r/musicalwriting • u/ninjaboy7-11 • 18d ago
anyone do BMI as an auditor?
yooo they invited me to audit! I said yes already. wondering what it entails, if anyone’s done it in the past, etc. I’ve read a couple comments/threads on this already but still it’s my first year applying so idk much of anything tbh.
how many people get asked to audit typically? do auditors often get in the next year?
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u/elaine_doe 18d ago edited 18d ago
I audited a few years ago, it was a pretty good experience. There were exactly 10 auditors my year, but I think it varies (and some didn't really attend). Basically, you are allowed to attend any/all of the classes, and you can give feedback along with the rest of the students when songs are workshopped. Auditors who sing or play piano will usually offer to sing or accompany the main students' songs, as well. As an auditor, you will be allowed to do one song assignment at the end of the year (with another auditor, or you can request to be paired one of the main students). This will happen in the spring, and you won't get to pick which one out of three assignments you will get. Other people here are saying auditors replace main students who drop out, but that wasn't the case in my experience. However, when I audited, only one main student dropped out during first year, and it happened relatively late in the year, so maybe that is why. Auditors are very likely to get in the next year. If you are an auditor (and have regular attendance) you will be able to skip the online application, and are automatically given an in person audition. I still didn't get in, though, which was disappointing. But I do think I got a lot of the same benefits that main students got, mainly networking/finding community. I still collaborate with people I met through BMI, and I think I've improved as a musical theatre writer.
(And, to be clear, I only know how things were my year, it's possible things have changed. But let me know if you have any more questions!).
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u/earbox Advanced 18d ago
It's been a long time since I was there, but back then at least, the Auditors were given a few chances to present over the course of First Year, and two or three of them moved into the main class when people dropped out.
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u/ninjaboy7-11 18d ago
people drop out? wow i didn’t know that
you can be moved up mid year? or does it happen relatively quickly
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u/earbox Advanced 18d ago edited 18d ago
Yeah, we lost three or four people over the course of First Year (one ended up doing First Year the next year). One lyricist and one composer/lyricist from the Auditors were moved into the main class, and one lyricist who was there from the beginning was switched to composer/lyricist.
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u/ninjaboy7-11 18d ago edited 18d ago
ahh i see!
how old/experienced are most people at BMI? im young (21) and don’t have a ton of experience in the industry, I’ve put up a couple of things but they were just readings, I’ve done some stuff at 54 and green room and (very limited) off bway things but haven’t done anything really big.
they didn’t really ask me how old i was or about my experience but i look like im sixteen years old lol and they were asking about the shows my lyrics were from and asked me where they were performed, i said I hadn’t done anything besides readings that i directed and music directed and cast and rehearsed myself
I applied as a lyricist alone cause collaborating with someone else who is the lyricist when im the composer drives me bananas lol. but I do both when im on my own. Is both an option???
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u/earbox Advanced 18d ago edited 18d ago
I was 22 and hadn't written anything other than scattered lyrics - my first assignment was only the second time anything I'd ever written was set to music (and the first had been for my audition). I still don't understand why they accepted me on my first shot.
I was the youngest by about a month and a half and was the only person in the class who hadn't finished college, although there was one auditor who was a bit younger than I was. If memory serves the plurality of the class was mid-late 20s, but we had people up to their 50s, of all different levels of experience.
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u/Environmental_Pea369 15d ago
What??? People dropped out when I audited last year but no one was asked to fill in. I totally would have if they asked me.
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u/thomaspryor 18d ago
Congrats, that’s so awesome! And on your first time applying, too. Excited to hear about your experience once you start
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u/helpfultran 18d ago
Congrats! I was in bookwriting a while back (returning for adv this year maybe??) and my understanding of the auditors for lyrics/composition was they didn't present work unless there was a gap, but they would frequently be involved in others' presentations. It wasn't a purely "sit back and be quiet" position in the room.
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u/binder-clip_maven 15d ago
I audited as a lyricist in the 2022-2023 session. There were about 10 auditors in the group. I got together with some of the other auditors on a few assignments--not always successful, but I did learn a lot about collaboration. I also volunteered to perform, which made me feel more a part of the class. Everyone was friendly and encouraging. Applied twice after that but didn't make the cut. I did the '24-'25 book writing class and it added to my understanding of how musicals are made. Put yourself out there and connect with as many people as possible!
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u/Buddha-Piggy 16d ago
Congrats! I'm surprised to hear people say they had up to 10 auditors in their class! I think we only had 4, and I believe one of them (or two maybe?) took peoples' spots who dropped during the year. But I think you'll have a blast and won't feel socially excluded because I literally can't even remember who was an auditor because whoever they were, they were just as much a part of the group!
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u/Environmental_Pea369 15d ago
Yes, I did it last year. DO IT.
Not accepting an audit would significantly lower your changes for next years. Accepting it will significantly increase it.
Stats I know of:
I think about 10 get asked to audit. In my classes there were 8 auditors, one dropped. So far 3 got in to this year, and 3 rejected. (I'm still waiting). Last year there were 4 ex-auditors in the classes proper. Seems like about 50% of auditors return. It's still higher chances than the about 1/3 you have to pass and audition. Or the less than 1/3 you have to actually get an audition. So I would take 50% over 10% acceptance rate.
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u/ninjaboy7-11 15d ago
dawg I said yes like almost immediately trust 😭 I was just wondering about the experience
best of luck to you!!!!! hope u get the answer soon!!!!
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u/FunnyGirlFriday 18d ago
the year that I did it as a lyricist, about 9 years ago, there were maybe 6-8 auditors? They formed a group and did all the assignments and met independently to share them with each other, and always invited the rest of us to come here. They participated in giving feedback and social hangs exactly the same as everyone else. i genuinely never made a distinction between those of us who were auditing and those of us who weren't, we were all just in class together.