@ Cinnamon - thanks for the dates.
In light of this news I am going to see if they will also be prepared to tell me for sure (when I go for my 2nd audition this Sunday 20th Nov.) that, if successful, when they think they will be STARTING our rehearsals as performers, i.e. the EARLIEST date they are going to ask us be available for only at this stage - the rest will fall into place after that I think.
I need to juggle my time with work commitments as well as a trip home to Scotland to see my elderly parents before I get tied up in all of this Olympics stuff next year - I am also hoping to be a London Ambassador between the ceremonies dates for Olympics 2012 (not paralympics) and will need to also set time aside for the 3 training sessions I need to attend for that from January onwards. I also play music regularly in a community based band but that can "give" a little commitment wise if I know early enough what other demands there will be on my time between Jan and August 2012. I am not a soloist there so it probably wouldn't be the end of the world if I couldn't make all of the gigs/rehearsals there so I am not unduly concerned about that. They have, after all, had something of a monopoly on my time for the past 24 years or so andm performing in the Olympics like this is, like, a one-time life experience right !!!!
In the circs. I consider is WHOLLY REASONABLE to be asking these questions now, given that I have already set a fair amount of time aside in my busy life to do the 2 auditions in the first place and this is "voluntary" at the end of the day, they're not paying us anything yet after all (& when they do it will only be max. Zone 1 to 6 rehearsal/actual performance expenses anyway) - who agrees with me here?
However, surely if I can offer them am/pm/eves on Wednesday (my usual guaranteed day off although I worked it this week) and Saturday/Sunday plus, at a push the odd Friday now and then (which I usually work as an overtime day rather than a contractual day) they can accommodate my rehearsals and training around that, failing which I would be prepared to take some paid annual leave if need be. We clearly WON'T be expected to attend EVERY rehearsal they hold - just a set number on given days to learn whatever it is they want us to learn to perform for the biggest gig of our lives <LOL> I will not miss out on that opportunity for the world - even if I have to give up work (part-time and out of town - 3 to 4 days a week max. out of the usual 7 dayus available) for a while to fit them in once we get going. Bit drastic I know but hey, in for a penny, in for a pound and all that eh?
All the best to those who have 2nd auditions this weekend in the meantime - maybe get to meet some of you at 3MS, Bow on Sunday (2pm slot I've got). Just had a text reminder from them about it approx. 20 mins. ago so they clearly still want me to attend <LOL>