We singers have amazing imaginations.  Before, during and after an audition, we have already staged elaborate stories in our heads.  Now that I’ve had a favorable outcome to an audition, I can tell you my Top 5 things that I learned from the experience.

1.  Just because you don’t get called back or you get released from a call back early does NOT mean that you have been dismissed from consideration (this didn’t happen to me but to someone else that I was sad to see dismissed early) only to later find out she was cast.

2.  No matter how hard you try, you will never know what the director is thinking during your audition unless, and until, he calls you and tells you exactly what he was thinking.

3.  You can never be too prepared.  Even if you are never challenged with that, the preparing makes you more confident with the audition process.

4.  No matter what happens, always be flexible.  If you have to sightread a song, do it as if you are asked to do it all of the time.

5.  It is very true that you could possibly be at the right place at the right time and that you are the right person.  Savor it.

In the dressing room during Figaro.

It was pretty surreal when I updated my calendar and became even more so when I added the information to my Upcoming Performances page.   If you have been following along at home, I had (almost 2 seasons ago) made the decision to leave opera chorus to pursue a dream that had been in my head since I was out of high school.  To return to musical theatre and to try as hard as I could (hoping it wasn’t too late and that I wasn’t too old) to get a role.  It was a huge leap for me.  I had no clue how things would unfold.  The only thing I did know was that I had to try or I would forever regret the not trying.  I started my journey with my first class at the Walnut Street Theatre school, where I was hanging my head low after the very first class where I quickly discovered that I didn’t have a clue about what I was doing, to the last class, where I had a great mock audition and an “almost offer” for an understudy opportunity.  Between then and now, and the many auditions in between, where I was “exactly what they wanted but…” and “we love you and you’re perfect but…”  to simply, “thank you for coming, “ I learned that singing is more than singing and that acting is really paramount and that you needed more than a pretty voice and a pretty face. 

I learned quickly that community theatre auditions are just as competitive and fierce in talent as professional ones that I’ve done and there should be no doubt about this.  The talent (and opportunities) in this area are beyond measure, and reminded me of why I packed my U-HAUL (almost 10 years to the day) and drove across the country to be here in the first place. 

Just weeks ago, I was blogging here about how I rented the movie Every Little Step to help stoke the fire in the belly because, honestly?  Some days you think you’ll never get anywhere and the self-esteem starts to lose steam.  But you know you must keep going and you hope to be at the right place at the right time.

Last week – I finally was.

I got the call (during a business meeting for which I remember none of now) that I was cast as Julie in Carousel.  I am absolutely beyond thrilled.  I am going to savor these things because you never know if it will be your last time.  This business can be amazing and/or fickle.  I am grateful.  I am grateful to get to do what I love and that I’m not half bad at it.   It is beginning.

My first generation iPOD, received as a Christmas gift in 2004 (I think), has been with me everywhere.  Looking through the 10 Gigs of playlists, I see the many operas, musicals, music-minus one songs, and jazz standards that I had saved for countless auditions or performances that I had done in the past, along with 2,000+ other great songs (mostly to my husband’s credit).

This past week, my iPOD finally gave out after so many years of service.  I’m astounded, with my track record of either A) breaking things or B) losing things, that it made it this far.  I even still have all of the accessories that originally came with it.  Astounding!

So, it was to my great glee that my mom (err…Santa), who had heard about my recent iPOD death, and an upcoming transatlantic business trip, decided to give me my Christmas gift early this year.  Frankly, the new iPOD Nano, is delicious.  I could top it with some sauce and eat it for lunch.  When I first received it, I thought the packaging itself was part of the actual iPOD.  It was only after I opened it (which took 10 minutes to figure out) did I realize that it is almost as thin as a credit card and light as a feather. 

For singing, it is especially awesome!  I can upload a movie of a musical or show that I’m working on and also upload the accompanying score and study both on my commute or during travel.   It plays movies, songs, TV shows, and shoots video, people!  My inner gadget geek sings again!

Delicious!

I think I missed posting on Saturday and Sunday because I was knee deep in preparing for an audition for Carousel. I know my singing career holds a higher level of importance than National Blog Posting Month but I’m of a competitive nature and am annoyed that I failed my very first NaBloPoMo. Do I get a consolation prize for getting exactly half way through? I guess it’s ok because now the pressure is off to post every day while on Thanksgiving Vacation. The lady next to me on this train smells like greasy bacon (and not in a good way), but that’s neither here nor there.

So, those not familiar with Carousel, the dancing is mainly of the ballet variety so it makes sense that their dance audition would be ballet. Now, I pride myself on being in shape – I run every day and do the 30-day Shred. But, let me be the first to say that Ballet can probably take Jillian Michaels in a bar fight and win.. I’m always amazed at how much sweat falls off of my body during a ballet routine. By the way, I’m not a dancer. My resume says, “moves well” and apparently I sweat very well too! So, after we were done, I felt like I was coughing up a lung. And of course I loved it. As you already know from past blog posts – I like cardio torture. And figured, “screw running!” – I’ll take a ballet class (for non-dancers) and lose my remaining 5 pounds.

I tried out for 3 roles in Carousel. They said they can cast Aunt Nettie as a big sister instead of an older woman if need be so I put that one down along with Julie and Carrie. I’ll keep you posted.

I was having a long listen to my blip DJ playlist and I came upon Nessun Dorma.  Nessun Dorma is an aria that, no matter how I try (and I’ve even played games with myself to see if I could get away with it), I simply can’t get through that song without tearing up.  Every.  Single.  Time.  Take a listen here from my blip playlist.  I challenge you to keep a dry eye.  Unfortunately, blip does not have the beloved live recording that he sang at the FIFA World Cup in Italy which is the best recording I’ve ever heard (for shame, blip).  The audience could not contain themselves and started roaring with applause before the orchestra finished the final theme.  I don’t blame them.  Puccini could, alone keep Kleenex afloat in sales with his many wonderful musical passages, and Turandot, from which this aria derives is no exception.  And Pavarotti?  Well….yeah….no one like him will ever live again.

But why does it move me so?  Probably for the same reason that they would have him sing it at the World Cup.  The last lines of the aria are “I will win, I will win, I will win” or “I’ll be victorious” depending on the translation you have read.  Now, that is taken out of context if you don’t know the opera but STILL.  It is about being victorious in general and I find that the aria sounds like it.  The music, and the vocal passage sounds victorious. 

So, I play this aria in the mornings before auditions.  It is my musical pump me up.  The song is so full of life.  It reminds me of why I sing.  It reminds me of the success and potential for victory in all of us.

It’s happening again where I get really busy right before an audition to the point that I have absolutely limited to no time to prepare for it and I go in feeling like I’m winging it. Or I get 10 second’s notice of the audition and I go in and I’m winging t. Why do I always feel like I’m winging it? Why am I making excuses? Maybe what I need to do is always be preparing for auditions even if I don’t have any auditions coming up. Hum. (Crickets). Am I late to the party again? Probably. Here’s my problem – let me know if this is what you deal with or if I’m alone out here – I have trouble getting motivated to prepare for an audition unless I already have one coming up (I know – the first part of this post was all about having trouble doing THAT too but bear with me). If I don’t have a goal right in front of me, it’s harder to get motivated. But if I do have it right in front me (such as a callback) I’m the best and most astute artist ever. I’m researching, doing backstory and even finding backstories of the backstories in case the director asks me a “let’s see if we can throw her off” type of question for which I will not only know the answer but the answer’s answer. Obviously, this isn’t the best way to go about motivation. I’m really trying to work on this. Has this happened to anyone out there or do you know some techniques to battle this?

This is such an important day. Men and women across our country over the span of hundred’s of years have fought to, first fight for, and then keep, our freedoms. The freedom to pursue our happiness and to make our own choices to live the life we choose to live. At my office, we have a VP who has served several tours in Iraq. I always thank him each year for what he has done and continues to do, not just for us, but for himself and his family. To defend our rights and protect us. I always thank him.

I just heard a great podcast from the Everything Acting Podcast website, which I absolutely love and I’ve blogged about before.  We are all actors, so singers will still find great value in these podcasts.  They always by chatting with each other and about what is going on in their lives and then gives some words of wisdom before going in to an interview with an industry professional.  On Episode 114, our lovely hosts talks about the critical role that your inner voice and inner beliefs play in your every day life that can serve you or sabotage you with your auditions and your career.  Be sure to bookmark this site.  I always come away with something positive and inspiring.  Their mission is to “inform, inspire and de-mystify the actor’s journey” – Love that!

Things that have made today a typical “Monday”

Had a loooong day at work. Let’s just leave it at that.

So busy that I forgot to pay online bills today.

Didn’t realize I was wearing a turtleneck AND a top sweater, BOTH with holes in them, in visible places seen by others and not places where I could hide them and stretch the wearing a little longer.

So busy that I’m finding audition preparation has taken a back seat when it should be driving the car and that makes me sooooo ANGRY.

Having said that, I’ve:

Had a good hair day
Got a workout in
Realized that the transit strike is over!

Today, hubby and I went on the best bike ride at Valley Forge.  I love this time of year although I am one to resist it as long as possible as the last of the summer slips away.  Summer is my favorite time followed by Spring.  But Fall?  Well, that’s at the back of the pack.  It only gets beat out by Winter because I love ski season.  Today we did a 2+ hour ride and now hubby is making Chili.  That, and Sunday night football to follow – great way to spend a Sunday.

Next Sunday, I have an audition for Carousel.  I’ll let you know how that goes.  Carousel is a great musical and I’m excited for the audition and hopeful for a callback.  Once again, it will probably come down to type and my height.  We will see!

Fall ride, hubby