Are you up at 5 a.m. because you are right for that audition?

Happy April all!

We are and have been in the thick of music theatre audition season.  Whether you have an appointment, or are standing in line to get a time at an open call,  it's an exhausting, focused, tiring and exhilarating time of year!

In NYC,  we have the early birds who somehow stay up all night to begin an unofficial list with 20 of their closest friends on a yellow legal pad piece of paper at 5 a.m. on the door of the building where that day's audition is held.

I have one word: "WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

Many CDs are simply not accepting unofficial lists, or if they do, are only signing people up if they are physically there.

What are you doing????

Why are you there????

How do we see the difference between posers and real theatre gypsies?

Here's a list you might want to consider:

Real gypsies take the audition process seriously. They study, they practice,  they study some more.  They work hard at their craft.  This is not American Idol.

Real gypsies know that their instrument needs rest and hydration - they do not see the need to be lined up on the street at 5 a.m. if they want to truly book a callback.  They are willing to take the risk of arriving when the CD has published the call time for the audition and get a time and come back.

Real gypsies don't talk non-stop about this audition/that audition and about how great they are while waiting in the holding room.  They are focused on the task at hand.

Real gypsies do not go to EVERY DAMN CALL!!!  They understand that CDs remember if you keep showing up for something you aren't right for. Ergo, you aren't getting hired. Real gypsies use discretion about the auditions they submit for or sign up for;  the auditions they attend are the ones that they legitimately are right for.

Real gypsies study...REGULARLY.  They walk into each and every audition and callback PREPARED.  They study:  voice, acting, dance and more.  They never stop discovering more about their craft.  They understand what is needed,  what they need to show,  how they need to show it and they deliver consistently.

Real gypsies do not walk into an audition unprepared.  They are developing artists and craftsmen/women who take their craft SERIOUSLY.  This is what they want in their lives:  to work, to discover,  to build a career;  not to gossip, or be famous.

60% of those in that open call line should really go home:  they are not right for the show,  they do not have the training or expertise for the show or the business,  and may simply not have the level of raw talent and ability to develop into an artist that truly deserves a chance to pursue a career.

60%.

Imagine if that 60% would simply stay in bed, and those of you who are the 40% showed up at 10 a.m. to get your audition time.  Imagine how simpler things would be.  How happy CDs would be having real emerging and developing artists presenting real craft and a true audition in front of them instead of wannabes and wishIwases screaming at them, thinking they are belting?

Imagine having a 40% of artists/performers who could possibly be right for the show instead of wading through a 60% who aren't in any way right and being so tired you might miss the ones that are?

Imagine your business and craft having the respect that only those who have the training, understanding, development and delivery showed up to share it, and apply for the job?

Imagine each person in the room knowing what the dance combination was,  and how to re-produce it?  Imagine each person in the room singing something that shows what they do well, because they have technique, and the ability to use it properly.  Imagine each singer having acting intelligence,  and depth of character while singing?  Imagine just singing in TUNE?!

Imagine an artist who says:  I am simply not right for that show.  I choose to sleep in.

Imagine an artist who says:  I am positively right for this show!   And I know I don't need to get up at 5 a.m. to have a chance to be seen!

If you are REALLY sure you should be in this business - then you must know why.  You must know in what capacity.  You must be studying.  You must be growing.

You must sleep in past 5 a.m.  Give that voice time to wake up so you can bring everything you have for that show you are right for!

Self-Awareness and a Sprinkle of Delusion!

Happy Friday!

This theme has been wandering through my world lately in many aspects!

I am finishing up an online course for creatives,  written and lead by the golden inspiration of  warrior woman/life coach and more, Erin Stutland called "Magical Manifesters".

I have just put my Voice Over website and commercial demo to begin a more professional journey in that direction!

Whew.

Dream big.

I've written about the dreams versus the delusion.

I wanted to address it again, perhaps a little differently.

Have you ever noticed the people who often seem delusional don't seem to create any roadblocks for themselves?  They really and truly think they are where they want to be.

Those of us who are more self-aware,  tend to be more aware of where we are too.  We can dream big, but we tend to say "yeah, but.." and the self-doubt that is very much a part of being an artist often paralyzes us,  sabotages us,  and creates such inner turmoil we can't release ourselves and fully discover what we COULD do.

One of the reasons "THE BOOK" hasn't been written...YET.  One of the reasons I decided Erin Stutland's Magical Manifesters was for me.  It was time to get unstuck.

Since the car accident,  I knew it would be awhile before I would be able to do what I used to in the studio and on stage.  Now I know it will never be the same.  What I will be able to do will make itself known in time,  but what CAN I do now?

Voice Over was always something that I was interested in - but there was that "yeah, but..."

So, when I began a more disciplined study with my now mentor, Charles Michel,  I realized I COULD do this.  I COULD dream big.  I COULD dream bigger.

Oh, there's that self-awareness voice again - "can you really?" "yeah, but..."

I cannot tell you the number of teachers and mentors and friends and colleagues who, over the years, have said "You are over-thinking."  "Get out of your head."  "You are in your own way."

Sound familiar?

There's that voice again...self-doubt.  Wanting to find the complexities and riddle them out.  Striving for more.

Yet,  as my singing mentor,  Ted Baerg would say to me :"Could you just breathe and sing dumb?"

Self-awareness and self-knowledge are so important.  We need to know where we are,  what we have, how we can embrace that.  HOWEVER,  how many times can we over-complicate the journey or the path simply by over thinking?  being overly-critical?  questioning too much?

These are the moments that I look to the delusional ones for ideas!

Have you noticed (and you have, because you know PRECISELY who I am speaking about) these snow flakes never say "can I?"  They just plow ahead.  Now,  being delusional doesn't mean there isn't talent there, or skill, or ability,  but they dream big,  and have no roadblocks THEY erect!   They don't usually have many boundaries either, so self-awareness is ambiguous at best,  and realities shift from landscape to landscape - a great deal of BLUR in this world...

They are ALWAYS at those auditions, at 5 a.m.  They continue to tell EVERYBODY how wonderful they are in all aspects of their lives, unapologetically.  They see themselves a particular way and COMMIT to it!

We laugh.  We shake our heads.  They drive us mad.  They suck energy.  Yet, somehow they manage to land on their feet.

What is that?!?!

A sprinkle of that "delusion" could go a long way for those of us who are cripplingly self-aware.

I don't want to call it delusion now...not when you are not.  Let's change the language and discover something more magical.  How about a sprinkle of "ta-da!"

We have all wondered, mystified at these creatures.  They have no boundaries,  no questions,  no sense of how anybody else sees them.

A little of that goes a long way.  HOWEVER,  a sprinkle of "ta-da"  could perhaps give your self-awareness more permission to sparkle;  to take a risk;  to abandon safety for a moment and be in the moment;  to dream big without a "yeah, but".

Self doubt is part of the complexity of being an artist.  Our pursuit of truth, beauty, honesty,  and revealing of all of that DEMANDS a tenacity and a willingness and ability to look deep within ourselves and our craft to discover and reveal.  We work to uncover more.  We are never done.

Perhaps now,  we can learn something from the delusional ones.  Perhaps a little sprinkle of "ta-da"  when we discover something,  achieve something,  recall something,  journey somewhere,  is allowed once in awhile!

So, as you dream big,  allow the reality to create the boundaries to work WITH you, not against you.  "Yeah but" has no room in a dream.  It has no room in a complex reality either.
I challenge you (and every time I say "you",  I mean "me" too) to change your language with YOURSELF.  "Yeah but" needs to change to "What if..."

Possibilities.  Boundaries to explore within,  and push a little.

Create your sprinkle of "ta-da"!  It's okay to be a little scared,  it's energy waiting to be harnessed!

TA-DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where are you discovering your athleticism?

Sunday musings...

Singing is an athletic activity.

So, what are you doing,  or what do you DO to inform that athleticism?

Some of you are natural athletes - have a core strength, a sense of coordination needed to engage the body and breath fully.  Some of you have more challenges in this. 

It doesn't matter.  Admit where you are.  Start there.

There is no right or wrong,  but there is a truth.  How strong are you innately?  How coordinated are you physically?  How balanced are you physically?  How aligned are you?  How flexible are you?  Do you have a quick muscle twitch,  or are you sluggish?

All of these physical athletic observations are KEY to discovering what sorts of athletic and physical activities will be best suited for YOUR physicality,  your natural development,  and your psyche.

If you are tense person - physically, emotionally,  psychologically - then you need to find an athletic activity that gives you permission to release not to add more tension!

If you are a sluggish person - then you need to discover more energy,  more demand,  more engagement.

Make sense?

We all can benefit from the inside out - starting with alignment and balance.  The non-doing of Alexander Technique is a great jumping off place to discover and be aware of the basic way we move and function.  It is NOT an action-oriented technique. It is that constant ABC of our physicality.  Even when exploring XYZ,  we need to always re-visit and re-discover ABC. 

Any body work/body awareness/alignment is crucial for our instruments/our bodies to release and find its neutral position.

There are MANY.  Your mission, should you accept it,  is to discover what works for you and with you as a singing actor!

Here are some links to begin the exploration!

This is by no means exhaustive,  but simply a few bread crumbs to get you on the path!

Alexander Technique

The Trager Approach

Feldenkrais Method


Simple MASSAGE  is important and not a luxury - it is a NECESSITY! (I need to remember that too!)  Again, many different types of massage from Swedish, to myofascial release and more.  Discover and pursue what works for you!

Integrating breath with body is key.  Stretch classes,  cardio work,  yoga - all these things can be so beneficial for discovering tangibility of breath with strength!  Classes are available everywhere!    And if you want to start at home,  DVDs abound!

Pilates is another great possibility for core strength if that is lacking,  or if you simply need to keep developing it!

Martial Arts reveal a discipline of mind, body and breath and coordination. 

So many forms out there,  and then add to it,  t'ai chi,  chi gong and more.

Energy work can be beneficial - like Reiki, Acupuncture,   Therapeutic Touch, Craniosacral Therapy, 
and more!


As we continue to develop as artists,  as singers,  we discover what the physical instrument needs and what the integration of the physicality needs with our emotional and spiritual element.

As you are discovering and uncovering your unique athleticism,  always remember it is a combination of core strength,  elasticity,  coordination,  balance and tangible breath,  along with flexibility and overall power.

A simple rule of thumb:  if you do nothing,  nothing will happen.

It's pretty simple really.

Being a singer is action oriented!  We must develop the athleticism we have,  discover it,  and build upon it.  We have to be honest with what we need and what we want and what is possible. 

The discovery, development and maintenance of athleticism is also a balance: 
breath,  elasticity,  strength!

There are many MANY possibilities and combinations.  Explore and discover what works for you,  as you discover what you NEED.

Don't overwhelm yourself,  but recognize that your body needs you to sing well.  Invest in it.

We need strength and endurance.  We need tenacity and power.  We need cardio.  We need release.  We need follow through.

Simply from a physical standpoint,  we need the full athleticism of whatever our body and breath will offer at optimum.

Discover what works for you!  Yoga, dance classes, AT,  rowing,  treadmill,  running,  zumba,  gym work, swimming,  - whatever it is,  make it yours!  And ENJOY what it gives you! 

You can't be a couch potato and be a singing athlete.  At least not regularly!!

What to do with Performance Nerves

happy Sunday!

Nerves.  We all have them.

Anxiety.  Fear.  Clammy hands.  Elevated heart-rate.  Quickening of breath.  Shortness of breath.  Gonna pass out....

STOP!!!

We ALL have them.  We get them in anticipation of something that matters to us.  This could be a performance, an audition,  a class,  a presentation,  meeting the in-laws...

What happens?  Why don't they settle down?  Why can they be controlled by some,  and some are debilitated by them?

I am not a psychologist.  I cannot give you a psychological outline of the phenomenon,  but as a performer and someone who works in performance and in public in many ways, I have had many years to observe myself and others.

This blog post is to simply create an outline of possibility.  If anything I can say here can help you, even a little bit,  that is my hope.

What creates the fear/anxious?  Is it fear of failure?  Is it being in front of people?  Is it the high note?  What makes you anxious?

What have you done to eliminate that fear or anxiousness?  Are you as prepared as you can be?  Do you know what to expect? 

I have seen, and have experienced it myself:  if I focus on the anxiety I am only more anxious.  I get more nervous.  It becomes a vicious cycle.  The physical manifestations become more vivid, I become more anxious,  and I feel that I must flee,  as if putting physical distance between me and the space I am in will clear up the nervousness.

We become fixated on the nerves,  and the action of what we are about to do somehow gets lost.

We allow the narcissism of the moment to turn violently inward,  and we forget why we are there.

We need vamped up energy to perform.  We need adrenaline to keep us alert and focused on the task at hand,  not over-stimulation of me me me.

We need to practice ACTION and DECISION.

Action is always outward.  It always has an "other".   Action doesn't "feel".  Action "does".

These are simply suggestions and activities that may be of some help to you. 

If it is important to you,  you will have a vamped up energy.  USE IT to your advantage.

What are you there to do? 
How do you DO that?  How do you go after that?
Who are you doing it to?
What should be in the space between you and the receiver?
What do you expect from them?
What should they expect from you?

How should you leave that space?  With what?
How should they leave that space?  With what?

See where I am going?
Notice there is nothing in these questions that has anything really to do with "feelings".

I think this is where we get lost:  we associate a physical manifestation of energy with an emotional feeling.  We then try to CONTROL that feeling.  The physical manifestation of energy needs a place to INHABIT.  It needs a reason to BE.  It needs action.  It needs DOING, not feeling.

We trap ourselves in our own feelings.  We often hide in the nerves.  "I am too nervous to audition" means what exactly?  "I am not ready".  "I am not capable".  "I am not right for this show."     It is okay to BE any of these.  It is okay to then say,  if I am not ready,  how do I make sure I AM ready?

We are athletes as performers.  We must focus as athletes.  Anything done in a public forum - any performance - needs an athletic stance in mind and body.

Why are we there?
What have we done to prepare to be there?
Have we done all necessary preparation both technically, and physically/tangibly to be there?

As we enter the space,  physically and psychologically, are we AWARE and PRESENT?

This is a big one.  So often,  we feel dream-like, or nightmare-like in our physical space.  We cannot allow for that.  We MUST be present.  Our minds are strong enough for that kind of focus.

Observe.  Do not make judgements.  Do not "feel".

The negative pattern would be: "I am feeling shaky.  I don't know if I can do this.  My voice is feeling dry.  I can't breathe.  I feel dizzy. "

Do you think any of those thoughts will calm you down?  Make you aware of your surroundings or the people in the space?

The more positive ACTION would be:

"I am in my body.  My breathing is a little shallow.  I sense my feet into the ground.  My legs will be stronger with each step.  I am prepared to DO xyz.  I see myself opening the door,  pausing to scan the room,  taking another breath,  walking into the room.  I continue to breathe and smile as I enter the room and walk firmly toward the piano..."

You get the idea?

There is no room for feeling.  You SEE everything you will do.  You SEE everything you have prepared.  There is no guess work involved.

The more action you give yourself clearly to DO,  the less space there is to "FEEL",  and in that, the less anxious you will allow for, both physically and emotionally.

All great athletes want to get MOVING!  They focus on why they are there,  and how they will move toward the finish line,  and how they will cross that line. 

If we perform,  we MUST determine the athleticism of body, behavior, technique, mind and spirit.  We decide which voices speak to us before, during and after. 

We ACT.  We SING.  We SPEAK.  We TAKE action.

We are there to complete a task,  to take an audience on a journey,  to offer expertise,  to offer information,  to get a job.  

Our focus needs to be on the task,  not the feeling.  It is crucial to harness the energy because it matters how that task is completed.  We have prepared for it,  now we must DO it.

Just something to begin exploring, or continue to explore...me too.