Reflecting on the Audition

 Hi everyone,

 A few weeks ago, I went to an audition for my school production of Elf. In my mind, I am the calmest, most collected person in an audition. In reality this isn't true. No matter how many deep breaths I take, or prepared I feel, my nerves will always come. So, in an effort to learn from my past mistakes and attempts, I a going to talk about all that I've learned and all I have to work on. 

The number one thing I try to remember (and this applies to academic tests typically as well) is that no one is trying to trick you. No one is lying to you. No one wants you to fail. Reminding myself that typically calms me down. 

At this past audition, I went into the room, got super nervous, messed up the lyrics, the timing, everything. It really didn't go great. When I walked. out, I found a girl I barely knew panicking. She had never auditioned before and she had prepared the wrong song. I really only had met her once or twice in chemistry, so I can't say we are close, or even that I know here name. Suddenly it didn't matter that I had messed up my audition, that I got nervous, but what mattered is I had the option to introduce this person to a world I love so deeply in a positive and inclusive way. I ended up going over to her, and offering some help quickly learning the song, just hoping she wouldn't choose to leave without auditioning. We walked into a separate hallway and we went back and forth, repeating the song over and over until she felt ready. After she came out of the room, I left. In the end, I left not worried about what I would get, but just hoping she would get cast. 

Days later, I saw her at a different school event, and I got the chance to congratulate her on her role in the adult ensemble. I am in the elf ensemble, so we really won't rehearse together much, but I felt so incredibly proud of her. I think in the end, this is what theater is about. Helping each other through our fears and nerves. Hearing her tell me she was already planning her audition for the spring musical, I knew I had done my job. My job as someone experienced in theater and performing to offer help and be inclusive of people of all levels. 

So no, I am not perfect at auditioning. I am not the perfect singer. I am not the perfect actor. I am not the perfect dancer. So no, I didn't get a lead. But I got to introduce someone to the art of theater, and that is much more valuable in the end. 

Thanks for reading

With love, 

Makayla