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Reply 160
Original post by cornishscot
@ Cinnamon - thanks for the dates.

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>



And good luck to you Cornishscot! Let us know how you get on.
Reply 161
Original post by cinnamon
My audition was thursday and it was acting, and my number on the recall email had a B on it.
so I guess the letters mean something!


I am an R! Probably more a dancer than anything else. Maybe it also relates to the room we are in - at my first audition I had to follow the line to the Red room... don't remember the other colours.
Reply 162
Original post by w11lina
I am an R! Probably more a dancer than anything else. Maybe it also relates to the room we are in - at my first audition I had to follow the line to the Red room... don't remember the other colours.


im R too... is yours on tuesday evening?
Reply 163
Original post by chanchan
im R too... is yours on tuesday evening?


No - next sunday the 27th.... what are you hoping to do?
Reply 164
Original post by cornishscot
@ Cinnamon - thanks for the dates.

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?


I think you've missed the point here somewhat. There won't be any negotiation about what you can and cannot attend regarding rehearsals. They made it quite clear on the original application form that it was going to be 2 to 3 sessions per week from March onwards, and if you didn't think you could do it, don't bother applying. They also made it very clear that as you're a volunteer, they are not obliged to pay you any expenses.

If you get through after your second audition (I had mine yesterday) you will hear in 6 to 8 weeks, and they will give you a detailed schedule, but you won't know even then what for. The only decision you have to make is whether you can handle that schedule; yes or no. If you can't they won't haggle with you. They'll kindly say thank you, and call on one of the other hundreds of people waiting in reserve who will gratefully jump at the chance.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. These people know what they're doing. They simply want lots of people who can follow instructions, quickly and clearly, and are vaguely fit. Everything else you will be taught.

Good luck, enjoy, and go with the flow!
Original post by RocKeRG
I think you've missed the point here somewhat. There won't be any negotiation about what you can and cannot attend regarding rehearsals. They made it quite clear on the original application form that it was going to be 2 to 3 sessions per week from March onwards, and if you didn't think you could do it, don't bother applying. They also made it very clear that as you're a volunteer, they are not obliged to pay you any expenses.

Good luck, enjoy, and go with the flow!


Quite happy to be flexible with them (to a point) but would hope that they will soon be able to reciprocate in as much by giving us all plenty of notice when they are likely to want us so that we can happily plan the rest of our lives around the commitment. Asking us to wait a urther 6-8 weeks to find out whether or not we are indeed selected is just about pushing the limit for most people I guess, not just me unless, of course, you are one of those people that never does anything much that requires any sort of advance planning ahead yourself of course and can offer 24/7, 365 days availablity should they need it, which I doubt !

Yes, I am aware of the level of rehearsal and have no problem in principle with that level of commitment - just need to know so that I can plan my diary accordingly, that's all (though clearly, if it is totally unsuitable for me I will not be proceeding further if, as you say, they are unlikely to offer any flexibility whatsoever on the dates they choose). With so many people to train/rehearse I can't imagine they will be doing each session once and once only though, can you and will therefore vary it to give everyone taking part the best possible chance of doing so without adversely affecting any other part of their life in the meantime.

I also fully appreciate that it is a once in a lifetime opportunity, precisely why I am prepared, at this stage, to give them and their colleagues at London Ambassadors "first call" on my time during the first 8 months of 2012.
Original post by cinnamon
My audition was only 2 hours long even though the email said it would be 4 hours!
And yes they do provide water.


Did you do drumming at this 2 hour audition you had though?

If so, what sort of drums - how was it organized etc.

I would imagine that they would put a group of you together with, say, 10 or 20 identical drums at a time beating, from a static position, a choreographed rhythm in sync with the "leader" for a minute or two at a time at most and then change the rhythm to see how you coped with the change of instruction etc. then do the same thing with another group of 10 or whatever, maybe moving you around within the group to achieve the best visual based on height, ethnicity, age or whatever.

Am I anywhere close here? I know you should probably not tell us all on here in in detail exactly what happened but it would be good to have some idea to this extent at least in the interim.

Did they have different types of drums available or even other percussion instruments?

Were the rhythms really complicated or fairly straightforward that anyone with a good sense of timing/feel for the music could cope with easily would you say?

Any feedback you can give on this would be greatly appreciated but only if you can speak about that much freely on here of course !
Original post by w11lina
No - next sunday the 27th.... what are you hoping to do?


I'm another "R" and I go for my 2nd audition this Sunday (20th) so maybe not all of the "R" group are being seen together but this is just how they are going to track us through the process.

Some of us will be dancers, some will be actors, some will be "special skills" people such as ballet, drummers etc. and they haven't yet decided which role you will eventually end up getting, if any, which is probably why it will be another 6-8 weeks before we hear for sure whether or not we have been selected - will take them that long to get through all of the 2nd auditions in each letter group I suspect.

All will become clearer in due course I dare say ! :biggrin:
Another theory on the lettering system they're using (just my own thoughts so feel free to ignore if you so wish!)

B = Ballet
R = Relay (as in escorting in the Athletes parade?) Alternatively, what about Rhythm (for the drummers amongst us) or "Reggae"/"Rock n' Roll" or similar (for the dancers) or even "Regal/Regalia" (for the actors) but, then why not separate these groups with different letters to avoid confusion betwen the various categories?) or, on a less positive note it could be R=REJECT (unless we do something good that really impresses them this time around of course!).
A = Actor
G = General Performer - which could, of course, translate further as absolutely anything at all Including helping the production team get everyone out from backstage and back again on time at the live event rather than performing yourself as part of the massed effort per se !!
C = Circus Skills (if there even is a "C" category)
M = Musician (again, if there is such a category and I don't believe there is !)
F = Finale
S = Scotland - as in 1 of 4 countries which make up "GB" the host nation - to be featured in a piece paying tribute to that part of Team GB's heritage
E = England - see above
N = Northern Ireland - see above
W = Wales - see above


......... and within each of those classifications they need a set number of each for the final cast for each ceremony show !!


SIMPLES (not much> <Ha Ha>!!!
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 169
Original post by cornishscot

Am I anywhere close here?


Not in the slightest, I'm afraid. Without spoiling the fun, I can tell you that there are no drums involved in anyway, shape, or form. They are not discussed or mentioned at all, by anyone. In fact, none of the 'skills' are.

They are still simply auditioning for people who can listen and respond, quickly, accurately, and consistently!
I had my recall audition last night, having originally ticked the box on the application form to say I was a drummer. I can confirm there was absolutely no drumming involved. They are still incredibly cagey about what they want you for, so don't expect any answers! I'm surprised that other people on this forum are able to tell whether they were auditioned as actors or dancers, as I still have no clue. We were certainly not told what they were auditioning us for. Although our audition involved a lot of dancing, I don't think I was auditioning as a dancer. My dancing skills are woeful, and talking to those around me, nobody else classed themselves as a dancer either.

Just like the first audition, we're sworn to secrecy, but I can say that even with my severly challenged dancing skills it was huge fun! Just enjoy the experience.

As for the drumming, not needed at this stage, but a little internet research has revealed a company called Drum Jam have the contract to lead the drumming. Looking at their website they specialise in running corporate training days, specialising in samba and african drumming, so don't stress - if we do get that far, that sounds like fun too!
Reply 171
Does anyone know the best way of getting there on Sunday when the district line is shut? Tfl says it opens again at 1pm, but the journey planner seems to avoid it all day. There are lots of other stations nearby, which I'm not sure which is the easiest to walk from?
Original post by 1983mike
Does anyone know the best way of getting there on Sunday when the district line is shut? Tfl says it opens again at 1pm, but the journey planner seems to avoid it alday. There are lots of other stations nearby, which I'm not sure which is the easiest to walk from?


Bow Church DLR is also close and easy to walk from.

Good luck :-)
Original post by slartibartfast42
They are still incredibly cagey about what they want you for, so don't expect any answers! I'm surprised that other people on this forum are able to tell whether they were auditioned as actors or dancers, as I still have no clue. We were certainly not told what they were auditioning us for.


At the start, once everyone was in the hall we were told we were chosen for our acting skills and no dance was needed. There was a big sigh of relief at this point from most people!
Reply 174
Original post by shadwell_lad
At the start, once everyone was in the hall we were told we were chosen for our acting skills and no dance was needed. There was a big sigh of relief at this point from most people!


Same as mine, we also were told we were chosen for our acting skills, even though I had put down on my application DANCE!
Only one piece of 'dance' at the beginning, which was really just a warm up, all the rest was acting, and no drums to be seen anywhere.
Its a total mystery which is what they want. They did ask us if any of us knew what they wanted us to do at the olympics ceremony which of course we dont and they said, its working then, meaning the secret is being kept!
Wish I knew just the same!
Reply 175
Original post by slartibartfast42
I had my recall audition last night, having originally ticked the box on the application form to say I was a drummer. I can confirm there was absolutely no drumming involved. They are still incredibly cagey about what they want you for, so don't expect any answers! I'm surprised that other people on this forum are able to tell whether they were auditioned as actors or dancers, as I still have no clue. We were certainly not told what they were auditioning us for. Although our audition involved a lot of dancing, I don't think I was auditioning as a dancer. My dancing skills are woeful, and talking to those around me, nobody else classed themselves as a dancer either.

Just like the first audition, we're sworn to secrecy, but I can say that even with my severly challenged dancing skills it was huge fun! Just enjoy the experience.

As for the drumming, not needed at this stage, but a little internet research has revealed a company called Drum Jam have the contract to lead the drumming. Looking at their website they specialise in running corporate training days, specialising in samba and african drumming, so don't stress - if we do get that far, that sounds like fun too!


I find this interesting, my original application I put Dance, and my recall audition had no dance in it whatever, just a warm up routine, the rest was all acting.
You put drumming on your application, and your recall audition involved a lot of dancing!
There is no understanding what they are doing, although of course they know exactly what they are doing!
Reply 176
I just received another email from the casting team about my audition tomorrow! This is for sessions 115 and 116.

"We are looking forward to seeing you at your audition recall on Sunday 20th November. As part of your audition, you will be asked to do some drumming."

eek!
Reply 177
Original post by bluang3l
I just received another email from the casting team about my audition tomorrow! This is for sessions 115 and 116.

"We are looking forward to seeing you at your audition recall on Sunday 20th November. As part of your audition, you will be asked to do some drumming."

eek!


Eeek how exciting!
Are you a drummer?
Original post by bluang3l
I just received another email from the casting team about my audition tomorrow! This is for sessions 115 and 116.

"We are looking forward to seeing you at your audition recall on Sunday 20th November. As part of your audition, you will be asked to do some drumming."

eek!


Well well, how exciting for you !!!!!!!!! (must check my e-mails again straight away).:redface:
Original post by cornishscot
Well well, how exciting for you !!!!!!!!! (must check my e-mails again straight away).:redface:


YEP, I've got the same e-mail now !!! (see below)

Dear Auditionee,



We are looking forward to seeing you at your audition recall on Sunday 20th November. As part of your audition, you will be asked to do some drumming.



We intend to record your audition session and may decide to use the recordings (audio and/or audio visual) for future use, including use for use in one or more of the ceremonies.



All participants are required to sign a copy of the attached Volunteer Performer Agreement and Assignment of Rights form. Please take a moment to read the forms and bring signed copies with you to your audition.



Please note that Sunday's session is still an audition and that use of the recordings does not necessarily mean that you will be cast in the ceremonies.



Please also remember that there are travel disruptions to the District Line on Sunday so please check your journey on www.tfl.gov.uk.



We are looking forward to welcoming you back on Sunday!






Casting
London 2012 Ceremonies Ltd.
One Churchill Place
Canary Wharf
London E14 5LN

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