You Bombed an Audition - What now?

Read on for a bit of tea and sympathy!

I knooww!!!! It feels really bad when you think you've bombed an audition, or a singing competition, or if you feel you totally messed up a performance. (*insert big sad face!*)

So first: the SYMPATHY!

We can feel so sick about it when we don't get the gig. We may feel like giving up: "I'm NEVER doing that again!" Oh, yes, I've said that too.

In the moment the feelings are loud and raw. I get it. Give yourself time to process the pain & disappointment you feel and then when you're ready, here is...

The TEA (i.e. tips on how to work the experience to build you rather than crush you)

Each audition/performance we do, every EOI (Expression of interest) we submit - whether we feel it went well or not, whether we got the gig or not - enables us to build experience and skill.

Sure, at the moment you may not be able to see that, so let me help you pull back the curtain of those feelings for a bit to see beyond them.

1. You did it. You got out there and you did it. Others shied away from doing it, but you found the courage and determination to do it. Well done!

2. You invested time and energy and passion into your preparation and practise. The investment of building your skills and repertoire is never wasted.

3. You can reflect back on your preparation, assess the elements that really helped, and pinpoint those you may need to work on more.

4. You have acquired insight as to what is involved in an audition/EOI/performance. Next time you will be better aware of what's involved, what to expect and how to prepare a little better.

5. You met people in the industry and they met you. Building connections and establishing rapport is so beneficial. Who knows - that connection may lead to future opportunities!

6. You're building resilience. Every artist has experienced some sort of set-back, flop or disappointment in their performance career. It's how you pick yourself up and recover from it that will determine your future success. Overnight success is a furphy! The pursuit of perfection is an unwinnable race. Look at this "no" as a character-building exercise that is getting you closer to the right "yes".