Your First Time

Here we are my second post! I want to thank everyone for their words of encouragement and for becoming a follower of my blog. So to everyone a big hearty Midwest "THANK YOU! I LOVE YOU!"

And now, my story:

The first time is always the scariest. You don't know what is coming, what it will feel like, how it will change you, how it will make you feel. Will it hurt? Feel good? Am I ready? Fears and doubts creep into the mind and produce physical reactions, otherwise known as butterflies, and in my case stomach pain.

So there I am. Cramped in pain at my first commercial audition. Perhaps the pain was intensified by the fact that I didn't actually have an audition appointment but was "crashing" the audition. Not only was this my first professional audition, but an audition that I was going to have to ask for!!

I was blessed to have a dear friend, George, with me for encouragement. While I gathered up my nerves and decided my options (Option 1- Leave Immediately Option 2- Ask for the Audition) George excitedly asked, "Do you want me to ask for you?" I knew leaving without asking for the audition would bring disaster to my self-esteem and ambition. I also knew that using George as my voice would be easier and less painful BUT that deep down I, myself would have to ask if I wanted to walk away from the experience stronger.

I walked up to the front to read through the small cartoon post of the McDonald's commercial to familiarize myself with the audition piece. Once the decision is made somehow fear takes a backseat. As I read, I pictured myself drinking that McDonald to-go cup and eating that McDonald fry, and just as I was about to turn to George and say, "I'm ready! Let's do this!" something unfamiliar caught my eye, words I did not understand. I had come to the realization that the commercial was all in Spanish! And although I think it is a wonderful language, my extent in knowing how to speak it is very very limited. La cosina esta alberto.

George and I had a good laugh and walked right out of that casting office. What did I learn from this? 1. Fear is produced easily by the mind and sometimes is unwarranted. 2. Make sure you know what you are auditioning for before you get your panties all in a bunch. 3. Friends are vital.

And most importantly: Next time will be easier!