We, as humans, tend to overthink situations. An audition is a situation.
No matter where you are in your career, going on an audition gets your blood pumping and the adrenaline just doesn’t stop. You’re so excited you have trouble sleeping and you can’t think about anything else. Even answering emails is a quick 1-2-3 hello /goodbye / I’ll type more later.
After your audition, all you think about is how you SHOULD have done it or how you wish you could have had multiple times to show the CD different ways you could do the same scene.
Then, you go cry. (Read why Legend of the Seeker actress TABRETT BETHELL cried after her audition.)
You’re thinking too much! What I’m about to say is very simple:
SUBMIT AND FORGET.
Go to your audition, do whatever feels natural (because most of the time you forget anything you thought to do in advance anyway), leave with a smile and forget about it.
What are you going to say when your family and friends ask you how the audition went?
“It went great!” (Greatly good or greatly bad? Doesn’t matter because you already FORGOT about it!)
The SUBMIT and FORGET technique could take some time to accept if you’re one of those people who over analyzes everything. That leads to driving yourself nuts. That leads to driving everyone around you nuts.
Seriously, wouldn’t it be better to have a clear mind to concentrate on your next audition or what you’re going to do to further your career? Or even to be able to spend time with your loved ones and actually HEAR what they’re saying instead of being off in your own world?
But, but, but I have a good feeling I nailed it! But, but, but if only I did this instead of that! But, but, but, shut up already!
HERE ARE FIVE WAYS TO HELP YOU SUBMIT AND FORGET:
On the way home from your audition…
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If you’re taking public transportation, bring a book, your tablet or music device. Don’t just HOLD the item(s) and daydream, use them. Decide in advance if you’re going to read a book in the genre you love or switch it up and choose something you’d never normally read. Same thing with the music. Will you be listening to 80s tunes again or do you want to listen to something totally different?
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If you’re driving, be sure you have your favorite MP3 mix or podcast ready to go. You can find a podcast for any topic under the sun. Make sure it’s long enough to last your entire trip home because the last thing you want to do is have the podcast end before you get to your destination.
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Take a different route home and take in your new surroundings. Get lost on purpose. Maybe you’ll find a new spot to eat! Yummy yummy ice cream! Or perhaps you’ll pass a park you never knew existed – looks like a great place for a jog.
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Think about what you’re going to do with all the money you receive when you win the lottery. Every time I do this, I always think about the same things – Lotus, boat, apartment in NYC, pay off all my friends’ homes, load up trust accounts for my hatchlings, niece and nephew… gets pretty boring after a while. Maybe cross this one off the list, Readers?
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Figure out which charities you want to be involved with and how you can help others. This is always good to think about because there are so many choices. Plus, you need to decide if you’re going to donate by giving them your time, donate by giving them money or donate by giving them items. Director Kenneth Johnson’s charity of choice is Doctors Without Borders.
Simply put, if you stay busy, your mind will be off the audition. You submit and forget and move on with your life.
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