Keep it up! - 2008/03/10 00:55I've been feeling a bit down about my complete lack of confidence in the audition room lately, so I asked my dad how he really felt about all the money and time he put into voice lessons and theater camps and whatnots.
He said he has never regretted it for a second and encouraged me to keep doing it as long as I enjoy it. I just wanted to share that sentiment with everyone here.
I love my dad.Briana
Currently: Roustabout, "Side Show"
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Addicted2Driftwood
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/10 10:19that is SO awesome. gah my parents are so anti-theatre it's annoying. they'll only drive me to the one that's ten minutes away, so i only get to do like one show a year. it's really annoying.
i'm so happy for you that your dad is so supportive!
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Jbug
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/11 13:58What a wonderful, supportive Dad! You are truly fortunate. Everyone gets down once in awhile. Don't give up. You are normal. There isn't a performer anywhere who hasn't had periods where things weren't going well. Keep up the training - a breakthrough will happen.
It is hard, but during these times it is best to do activities that help lift your spirits. Watch happy movies, read positive, encouraging material. If you have any religious beliefs - that helps. Hang out with more positive friends. Help and encourage others. Do good deeds for people. Stay away from talking negative about yourself and others. Force yourself to smile more even if you don't feel like it - you'd be surprised how that can help you inside. Don't allow anything negative into your life. If other people around you start talking negative, just say to them -- No Negativity Allowed. I do it all the time and it works! Soon you will feel better.
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CwEinDallas
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/11 15:19hey keep your chin up, a show will come around and bring you out of your funk. I always get a little down after a show ends (like right now) because there's suddenly nothing fun at the end of the day or the end of the week for my life to be "about" but it's also good to get a recovery time and make my life about ME for a little while. I change up my workout at the gym, do things i don't normally have time for (get caught up on housework and laundry!) and try to really connect myself with what makes me tick. this actually makes me feel stronger when i get back into a show, because i know i am ready to put me back on the shelf and find the character's life. Take a class in a kind of dance you've never done, or learn a new song. anything to get your blood stirred up.Chris
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brucecriesxout
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/11 17:11Your so lucky to have such a wonderful Dad. My parents aren't nearly as supportive, I've kind of tore my way into theater. & I've been stomping around on stage ever since haha.
Every audition is a learning experience all the time, EVERY DAY.Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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jameala
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/23 12:20First of all, thanks for sharing the sentiments about your dad. It is great that you have great parents. It is even greater that you realize it!
Second, let's talk about this "I panic in the audition room" thing. This is something that you have mentioned in other forums, as well. I may not be the foremost expert on Theatre, but I am a High School Speech Teacher. When you go into an audition, just look at it as one more opportunity to do whatever it was that you did when you rehearsed it. You already know the song, you have practiced it, now you are going to sing it again, except this time there are people in there, too. Your voice didn't crack during any of the 900 times you practiced it, so put that out of your mind. You didn't have a heart attack when you sang it in your bedroom, so you are not going to have one now.
Auditions are simple: you do what you do and the rest is up to them. You are saying "this is what I am capable of, does it align itself with your part?" Pretend they aren't there. Pretend you already have the part. Pretend they paid $500 to see you perform. Pretend you don't care if you get the part or not.
Your dad doesn't mind spending the money, because he KNOWS are you are TALENTED. The world is WAITING for you to share that talent with them. Stop worrying about all of these imaginary things that could go wrong, because they aren't going to.
Quit obsessing and SING!
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Christine_wannabe
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/23 22:15Beautifully said jameala, Great Advice! Favorite Shows: POTO, Wicked, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, BATB, Music Man and more!
Currently in: R&H's Cinderella as a Stepsister!
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Flece
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/24 00:01Great advice for the average auditioner. I, on the other hand, have brand new hearing loss and I need to see a therapist more than anything. I walk into the room and gauge the distance of the audition mark from the accompaniest, whether there is a piano or a keyboard, and there really is new and uncharted territory. I need to take more time to assert my needs to the director, especially in the only company in the nation that casts only people of a huge variety of disabilities in their shows. I try to make myself less of a "problem" and cut myself off at the knees in the process (so to speak!).
Plus, there's the whole mental block I have with the director, who has been 99% nice to me since i have known him. Again, therapy is looking good to me.
But my dad has paid for me over the years because singing is love for me. Because I cared about it enough to take my complete lack of natural talent and make something out of it, I just wanted to share that sentiment with those here who are struggling with their families' level of support, since it wouldn't be as practical to share my dad (although he would have plenty of love to go around).
So, yeah, something that deserves more of a blog and/or a padded cell, but I'm struggling with so much more than audition nerves right now. i'm struggling with whether or not to get a 9-to-5er. I'd love to have voc rehab pay for a better pair of hearing aids, though. I get feedback in my upper register. Soprano kiss of death.Briana
Currently: Roustabout, "Side Show"
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aliauthor
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/28 11:12Addicted2Driftwood wrote: that is SO awesome. gah my parents are so anti-theatre it's annoying. they'll only drive me to the one that's ten minutes away, so i only get to do like one show a year. it's really annoying.
i'm so happy for you that your dad is so supportive!
Same here! my parents think I should 'have a better plan for my future'. sigh.
That is so cool that your dad thinks this, and jamaela as always has great advice.-Ali
Currently: -Sheila; Boys Next Door (postshow depression mode) -acceptance to acting ensemble -Bye Bye Birdie (audition- didn't get a callback)
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jameala
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Re:Keep it up! - 2008/03/29 18:06Flece, first, I am sorry for your troubles.
I will give you the same advice I give to my Speech students: "recreate the speech (or in your case, performance) environment". I bet you have a friend that plays piano. Go into a rehearsal hall with your friendly piano-player friend and sing to empty chairs. Walk out into the hall and walk back in and do it again. Do that about 5 times and I will bet you will be able to guage your volume levels.
If the director has been nice to you 99% of the time, you have it made. Chances are, the director knows about your recent condition, and understands that you may be too loud/soft because of it, because you are trying to figure out how to "live in this new world" . S/he probably already knows how well you sing. It isn't as through the director never heard you sing. If therapy helps, do it but don't overthink yourself out of a role.
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