Auditions, auditions, and more auditions

It has been forever since I have posted. Sorry about that. I have been meaning to write for sometime. I have done three auditions since the last post, well the post before "Blast From the Past." I am still working at the gift shop so none of the auditions have resulted in a job but I gain experience from each one I attend.

I auditioned for this play that I knew nothing about, called "Kiki's Grandpa". As I was going to the audition I realized that the production company sounded Japanese. Sure enough when I arrived they gave me an outline of the play that was apparently translated from Japanese; I could barely tell what was going on. The director and auditors spoke some broken English. That goodness the sides were easier to understand than the play outline although they were still a bit strange. I went in and read my sides. It was an interesting audition to say the least.

The next audition was a singing one for a children's theater that was casting for their season that included "Little House on the Prairie", "Rainbow Fish" and another children's story. I went in and sang, Much More from the "Fantasticks" and they told me thank you and sent me home. It went alright I guess. I mean my nerves still get the best of me. Later that day I met with my acting coach Rance Wright. It was great! I learned so much. I only wish I would have made that appointment before the audition rather than after it! So much to learn.

This past Monday I auditioned for the touring company of West Side Story. This one was a dancing audition. I sat around for 2 1/2 hours and then when it was my group's turn they took us in the room and taught us a 8 sec. dance. Then we all did it one at a time. Then they asked to girls to stay and told the rest of us thanks for coming! I did alright. My nerves were definitely there. That was the first one I have done where we did it all by ourselves, usually they do it in small groups of four. My only consolation is that I was not the worst dancer there. I know that is awful to say but I didn't do my best either so I am just looking for a way to help me feel better, sad but true.

That is the thing with all of these auditions you sit around for 2 or 3 hours perform for 10 seconds and that's it. That is an audition. It is crazy. I am getting used to them. They are all different in their own way but the short ten seconds I have to make an impression seems like one constant no matter what kind of audition it is. And I continue to learn how to deal with my nerves which also seem to be a constant thread in this process. I am so lucky. I just have to remind myself that this takes years. This industry is anything but stable. I cannot take anything personal. Just because it is hard doesn't mean I can't do it or I'm not good at it, it just means I'm normal and need to keep working at it. And that is exactly what I will do!