[Trombone-l] A Message of Hope

[Alex Iles]

I'd like to echo Barry and Tom's comments!!

I too have felt like I "stank up the place" in auditions!! Other times, I have felt that I have played as well as I can.

The results have occasionally been the exact opposite of what I expected.I was eliminated in the first round after playing what FELT like the best audition I have ever played, while another time, I was advanced after a particularly uninspiring performance [FULL of chipped notes!]. While there were a few that fell somewhere in between!!

I have the utmost respect of ANYONE with the wear-with-all to sit an audition at any level. It can be both a great learning experience AND a total exercise in humility. The best "auditioners" seem to just prepare themselves to look at that day as just another day of presenting the music the way they have been hearing it. That's what just about everyone sitting on a committee seems to respond well too. If they are looking for something "specific", you can chase your tail forever whether or not you have that "thing". 

Congrats Bill!!

Alex Iles
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-----Original Message-----
>From: Bill Redgate <billredgate at comcast.net>
>Sent: May 20, 2007 10:34 AM
>To: Post to Trombone List <trombone-l at server5.samford.edu>
>Subject: [Trombone-l] A Message of Hope
>
>Fellow Listers;
>
>
>	I recently auditioned for an orchestra.  Although they do pay quite well,
>it's no where near being one of the biggies, but since it was my very first
>orchestral audition ever - and my first audition at all in about 30 years, I
>took it very seriously.  I was very well prepared and well practiced.  I
>felt good about it.  Unfortunately "feeling good" doesn't always help!
>
>	I stank up the place!  I felt badly for the audition committee who had to
>sit through that.  And I'm not talking the usual thing we all do where we
>don't get everything exactly right and are disappointed with our
>performance.  I'm talking - I KNOW how well I play and after that audition I
>wouldn't call me again!
>
>	How is that a message of hope?
>
>	While I of course was not offered a contract, I was put on their sub list!
>Given the situation I consider that a glorious victory.  I am delirious!
>
>	So.... the point of this way too long missive is ......  Never give up
>hope!  The audition committee could be an incredibly astute group of
>musicians who can recognize talent and skill even though it may be heavily
>masked at the time.  Or they could have had a few extra beers at lunch and
>still be liquored up.  Either way just remember that it doesn't matter what
>YOU think of your playing - only what the audition committee thinks - and
>you have no idea where their heads or ears are right then.
>
>
>Bill Redgate
>Atlanta Georgia
>
>
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