If there's something else that you can do that'll make you happy,
do that instead.
Emily...what are you talking about?
Are you genuinely happy (not content, ok, or surviving, BUT HAPPY)? If you feel depressed more than half of the time while perusing a career you "love", then you need to rethink things. You shouldn't commit to anything that doesn't make you happy...unless it pays well and it's temporary...then suck it up and make that money.
People often forget why they started doing musical theatre. They get wrapped up in the stress of the assignments and the performances and they forget that little sparkthey felt when they first discovered musical theatre.
Daily Challenge:
Think back to the moment you chose. We all chose this. (Hopefully) No one forced you to choose this lifestyle. So think back to when it was just a thought. "I'm going to do this the rest of my life". When you remember that, Never Let Yourself Forget It. You'll occasionally forget in the midst of finals but then it'll hit you again. Let that memory always fuel you because that's when you chose. Remember. You. Chose. This.
Once you've finally gotten over the reality that this industry is, for the majority, based upon failure, then you can begin to be an artist and not a machine.
ROBOTS
No one wants to hire, cast, or enroll a robot!!!!
Wanna be perfect?! Cool, stop it. That's impossible. You'll never be "perfect". And the people you want to impress don't WANT you to perfect. When you audition, the panel is looking for potential. You're not going to come into a college audition knowing everything. They know that! That's why you go to college (to learn to be a better you...not a robot). So stop focusing on becoming a machine that does everything by the book. Start focusing on what makes you unique and strengthen that. The auditioners will appreciate your strengths for what they are. Find you, strengthen you, enroll you.
On that note, once you get in...don't start beating yourself up to be perfect. Obviously you want to try hard and make a good impression, but realize that you're not the first person to struggle hitting that double, singing that note, or acting that beat. Breathe and try again without getting mad at yourself. You're human...we're designed to be imperfect. Get over it. Also, people DO NOT need to SEE your effort 24/7. I'm soooo guilty of this... When you fall out of a pirouette, people can see that you need to do it again and get it better. Stomping, huffing, and cursing doesn't improve your technique. It makes you look angry and crazy.
"Be tireless in your positivity!"
The secret:
My mother got me into CCM.
And so can yours! Wanna know how?! We came to the campus and immediately started actually believing it was my school. We visited my practice rooms, my dorms, my classrooms, and my theaters. Why? Because if you put positive things into the universe...it'll come back to you! Your body may fatigue but you MUST be tireless in your positivity. Practice, posivity, and potential make for an awesome audition. Food for thought.
This is a really good tip for those of you already in a conservatory! Obviously you can't be a basket of rainbows every second of every day...but why so jaded, my friend?! WE'RE MAJORING IN SINGING AND DANCING. Our exams include stating your name and singing a song. Stop being so ugly towards your craft. Smile more and you're going to start finding more gifts in life. Sometimes you have to do "normal people" stuff to stay happy and sane. Go take a yoga class, have lunch with friends, play laser tag, see a movie, go out dancing! Break up your daily routine with fun things. It'll help you remember that life is about balance. Balancing school work with play time. If one side gets too heavy, then you may be in trouble. Do something fun today! An adventure!!! Don't think. Just do.
Go now!
