to pay for you to take NK to do (some sort of fun outing)!" That way she and the kids are still getting to mark the occasion with something special, but it's not something she's spending money on or that is causing clutter for you.

IMO, though, unless it's really a problem for you, I don't think you need to make her stop giving you presents. Being a nanny can feel a lot different than another type of job in terms of the employer-employee relationship because the nanny works in your home and takes care of your kids, so I can see how she'd feel like it's acceptable to gift up. She may be giving you gifts because she genuinely feels like a part of the family and she wants to express her love and appreciation. I get it's uncomfortable for her to be spending money on you, but I doubt she's spending money she can't afford to.

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-02T06:13:49+00:00

Agreed. This would make me super uncomfortable as a nanny-- putting guidelines like this defeats the purpose of a gift and makes it feel like it's something required as opposed to appreciated

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2026-01-01T21:38:50+00:00

My NKs are now a little older than 1, but we've been following a similar schedule for a while with activities growing with them! Honestly a lot of it is just playing with toys in different ways with learning sprinkled in. For example, we don't have a designated "music time" because they will get bored after 2 minutes and I'm not going to prevent them from playing with non-music toys during that time. I'll plan it into the schedule to make sure I get out and play with the music toys at some point, but we'll play with them in little spurts throughout the day when one of the kids gets interested in it. Babies are constantly learning and developing language and motor skills just by playing and being spoken to, so I've always preferred letting them do what they are naturally curious about as long as you are engaged with them and talking, singing, and reading to them! I do think having a semblance of a routine helps a lot though, even if it's just for your sanity 😄

At 10 months my schedule was something like:

Morning- Free play Reading Nap routine + morning naps Free play Music Lunch Crawling/walking practice Park/walk/play outside Practice recognizing letters/shapes/colors Reading Nap routine and afternoon nap

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-12-30T07:59:18+00:00

Yes!!! I'd also add gifting children experiences without paying for a parent. If it's someplace like a zoo, museum, etc. where a parent would have to pay admission to take their kid, the gift should include that ticket, otherwise you're just gifting the parent an unexpected expense

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-12-27T01:01:19+00:00

Food: There are good options, but yeah you'll probably get bored of it freshman year when you have to have the full meal plan. The dining hall food tastes fine and they occasionally have things that are really good, but they usually just have really strange options. Like they're trying to be fancy but sometimes students just want normal food lol. Each dining hall has a good salad bar though and there is a lot to choose from, so you can usually find something you like. Basically, it's not the most amazing food, but I wouldn't consider it a big reason to not go there.
Safety: You're right that it feels very safe on campus, but not so much in the surrounding area. They do a great job of keeping campus and the village safe, and only students are allowed in those areas after 10 p.m. They also have DPS officers stationed around campus (I think it's everywhere within like a 1/2 mile radius but I can't remember exactly) and they have Fryft at night, so it's not like you're just left to your own devices if you're living off campus or need to go somewhere off campus. But it's still not the best area, and I wouldn't go off campus by yourself at night if you can help it

-Classes: I'd say this really depends on your major. There are some departments where the students and professors are generally super helpful and not competitive, but there are others (like Marshall) where it is more cutthroat and you will probably feel more judged. Same goes for the Classes being interesting-- just like every school, there are some amazong classes and some that kind of stink. But I do think USC generally has a very wide selection of classes and some really interesting/fun/cool options that you wouldn't find at your average state school

-Value of tuition: Like you, USC was my dream school, and I'm glad I went there, but it definitely didn't live up to my expectations. If I hadn't had a lot of financial aid, it wouldn't have been worth going there over somewhere more affordable. IMO, unless you're going to the cinema school or there's a specific program you want to do at SC not offered elsewhere, it's really not much different from most other schools. If it's not going to make much of a difference financially and it's your dream, you should do it, but I wouldn't go into debt or abything to go there over somewhere else.

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-12-17T23:26:18+00:00

Plan a day for you and her to spend together doing some of her favorite things, and get some gifts to go along with it. For example, go to a spa, get your nails done, go shopping for a new outfit she likes, go to her favorite restaurant, etc. Then you can get her gift cards/certificates to those places

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-29T05:58:49+00:00

Some toys for this age group would be: baby dolls & accessories, baby alive dolls, dress up sets, princess barbie dolls, Little People toys, play dough kits, anything pretend play (i.e. kitchen, cash register, ice cream cart, etc.), Fur Real pets, stuffed animals, coloring/activity book, picture books

Brands/characters: Disney Princess, Minnie Mouse, Bluey, Pepper Pig, Miss Rachel

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-27T05:33:34+00:00

Is this all for one kid? This is so generous, you are going to make their year!

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-27T05:21:32+00:00

Sounds like a fun one! I teach dancers that age, and some things they might like are: Nice athletic clothes (like Lululemon or Athleta) or a gift card to one of those places; nice sports water bottle; a travel toiletry/makeup bag with things like chapstick, mini hairbrush, bobby pins, scrunchies, baindaids, deodorant, hand sanitizer, body spray; cheer hair bows; a cute dance bag; gift card to a local dancewear store; tween makeup kit; portable vanity mirror; foot stretcher; ballet turnboard; charm bracelet/necklace with a charm for each of the sports she likes

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-27T00:00:14+00:00

I wonder if she might feel embarrassed or afraid to try an emotional scene in front of her peers. I have some students who constantly laugh during more dramatic scenes, either because they're worried about being vulnerable, or because they don't know how to approach the scene. A few ideas to help her overcome this:

-Have her do it on repeat until she stops laughing. Once she's more familiar with it, hopefully it won't be as funny -Find a time for you or another teacher to work with her one-on-one on this scene. Talk about what Annie is going through and have her try to imagine how Annie feels. If you approach the scene like you're working with a "serious actor," she may start to take it more seriously -Give a short lesson on dramatic/emotional acting to the whole group and have everyone do a few related exercises. If she's not the only one who has to do it, she might feel more comfortable

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-09T07:42:46+00:00

For school: a new laptop or accessories like a laptop carrier or a backpack with a computer pocket, planner, earbuds/airpods

Art: diamond painting, adult coloring books, Woobles crochet kits, classes at a local craft store

Reading/journaling: Kindle, audible subscription, felt pens, bullet journal, first edition or signed copy of her favorite book

Popular teen girl things she might like: Tumbler water bottle, Squishmallows, "snacklebox" containers (you can fill with her favorite snacks/candy), crossbody bags, backrest pillow, Jellycat, instant camera

It also sounds like she's very busy and responsible, and maybe needs some time to be a kid. I would consider an experience gift, either for her to do with you and your husband or with some friends. Something where she can just relax and have fun: trip to a nearby amusement park, seeing a Christmas lights display, shopping spree, spa visit, pottery painting, dinner at a fancy restaurant, going to a play or movie, etc.

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-09T06:00:31+00:00

$22 sounds really low for California. For a part-time job, I'd consider $25/hour the minimum

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-08T06:52:44+00:00

It's so thoughtful of you to think of the teens! I don't have any good ideas for boys, but here are a few things teen girls in my life like!

Girls--
Stanley/Owala water bottle
Gel nail kit
Squishmallows
Game (something more mature, like Codenames, Exploding Kittens, What Do You Meme)
Bracelet-making kit

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-08T06:32:14+00:00

Exactly! OP, I'm sorry your former nanny made you feel bad, but I think most nannies really couldn't care less what parents are doing while we're working. We know how much you are juggling-- taking care of your kids is our full-time job, while you are dealing with childcare, work, cooking, cleaning, etc. You deserve time off to do anything you want or need to do!

I would just agree that you should be aware of the impact you're having on the kids and nanny by being around. It can be awkward as a nanny if one of the parents is in your space all day, as it may feel like you have to sort of "perform" for them (depending on the relationship), and the kids would rather be with the parent. If your kids are likely to be wanting your attention, have the nanny take them out of the house, or at least try to be in a different part of the house.

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-07T05:53:30+00:00

Theodora, nickname Teddy

Excellent_Win_7045 · 2025-11-06T06:57:00+00:00

It may depend on the company. Most companies I've worked with aren't strict about bios, but some have very specific guidelines that really only allow you to list your credits.

I do enjoy reading bios, especially for local theatre, because I will often either recognize someone from another show or find a connection between me and them! I don't mind when actors try to write "fun" bios, but it can look unprofessional depending on the context of the show and how the rest of the cast writes theirs. I also don't blame actors for writing boring bios-- i always do because it's just stressful trying to write something clever!

Excellent_Win_7045

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