Follow Up on a Disney Dream

It recently occurred to me after a friend asked me how the Disney call backs went, that I never followed up about the experience here. I tweeted and facebooked and texted, but the problem with that type of social media is that it’s hard to get the entire story out in bits and pieces. So for those of you wondering what happened after my boys got a call back from their Disney audition, here’s the follow up.

The entire Disney open call audition was a dream! We arrived an hour early, surprised to find that we were moved quickly to the air conditioned waiting area inside a 5 star hotel AND they were taking auditioners an hour early!

Everyone from 10-18 years old received the SAME scene. Interesting, I thought, but also a very smart way to evaluate each kid and their skills. So we sat and my kids got to work memorizing and practicing their lines! I’d prepped them before we arrived that no matter what happened, not to leave the audition room without performing their little boy band tune they prepared. But would they take my advice? I had no clue!

When their numbers were called they were ushered into a smaller room to wait some more. Here’s where they started to feel the nerves. Well, at least this mom did, a little. I wanted them to do their best and get to sing their song. Finally, they entered a room with three other girls. Maybe ten minutes of silence and then the girls exited, but no boys. Then I heard the singing, the harmony, and I hustled to the door and planted my ear close. Yep, they were singing!

When they exited the room I had no expectations of callbacks, in fact, I was ready to jump in the car and head back toward home, but all three made callbacks! We were all excited and even the lady scheduling the callbacks was surprised that three brothers made callbacks. There were some whispers of them being the next “Jonas Brothers.” And we didn’t try and stop the rumors! 😉

Later they told me  the two casting people seemed bored at first with everyone’s readings, but perked right up when they started singing. Papers were flying off the table as the casting directors were trying to find out who they were! It was pretty fun for them and me!

So with call backs scheduled for 10:30 am the next morning, our next plan of attack was to find a hotel. You would think in a city like Austin it wouldn’t be too hard, but with the crazy turn arounds and a GPS that didn’t alert us to our turns soon enough, we spent a good hour or more driving in circles!

After we bought callback outfits, settled into the hotel, and the kids argued about the sleeping arrangements, they diligently started studying their lines, right? Nope, it was Xbox game time! Eventually, they got their lines memorized, and we scrambled to find decent pictures, even fit in a dinner celebration at Olive Garden.

The next day was more subdued. The hotel was quiet and we walked around for a while not knowing where to go. While searching for the call back room we had a “God” meeting with one of the casting directors who saw them sing the first time (not really SURE his title.) We ran into him on the steps, and he remembered the boys, chatted for a while, and wished them luck. He ended with he “hoped to see them around.”

Then we waited with others who made callbacks and ike a good mom, I sized up the competition and then left it in the hands of God. After all, we were just doing this for the experience! Then they were called in and the nerves started! Finally, the singing started and some of the other kids in the room looked nervous!

After their callbacks, the boys told me they felt they were rushed and wished they had each gotten a callback slot instead of sharing one. They didn’t get to do their boy band dance because they were being taped, but they read and sang and hopefully learned a thing or two.

Since this experience about six weeks ago, the kids have been in a community production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and haven’t really thought about callbacks.

If we get a call, which I don’t think anyone is expecting at this point, then we’ll answer. Not sure what that answer will be, but until we get a call, life goes on…and school starts next week!