Part Eight in a series of posts containing audition season advice submitted by Wolf Trap Opera alumni.
It’s telling that this theme emerged more frequently than others among all of the advice submitted. Do not underestimate its power.
Let It Go: Say the Serenity Prayer. Then just sing.
- Don’t go in expecting to land the job. You could sing the best you’ve ever sung but they might not be looking for someone like you at the time. People will talk about you though so other doors may be propped open. Auditioning is just another chance to get better and to gain experience.Take risks. If not now, then when?
- Really make music. So what if it’s an audition? Make music. Perform.
- It’s actually a quote from the late, great, Seth McCoy: “Always strive to express, rather than to impress, because you don’t know what I like.”
- It’s easier to not worry about the stuff you can’t control when you know it’s not going to be perfect.
- Law of averages will have you get a gig maybe only 5% compared to the 95% you won’t land. This doesn’t mean you are bad. It can be frustrating but you have to keep plugging away. You get hired more through networking once you are established but people will only know you if you get out there and do auditions.
- Do not try to be perfect. That doesn’t exist.
- Sing to express, not to impress. As a singer I find comfort in thinking of me and my colleagues as menu items at a coffee shop. Everyone has their coffee preferences and not everybody’s preference is the same. One day someone might want to order a small iced coffee with no cream, and the next day their ordering a venti spiced chai latte, extra hot. I don’t know if I will be a presenter’s preferred flavor that day, so I’m not going to worry about trying. That’s wasted energy that I could be putting into my interpretation and audition.
- The more I’m ‘over it’ and the less I care, the better I sing.
- I discovered that very often it’s not about how well you sing, it’s the vibe you’re in and the vibe you project! Of course you should try to sing your best, however, you can sing well and still criticize every little thing that went wrong… Or you can just sing and commit and be unapologetic! This is who you are today! Basta! They like it? great! They don’t? That’s ok as well.
- Auditions will always be weird and unnatural. Accept that.
Next and Final: Epilogue
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