[Perform-Talk] Need Some Advice

[Shelly Kane]

Julie:


Thanks for your advice.  I will definitely have my trainer advocate for 
me.  I think you are right, if someone has worked with me and tells the 
prospective studio about me, it will help a great deal.  I don't think I 
would be comfortable doing this alone because of my past experience.  I 
definitely don't want to go down that road again.  Yes, rejection is 
very hard to deal with when it keeps happening.  It definitely 
strengthens you.  I will keep you posted.

Shelly

On 7/24/2021 8:58 PM, Julie McGinnity via Perform-Talk wrote:
> Hi Shelly,
>
> It is also a good idea to see if your trainer can help make
> connections for you. If you come recommended by someone, you're more
> likely to get in the door, blindness or not. Any connection you can
> leverage is a good thing.
>
> I am not a fan of rejection and tend to take it hard, so I've tried to
> skirt my way around it when I can. Networking is a good way to get to
> know people before you have that audition or make that ask. If you
> have a website, portfolio, sample lesson, something, it will be good
> to have that available to send to studios or individual instructors
> you meet.
>
> Sandra is right. Rejection is part of the job, and having a good
> support system, including your trainer, will help boost your
> confidence until you land that great opportunity. But making yourself
> known in the world of dance studios, whatever that looks like, can
> only help.
>
> Julie
>
> On 7/23/21, Shelly Kane via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Thank you so much for your advice.  Yes, it does get discouraging but I
>> will keep trying.  I just need to email these companies to see if they
>> are looking for a teacher and go from there.  i don't even know if they
>> are looking but my trainer told me to put myself out there.  Do you
>> think I should tell them I'm blind right away when I contact them or
>> would you wait?  The last time I applied for this kind of job was many
>> years ago and I didn't tell them I was blind and when I went for the
>> interview, they acted like we didn't have anything scheduled and I
>> definitely don't want to go through that again.  Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Shelly
>>
>> On 7/23/2021 5:03 AM, Sandra Gayer via Perform-Talk wrote:
>>> Hello Shelly,
>>> I'm a Soprano Singer, Braille Music Teacher, Radio Broadcast Presenter
>>> and Actor. Rejection is, unfortunately, an integral part of a career
>>> in the performing arts. Lots of able bodied people struggle with
>>> rejection as well. Persevere and you'll succeed! My strategy with
>>> auditions is to do them and move on as quickly as possible. I know
>>> it's easier said than done. If you do a lot of them in a short space
>>> of time, it gets easier. Getting jobs helps forget the negative
>>> results of silence after an audition or a rejection letter. There will
>>> be companies out there who will want to take you on. The more you put
>>> yourself out there, not just auditions but performing and releasing
>>> videos on the Internet, charities will want performers especially as
>>> industry opens more. You don't know who is watching these things.
>>>
>>> Hopefully some of this is helpful to you.
>>>
>>> Very best wishes,
>>> Sandra.
>>>
>>> www.sandragayer.com
>>>
>>> On 7/22/21, Leslie Hamric via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>> Hi Shelly. I suggest apply wherever you can. keep trying until you get
>>>> someone who is receptive enough to at least give you a try. Whatever you
>>>> do,
>>>> don't give up. I can speak from personal experience because I tried to
>>>> audition for two different orchestras before I found a third one that
>>>> would
>>>> take me. What I did When I auditions for the Elmhurst Sympwhen I audition
>>>> for the Elmhurst Symphony was wa play my cello  first,   and then, i
>>>> answered questions from the conductor. I don't remember all of them but
>>>> the
>>>> two main questions I remember our: how do you know when to come in? How
>>>> will
>>>> you keep up with the orchestra? With the other two orchestras, the first
>>>> conductor was not willing to even try and with the second orchestra, I
>>>> got
>>>> as far as the principal cellist who claimed this was just not going to
>>>> work.
>>>> All you can do is the best you can in an interview or audition and
>>>> whatever
>>>> happens after that is out of your hands. That's true for anyone, blind or
>>>> cited. It always feels like we are blind performers have double the
>>>> amount
>>>> of pressure because not only do we have to know our stuff, but we also
>>>> have
>>>> to convince the person auditioning us that our blindness isn't going to
>>>> get
>>>> in the way. i'm sure others on here can relate. Feel free to email me
>>>> privately if you would like to chat more. Good luck and remember, do not
>>>> give up.
>>>> Leslie
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Leslie Hamric
>>>> Cello and Braille Music Teacher
>>>> Board member of National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division
>>>> Graduate Council Member of Guiding Eyes for the Blind
>>>>
>>>>> On Jul 22, 2021, at 2:15 AM, Shelly Kane via Perform-Talk
>>>>> <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>         Hi Group:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't post much here but I joined because I wanted to be in contact
>>>>> with
>>>>> other blind performers.  I have been a dancer for many years.  At the
>>>>> present time, my trainer and I talked about me possibly becoming a
>>>>> teacher.  It would be more of a pop dance class so I wouldn't be
>>>>> performing.  I would be teaching a dance workout with choreography to
>>>>> each
>>>>> song.  I love my class and would love even more to teach.  My question
>>>>> is
>>>>> how would I go about this?  Many years ago, I did apply to be a teacher
>>>>> assistant at a dance studio and it was a nightmare.  When I went for the
>>>>> interview, they acted like I wasn't even scheduled to come in.  It was a
>>>>> very humiliating experience and I definitely don't want to do that
>>>>> again.
>>>>> We have 2 dance studios for the disabled and I thought of starting there
>>>>> but how would you go about it?  My trainer told me to reach out to other
>>>>> studios as well and she even thought community education through the
>>>>> school would be a good thing.  I just don't want to get the door slammed
>>>>> in my face again.  I was wondering what you thought?  If this isn't the
>>>>> right place to post this, I apologize in advance.
>>>>>
>>>>> Shelly
>>>>>
>>>>>
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