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Permalink Reply by Nicole Patrick on August 14, 2008 at 1:31am

So I guess I'll be the first to go. I don't know if this is crazy or anything but it definitely put me out of my comfort zone.

I'm not a dancer in any way, shape, or form. I never took a dance lesson in my life and grew up playing sports (so if you blow a whistle I'll gladly roll on the ground and pop back up again...no sweat). So I'm at an audition and a couple of friends of mine convince me to go to an open dance audition the next day. Ok...fine. So I go and buy yoga pants thinking if I look the part maybe I can convince myself I can actually do this.....little did I know.

Needless to say it was the first time in a very long time I felt nerves. I got there with my one friend (the other had a callback later on that day) and as I'm looking around the room I feel like I'm wearing a prom dress when the attire on the invitation read "Business casual"....know what I mean??? My friend and I (along with a group of 50) get called into line and next thing you know....I'm in the room.

My heart is beginning to beat a little faster then normal as we begin the routine. We did the first step and I said to myself, "OK....I can do this. It's not so bad." Little did I know we had about 10 more minutes to go. I was so lost that....lost isn't even the right word to use. I snapped at some kid who asked about a dance step because I was so nervous and so out of my element (if that boy remembers me...I do apologize). And then the director goes, "OK. We're going to break you up in groups of 5 and have you all do the routine." This is when I began to freak out. I felt the tears coming, the palms getting sweaty, the butterflies fluttering all around my tummy.....I had to get out!!! I literally had my hand on the door and with my eyes bugging out I tell my friend I can't do this audition....I can't do this, I can't do this. She did the right thing and told me I couldn't just leave (which I agreed with) so after the first group went, I pranced over to the director and said, "I'm sorry...but I had an emergency come up and I have to leave." THANKFULLY the guy was extremely nice and was totally understanding of it. But he knew......he said, "OK. No problem. Or do you just not want to dance?".....Great.....I go, "Yeah. I'm kind of freaking out and would rather not waste your time." Like I said, he was really nice about it and took my headshot out of the pile.

So I ran out of the room....into the womens restroom, locked myself in the stall and balled my eyes out. My boyfriend (who is also an actor and understands the audition process and knew I was going to the dance call) was so sweet and supportive. I text him I locked myself in the bathroom and am balling my eyes out and he said, "Awww....sweetie. It's ok. I'm so proud of you for going and trying." So I cried a little harder at how adorable he is. After I got a hold of myself, I couldn't wait to get out of there. I got my stuff, changed in the hallway and what did I do....Go upstairs to another audition and rocked my song.

That day was very scary but I learned a lot about myself...I must say.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Scott on December 17, 2008 at 9:36am

I'm embarrassed to say, I bombed a recent audition, and it was in front of one of my voice students! LOL

He came over so I could coach him on his audition piece. Then, he mentioned that it was a paid gig, and that I should come and audition, too. It was very last minute, and I just wasn't prepared. I hadn't auditioned for anything in a very long time.

I sang "Send in the Clowns", which is kind of a standard for me. It's just easy because I don't have to think about words, etc. I just didn't feel that connected with the material. I sang fine technically, but the emotion just wasn't there. And, during my cold read, I didn't get to read for what I really wanted to read for, and what they gave me was very minimal to do anything with.

My student, however, did great, and I'm sure he'll be cast. I guess that's what's important. LOL