Be Kind and Be Prepared
I'm often asked, "what advice do you have for aspiring performers out there??" My answer is always the same–be nice and be prepared. I've learned that these are the only two things that you have control over in this crazy industry. I think this advice goes beyond performing and has implications for muggle life, but it's especially important in this small, very connected industry.
Let's break it down.
Be Kind
This sounds simple, right? You might be surprised.
That audition pianist that you snapped at because they messed up your tempo?
They might be the MD on the next show you audition for, or even a composer of a Broadway show in a few years and will definitely remember that you lost your cool at them once.
That audition monitor that you were annoyed with because they did something that you felt was wrong and rude?
They might be an Artistic Director in ten years and remember how you gracefully handled their bad day with kindness and understanding instead of lashing out.
That random friend of a friend that you added on Facebook might become a producer and see that nasty post you created bashing their show back in the day.
They're gonna remember that when you walk in to audition for them.
As soon as you decide to start a career in the performing arts, you begin cultivating your professional persona. How you interact with directors, music directors, choreographers, fellow actors, the crew, audition monitors, teachers, colleagues, and anyone else in your circle of creativity has an impact on your professional persona. This doesn't start when you move to NYC. It starts in high school and college. You will perform what you practice, so if you begin your educational experience by choosing to be kind to those you meet, this will carry into your professional career.
Be Prepared
This is something that is often overlooked by performers. You always have control over some degree of preparedness, even when you are handed 30 pages of audition material for the next day. (ooof! That's the worst!)
There are two aspects to being prepared.
The first is prepping for the long term.
Did you pay attention in music theory in college so that when you were given a song to learn in a few hours you could do so easily?
Do you practice memorizing things when auditions are slow so that your memorization skills stay sharp for those three, long scenes you will inevitably be handed at the last minute for a callback?
Are you taking voice lessons after college to keep working on that one part of your voice that still isn't coordinated so that when you get called in for that dream role you are prepared?
Are you in dance class to keep your skills of picking up choreography quickly sharp?
Your training is there to prepare you for your career. It's important to invest in your training beyond school so that you are prepared when opportunities come your way. This was a vital lesson for me as a performer and is especially relevant to me today as a teacher and trainer. I spent years studying and learning as much as I could about all aspects of the voice. I've had moments in my life that came with great pressure and responsibility and I was so fortunate to be able to call upon the years I spent preparing and training.
The second is prepping in the short term.
Did you read the breakdown properly?
Did you pick material that was right for the show?
Did you spend time working on the material beforehand with a coach or teacher?
Did you go in with a second song already picked and prepped should they ask for it? Did you research the creative team before going in?
Did you research the show before auditioning?
Did you read the play, the libretto, or listen to the cast recording before auditioning?
Coming in prepared for an audition or a rehearsal will get you further than you might imagine in this business. You will not book most of the things you audition for, but if you show up prepared and give a killer audition, you will be remembered. That might make the difference in you getting called in for the next audition that could be the thing you end up booking. Being prepared shows that you take your work seriously and have the skills needed to be a professional in this industry. Everyone can be prepared, even when you have a short time's notice before an audition.
Being kind and being prepared are the only two things you have control over in this industry. You cannot control how other people act and you cannot control if you are going to book a job. You can control how you respond to people and you can control the work you bring into the room. As we embark on 2020, I encourage you to invest in your preparedness and always lead with kindness.
