Treat Every Audition as a Story you are Dying to Tell: And Other Words of Wisdom

Well hello all!!I am sorry for the long break, but my internet has literally been out all week. Crazy I know!! I am still not sure how I survived!

Haha.... but for real.

Before I get into words of wisdom- I am going to state my belief of everything that I have and will share on this blog. This past Sunday, I had an audition for Dark Horse Theatre Company's "Jekyll and Hyde: The Gothic Musical."

Spooky right??

Now, I have yet to find out if I have gotten in the show, but really that is not important. "False!!" you may say.... "TRUTH!!" I retort. Now let me explain why. 

I had an amazing opportunity to work with Stacia Fernandez: 

A beautiful lady who is a current working professional on Broadway, and has been in such amazing shows as: Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, and The Drowsy Chaperone. She shared with us her fresh and invigorating approach to auditions, and now I will share them with you.

• When you are about to walk into that audition, and you start to tense up and get nervous- remind yourself- YOU DON'T NEED THIS JOB!!!
• Trust me, I know what you are thinking- "That's a lie! This is my dream role, I will DIE if I don't get this job!!"

Stop being over-dramatic. (Funny, right?) But really, your life will not end if you don't get the part. So, (I smacked my lips in that pause, read this out loud and add a smack here if you truly want to understand my tone) right as those nerves are rising- STOP. Tell yourself- "I don't need this job." Because you really don't.

• Walk in that room and approach the audition like you have a story that you can't wait to share with every person in that room.
• We've all done. Had that hilarious story that we can't wait to tell- and we tell it with such enthusiasm, and then we reach the end where we are gasping for laughter and everyone is looking at us like we are crazy. Now, I'm not telling you to let your crazy freak flag fly- If you don't remember crazy flag, please refer to previous posts- but that is the exact energy you need when you audition. That energy will MAKE those auditioners tune into you and your audition.

Now, back to my audition. I did what we all do. I stood outside that door and psyched myself out. "I want this so bad. A paying job with a show I have always wanted to do, even after I saw the David Hasselhoff version?! I have to get this!!"

I was going to put the movie cover here.... but I literally could not help myself when this popped up.

But then I remembered: "I DON'T NEED THIS JOB!!" And it was the most empowering audition moment I have every had. I calmed down, told myself "I'm hilarious" (Refer to earlier post) and walked in there. I was my happy little self, felt like I made a great impression- probably the best audition I ever had- and made a very competitive callback, where, again, I felt like I did an amazing job! Now, like I said, I don't know yet if I have the part- but it was such a fantastic confidence boost, I will never go back to the awful nerve wracking audition process I had before.

Now, I will share some other things Stacia shared with us:

• You need to look in the mirror every couple years, believe what you see, and let it empower you.

Sorry. This lady is wrong. And her earrings are too sparkly.

• When you sing, you HAVE to be in discovery. You can't just say the words because they are memorized- you need to be motivated into saying them.
• NEVER SING TO YOURSELF!! You are never a strong enough of an opposition to yourself unless you are bi-polar or schizo- and even then- it is more creepy than clear and motivated.
• And when you think you are singing to yourself to build your confidence, sing to the person who knocked your confidence down- it will be a much stronger piece!!
• NEVER retreat in an angry song cause that is weak-sauce!! It goes good on a seasoned steak, but that is about it.

Yum.

• If you are a nervous audition shaker, figure out a way to make the shake work for you! Motivate it even if you can't control it!
• In a song or audition, You can pause if you are unsure the person you are singing to, or the audience, is going to come with you. Let them ease into your performance too!
• If the sound you are singing is too spread- sing on an "ng", then a "loo", then try again. You will be pleasantly surprised!
• If you start and you are off- ACKNOWLEDGE it, and take a minute with the pianist. They would rather have you start over and be "THE ONE" then to eff it up so they can't picture you.
• Make closing your eyes motivated- who closes their eyes during a normal conversation?? Crazy people- that's who.
• When you are singing a song filled with stress- let every breath bring more stress into your body. That way, you can get enough air and it furthers your acting!

Well I hope that was useful!!

A review of "Evita" will be coming shortly!

And then I will share with you some of the great things I learned from the one and only Joanna Gleason!!!