Is It Time to Rethink Your Audition Approach?

January 1, 2018

In your wellness workshop at The Ailey School, you suggested that a way to attend a lot of auditions after graduation (without getting depressed) was to see each one as a free class. It worked. I can’t remember how many jobs I’ve tried out for, but I managed to stay hopeful and finally landed a full-time position. Thank you!

—Grateful Dancer, Newark, NJ

Congratulations! It pays to stick with your goals and move forward despite the ups and downs that come with auditions. Research by psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania defines this characteristic as “grit,” a mix of passion, perseverance and stamina that accounts for success in every profession. The key is to stay motivated. Seeing auditions as extra training (often at no cost) gels with your desire to progress without putting your self-esteem at risk.

Send your questions to Dr. Linda Hamilton at
[email protected].