[Perform-Talk] Need Some Advice

annedonnellon at gmail.com annedonnellon at gmail.com
Mon Jul 26 20:17:49 UTC 2021 

As Julie also said in an earlier message, references are super helpful!  This is kind of a cliché, but there is some truth to it:
"It's not what you know, it's who you know."  That's not to say that all the knowledge and skills you've gained don't matter, but when you have someone in your corner whois well connected and can speak to your abilities, it can work out in your favor!  That's how I've gotten a lot of my regular singing gigs--from references!
Rejection is a hard pill to swoolow, especially if it comes in the form of a dishonest compliment or nothing at all.  I wish I had an answer for how to handle comments such as this:
"You were wonderful, your skills are great, but this person was a better fit."  That to me sounds like an attempt to tip-toe around the blindness issue, but it is hard to prove.
Best of luck to you!
Annie

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-Talk <perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity via Perform-Talk
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2021 3:09 PM
To: Performing Arts Division list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Need Some Advice

Lol Jana, me too.

I think it takes someone with a thick skin to handle rejection with a super positive attitude. But I also love what Sandra says. If you can get feedback, there is always somewhere to go with that feedback. What hurts the most is when rejection is a dead end. Either you don't know why you've been rejected or it's clearly blindness related, and sometimes you can't change someone's uneducated attitude about blindness if they won't let you in the door.

I am not strong when it comes to rejection honestly. It helps to have something positive, successful in your life where you feel confident if you're pursuing a goal that may involve lots of rejection. If you're teaching a good group of students, taking a class where you're learning lots and feeling good, even making it a point to cook meals for your family and friends that they appreciate...  Anything where you can go to feel as though you are making a tangible difference.
This is the only way I got through over a year of unemployment. I cooked and baked a lot, led a worship team at my church, and learned new routes around the town I lived in at the time. Anything to make you feel accomplished. As for the rejection itself, Sandra is spot on.
If you can get feedback, get it and try to learn from it. That way you'll have goals to work for, or you can console yourself that you didn't get the job because they had someone specific in mind or something else. Having a solid support system is super helpful too.
Family, friends, and mentors who believe in you make all the difference. And taking good care of yourself, particularly if you do not currently have a job to fall back on. Take time to love your performing art, to practice it with your trainer or others who help you continue to love it so that it doesn't become this thing that only brings you rejection.

Hope that helps. Yes, we are all rooting for you here as well.

On 7/26/21, Jana Jackson via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi, Julie! That's such great advice! I know, I'm not a fan of 
> rejection either! I've been known to eat way too much chocolate to drown such sorrows!
> LOL! Have a great week!
>
> Jana
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Perform-Talk <perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of 
> Julie McGinnity via Perform-Talk
> Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2021 9:59 PM
> To: Performing Arts Division list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Need Some Advice
>
> 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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>
>
> --
> Julie A. McGinnity
> MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of 
> Law, JD Candidate 2023
>
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--
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of Law, JD Candidate 2023

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