Judges want you to do well…

Are you sick of my mentioning the Susan Boyle video?  I did have one final thing to say about it.  I use it because with the popularity of the American Idol and Got Talent… shows, people not in the business of singing, get to see what happens (and what really doesn’t happen) in an audition.   I could get into a huge diatribe about the accuracy of it all, but I only wanted to focus on what aspect:  The people on the panel listening to you.  I recently took a course in audition technique where I heard something encouraging from a person whose job is to audition singers.  She said that the people listening to you reallywant you to do well.  They want you to do as well as you want to do well.  I guess I sort of knew this in the back of mind but never really thought too much about it until I heard it from this person.  It makes perfect sense, of course.  They not only may be emphathizing with you (singing is not easy!), but they also want to find good singers, and the right singers for their production.  They want you to be “the one” – as much as you want to be “the one” for them – they are rooting for you – it’s a win/win.  I knew she was right because looking back over my many, many auditions, I can’t remember an unpleasant experience in that regard.  The only thing close to that was at the Metropolitan Opera Auditions where I was a finalist – one of the judges told me that I shouldn’t wear black.  Too many people wear black in auditions, he said.  Looking back, he actually had a point.  On the contrary, most wore nice and supportive.  I’ve been to open auditions where the singer was really struggling, and they were equally supportive of that person too.

I mention this because this can be a huge source of anxiety for singers who may be going in thinking it’s me against them when it’s typically the contrary. 

I also mention this because of the Susan Boyle video and American Idol videos you have seen.  Simon’s attitude IS NOT TYPICAL and is MADE FOR TELEVISION.  However, the lady on the panel in the Susan Boyle video (Her name escapes me) IS typical.  Did you see her face when Susan walked out?  Open and supportive.  Because you never know.  She even admitted that she was cynical but you wouldn’t have guessed it on her face.  Although cynical, she was supportive.  They are on your side.

Monday Moment- My thoughts about audiences

I’ve already talked about what I loved about the Susan Boyle Video but I didn’t mention the audience, which was interesting in itself.  This reminds me of my trip to New York to see Guys and Dolls last month and the audience there – I’ll get back to that in a minute.  

As I’m sure you noticed, if you have been in, or gone to, classical or musical performances, how different the audiences can be.  Did the audience in the Susan Boyle video remind you of Parlimant or is just me?  Is this good?  Is it bad?  As shocked as I was with the openly vocal and negative response of the audience (was this just for television or for real?), I was torn with their reaction when she started to sing and when she was done.  As touching as it was to hear them eventually cheer her on, did it negate the heartbreaking behavior prior to that?  I would love your feedback. 

Now, back to New York.  Maybe it is me, but Broadway has always been a magical experience for me.  Now, as you know from my post here regarding the book, Making it on Broadway, it is not magical by any stretch, except by how the experience is perceived by the audience.  NEVERTHELESS, I draw the line at breaking out the movie snacks during the performance, which was what my seat neighbor was doing during Guys and Dolls.  As I started to look around, I noticed some people in cocktail dresses and others were in, well, sweats.  Really?  Will talking and heckling be next?  I shudder to even consider it.  It is an incredible feat to not only perform, but to produce a Broadway show, or any show for that matter.  Keep the twizzlers and sweat pants at home.

YouTube, Susan Boyle, and Square One

If you read no other post but this one, you’ll get the gist of what this blog is all about for me.  Finding your voice in the singing business, or finding your voice in whatever it is you want to do in your life (no matter what others say or think), is what life is about.  It is about your happiness, living your dreams and not being afraid.  When I saw this video on youTube today I thought this pretty much summed it up.  See for yourself and please comment and tell me what you thought and what this video meant for you.  Before the songbooks and auditions, the studying and practicing, the hours of research and lessons, you must have this.