5 Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Mindset During College Auditions
Just like your physical health is important during college auditions, your mental health is just as important.
Think of treating your mental health like you would treat a nasty sore throat right before that big vocal audition. Oftentimes, college auditions can feel like the only thing in your life. You can often feel drained physically and mentally.
There are so many ways to take care of yourself mentally during this process that can ease some of the stress and anxiety auditioning can create.
1. Take time away from theatre!
Sounds crazy, right? Taking time to step away from it even for a few hours can give you the space and peace of mind you need. Whether it is a good book, watching your favorite television show, journaling, your favorite music playlist, or any other hobby that you enjoy, make sure to create time for yourself away from the college audition process. During Unifieds, I made it a routine to go back to my hotel room in between auditions to take a break from the large crowd of eager auditionees. My dad and I would also find movies to watch and new restaurants to explore. Get outside! Staying cooped up inside your room will make you rethink every single minute of your audition.
2. Don’t dwell on a “bad audition.”
Dwelling on that one mistake in the dance call or that crack on the high note will diminish your confidence going into the next few auditions. Ask yourself what you need to do to nail the next auditions and then focus on those! Too often, I focused on past mistakes from previous auditions and my self confidence going into the next few vocal auditions would almost be nonexistent. It is so important to move past those mistakes and focus on the things you CAN control.
3. “I’ve filmed my prescreens four times now and I still don’t like the way I look or sound!”
Prescreens can be difficult for many, including myself, because we are forced to watch ourselves on a screen. It is easy to find every single flaw in our performance. For me during prescreens, my perfectionism would often get the best of me, and I could easily point out every flaw in my singing, facial expressions, and dance technique. Please remind yourself that schools are not looking for perfection! If we were all already triple threat performers, what would be the point of going to school? These colleges we are auditioning for are looking for potential and eagerness to learn. We will improve in the aspects we struggle with once we get to school.
4. “Everyone here looks like me and is more talented!”
This is so easy to think. Not feeling like you are unique or good enough can make you feel anxious going into an audition. What makes you stand out? Why are you the perfect fit for this school? Don’t be afraid to wear a color that you love, an outfit that makes you feel like your true self (if jewel-toned dresses aren’t your thing, don’t feel like you need to wear one!), or an accessory that makes you feel good about yourself. There was a boy in a few of my auditions who wore a bow tie and bright coloredsuspenders, and I could tell by the way he carried himself how confident he felt walking into the audition room. Be like the bow tie guy!
5. “So a school rejected me. Now what?”
It’s okay to not be okay. Your feelings are valid. It’s okay to cry, be frustrated, and have emotions. Rejection is hard. But, it is so important to not feel as though this rejection is going to be a mental block, something easy to do. At times, it can feel difficult and almost impossible to bounce back from a rejection. Let yourself feel what you’re feeling for 48 hours, then continue to focus on the other schools on your list. “The school must have not liked me.” This thought ran through my head countless times after a rejection. It is easy to think this way, yet we have to remember that these schools got to know a fraction of who we are for about five minutes. A school may not need your specific type that year, but they certainly have no hostility towards you as a person.
Greta Cox is a BFA music theatre major at The Hartt School and hopes to also pursue a minor in performing arts management in hopes to one day own a non-profit youth theater company. She has been performing onstage since she was six and has performed at countless venues including Disneyland and on the Royal Caribbean. She is a big advocate for mental health and ending the stigma that surrounds it. @gretamariecox
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