[Perform-Talk] Need Some Advice

Sun Jul 25 22:14:39 UTC 2021

Hello again,
I just want to stick up for rejection, if I may. If you get feedback
or you can analyse the situation, you can use the rejections to your
own advantage. For example, if you audition for something you don't
get, then you attend the production and you can hear or someone
sighted with you can see what they're doing, how they look, you can
gage what it is they have that you haven't. In my job, sometimes it's
a certain look. Other times, it will be something definite that they
may be good at that you need to work on yourself so you're armed for
the next time round. I always try and get feedback. One of the
positives of having agency representation is that it's easier to get
it. Even if you don't get any from the potential client, your
agent/manager can help you and give feedback on things they notice.

Very best wishes,
Sandra.

On 7/25/21, Shelly Kane via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>
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-- 
Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.

Soprano Singer
www.sandragayer.com

Broadcast Presenter
www.rnibconnectradio.org.uk/music-box.html

Actor
www.visablepeople.com

Voiceover Artist
www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer