“Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent of how I react to it.” -Charles Swindoll
What is the importance of these three words, “Vision, Mission and Value”, when you think about auditioning? These are what most successful businesses use as their touchstone with all their stake holders, customers, venders and employees, so they are perceived with consistency by all. Performers often feel that this is the impossible part of striving for a career. So I want you to think about this: To be successful at auditioning, you can’t do business as a singer and you cannot be the business person as a performer. They are two sides of one very important coin. You wear two hats at once. But, when you step into the professional world of performing, you can only wear one hat at a time. Doing business is not personal or emotional. Singing, on the other hand is storytelling which requires other tools and skills.
- What is the Vision for your product? Perhaps: to continually improve and preserve the integrity of your vocal technique, ability to tell the story through the sound of your voice, physical fitness, and appearance, which creates consistency of product, so that this product is sought after by managers, performing venues, and patrons. And this helps build confidence.
- What is the Mission of selling your product? How will you go about it? Perhaps: to continue to build a strong networking system that actually get’s used and to create a responsible and doable long term strategic and tactical plan of action that when implemented, will be your way to measure success. This will help strengthen your ability to act on and with purpose while understanding this is a business where there is no room for becoming personal or emotional. This will also strengthen your resolve to respect your talent which requires the other side of the coin tools and skills.
- What Values come to mind as you think about auditioning? Are you: committed to implementing and attaining your mission and vision statements, which are the essentials, the building blocks, the necessary ingredients that create success. And as you do this work, will you commit to behaving with integrity, diligence and bravery as you forge ahead and not allow yourself to fall into the well of self pity because you were told NO? Remember that this is a subjective business. Everyone has an opinion. So use any criticisms, suggestions or comments simply as feedback. It is not emotional or personal. If any of it can be applied, do so and no matter what, move on to the next item on your list.
This is the imperative work that needs to be done to become successful. It gives what you do and most importantly how you do it, a reason and a purpose. How you do it is by being true to the self; to the instrument; to the business. And there you have it. Happy Holidays and Avanti until next time. Carol
