Gratitude in Auditioning
September 26, 2011
As I was walking back from a very successful audition the other day, it occurred to me that I had a lot to be thankful for. A great audition doesn’t just come about in a bubble, there are always a variety of factors that influence your performance, and usually, you’ve gotten a lot of help alone the way from other people. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more it become clear to me that, not only does it take a village to raise a child, but it truly takes a village to raise a successful audition.
Let me explain.
I felt really great about the way I looked for the role, which boosted my confidence and helped me deliver a better audition. I can’t take full credit for that myself, though. I also owe a debt of gratitude to:
- My friend Katie, who writes She Likes Ruffles’ blog,for introducing me to the Gibson tuck hairstyle that I wore to the audition
- My Mom, who bought me my favorite yellow dress that I frequently wear when I need a good “power dress” to rock
- My Husband, who gifted me the beautiful designer tights that I had been really wanting so that I can wear my dresses well into fall
I also felt really prepared and confident about the material, and positive because of the fact that I had previously met the Casting Director who would be in the audition room. For that I have to thank:
- ArtnSoulActing’s book club for actors,which is the reason I had already read the play when I saw the breakdown, and it gave it an invaluable familiarity with the playwrights’ work that I could bring to the audition room.
- Twitter, for initially “introducing” me to the CD, who then later recognized me at a showcase, and finally remembered me at the audition.
- My Husband, who always dutifully prints my resume, staples it to my headshot, and cuts off the excess paper for me — partly to help me get ready more smoothly, and partly as a sort of “good luck” ritual we’ve developed that always gives me a little confidence boost
And then there’s the fact that I was even able to get seen at this EPA at all, for which I, at the very least, also owe thanks to:
- My friend Kelly, AKA The Practical Artist, for first introducing me to the theater where I got my Equity Card this summer
- The good folks at Actors Equity: both the present, who expend so much time and effort to schedule and run these EPAs; and the past, who fought for them to exist in the first place
I could go on and on and get even a little more cosmic, thanking: the Professors I had in school for helping me to understand scene study so that I can effectively break down sides; the Equity monitors for running the audition so smoothly, thus helping me to not get flustered; the producers of the show for working so hard to put together a production for me to potentially get work on…I could go on forever.
But that’s not the point. The point is that I think somewhere amidst the heartache and the frustration and the desire and the desperation of the audition process, we forget the gratitude. The gratitude we owe all of the people who help us do what we do, and the gratitude that we’re even getting the chance to try. Maybe making an effort to cultivate that will make this process a little easier. I’m gonna give it a shot.
Who do you have to be grateful for when you have successful auditions?
2 Comments
leave one →
The Green Room 
Awww my pleasure! I am so glad that so many people have been loving the Gibson tuck…and I hope you rocked out your audition!
This is great to keep in mind for just about everything…I was thinking about how much I complain when the subway goes slowly, but never think about how grateful I am for the majority of the time it runs fast and on time…!
But yes, auditioning does involve many people. Great post