In Motion…

Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone that read and offered their advice on my last post. I wasn’t expecting that one simple post on facebook to generate so much help and advice.

For me this blog is about writing down my journey to what I hope to be stardom in the West End. It means a lot to me that people care enough to offer encouragement and tips to help me get there. This is only the beginning and although I am the MOST impatient person in the world, I understand that time, a lot of effort and belief are the only things that are going to help me achieve my goals.

In the last few weeks I have thought about London and the musical theatre college A LOT. At least once a day I reckon. I’ll admit it right now that sometimes I think, would it be easier to stay put? Build up my business and be content here in Sunny (although its raining now) Thanet? Then I realise that if I didn’t do this, it would be the first thing that I truly regret in life. Me and my friend Alex who I plan to stay with in London have been checking out rent prices in London, yep, its expensive. It’s so hard not knowing where is nice to live, safer to live or has the best night life! We have been looking at anywhere from Hammersmith, to Greenwich to bloody Hyde Park (£1400 a month is a bit much).

I guess where I live also depends on which musical theatre college I get into. In my last post I was looking at the Urdang Academy and since then I have contacted them and found out about pre-audition course dates and when to apply. Urdang is in central London and although the idea of living in Central London is a dream come true, I just don’t think its logical with the insane rent! So moving away from Urdang, there are a number of other colleges I have been recommended to: Laines, Mountview, Arts Ed and Bird. Laines are apparently the best for males but are also the most expensive (nothings ever easy is it?). So depending on where I get in (if any) will certainly depend on where i’d like to live. If anyone reading this post has any advice, tips or recommendations on where to live in London, I would really appreciate it!

I’ve already started saving, £436.25 so far… only £9,563.75 to go and that’s the first year covered! Yeah.. its ridiculous.

The audition process to get into these colleges is tough and i’ve also been told to audition early to stand a better chance of getting in and getting a scholarship. So, the earliest dates to audition is probably going to be around Christmas time, that gives me 6 months preparation. I’ve got to work on and pick a few songs I can do really well, seriously work on my dance and flexibility and do as much acting as humanly possible between now and then. I’m going against guys that have most likely been doing this since they were 7. I’ve been dancing just two and a half years and singing only a year. I guess its about quality and not quantity right?

I think that’s enough for this post, I better get back to work and start researching these other colleges, the plan is in motion..

The Plan..

In my last post, I updated you with the predicament which I was in, the thoughts going through my mind of whether going a new direction in my life is the right one and whether I could make it work. I’m glad to say that after a long time researching, reading books and talking it through with close friends and family, I have come up with “The Plan”.

I know this, i’m not giving up on my dream to become a damn good, actor, singer & dancer. I also know that I can’t give up my business, its my fall back, something I’ve worked hard to build up, if all else fails, I have something to keep me going. So how am I going to combine the two? One word, London.

Yes, thats a big leap and for anyone that knows me well, thats the last thing they’d expect me to do. Let me explain the benefits.

1. Musical Theatre Colleges – If i’m going to apply for one, its got to be in London, in the thick of it, where all the shows happen. I cannot think of anything more exciting, more satisfying than waking up in the morning and studying musical theatre alll day!
2. I can take my business with me – Think of the massive market I could target in London with I.T. I wouldn’t necessarily be targetting the businesses but more the home user, one to one tutoring market. I could probably double the price that I charge down here! This I could also fit around attending a musical theatre college.
3. Friends to stay with – I am lucky enough to know a few people that live in London, one of which has been kind enough to say they’ll let me stay with them. Providing I can get into a theatre college, providing my business does bring in a small regular income, I can afford to pay my way.
4. Expense – Yes its a hell of a lot of money to go to these musical theatre colleges, but, if I save, if I move my business to London and it starts to work, then I can get a loan. I am looking at the Foundation course which is only a year, so only one years worth of fees. I’m sure I could get a loan to cover me that year. Who knows after that? If business works, I could move onto the full degree course. I mean, whilst i’m there imagine all the contacts I would have built up! I can still do amateur shows on the side to build my portfolio up.

Anyway, thats it so far.. I’m still ironing out the details and looking at various colleges, the one I have my sites on is the Urdang Academy. The predicament is over, and the plan is just getting started…