Blog Entry #3-Censors and Critics

One instance that stands out for me in particular is when I got wait-listed for the musical theatre program at Emerson University. Throughout high school I was very invested in musical theatre, and worked very hard on my college audition material. I had worked on the monologues with various trusted individuals, and worked with my voice teachers on the songs. I recall feeling confident at the audition, and happy with how my material turned out. At the audition, they workshopped the material with me and complemented the way I received notes. When I opened the letter saying that I was waitlisted, I remember being more devastated than I had been at the rejections. With a rejection, I could equate the rejection to many different things-maybe they didn’t need another brunette, or wanted to diversify the program, or needed more guys than girls. But I really struggled with the wait-list letter because to me it said, “We liked your work, but not quite enough to get in initially.” I remember feeling like I didn’t know what more I could’ve possibly done in the audition. At the same time, it gave me hope. It made me want to work that much harder on my acting and singing, so that maybe next time I would make the cut. Although it was difficult feeling like I wasn’t good enough initially, I think it has really kept me motivated in college, remembering that feeling. Additionally, the career path I have chosen for myself involves a lot of rejection, so I think it was good that I had to start dealing with it early, because now I make a concerted effort not to take it personally if I don’t get a role that I am passionate about.

My biggest note to underclassmen would be about receiving feedback. Above everything else, I would say to really open yourself up to it. You are going to receive way more rejections than acceptances (in terms of acting) and so I think it is really important in this collegiate setting to ask for feedback after callbacks and auditions. In the university setting, directors are always more than welcome to give notes from callbacks and auditions. Learning what was successful and what wasn’t can really help you in future audition situations. However, if you don’t take the time to ask, they aren’t going to find you. I think just making oneself open to criticism is one of the best things we can do for ourselves as artists. Obviously this does open yourself up to a space where you could get negative feedback, but that is such a useful thing, to hear what you are doing that doesn’t work.