A little validation...
Here’s a page from the life lesson that says “Your insecurity is unfounded and here’s why.”
A number of years ago, when I was still performing, I often did auditions for on-camera gigs. One very odd audition was for World Savings Bank in Oakland. I drove all the way up there…found parking…found the building…the office…
It was a small conference room with a single person and a camera. I was asked to improv and situation I can’t quite remember…something about being a bank customer who creates some problem for the teller.
Now…I’ve never been comfortable with improv. I usually freak out a little. I go overboard.
In short, it’s usually a major cringe-worthy experience for me.
So…I do this audition…and I felt terrible about it. I was not surprised I never got a call afterward…and I’ve worked hard even since to put it out of my mind.
Fast forward to one day last week. I believe it was last Wednesday the 11th. At some point during the afternoon…for no reason at all…that audition flashed through my mind. I didn’t dwell on it except to acknowledge that I probably was chasing the wrong dream with those auditions since I did so poorly. I shuddered remembering the feeling I had during and after that bad bad bad audition. And then I went on with my day.
Sidenote: I have a cell phone, but I only carry it to make urgent calls while I’m out. It’s usually in my purse and I rarely even look at it, so I often do not get voicemail messages until a day or so late. But, not many people even know that number, let alone use it anymore, so it’s not a problem.
Back to last week…now on Friday…
I had just taken my cell phone off the charger and was putting it back in my purse. I turned the phone on and noticed that the red light was blinking, indicating that I had a voicemail. I called to get the message and here’s what I heard:
“Hi. This is a message for David Curley. I’m formally a video producer at World Savings. You had auditioned for us for a video production as an actor, and we liked your audition and we kept your information, and I’m no longer with World Savings but I am doing video production for companies in the Bay Area, and if you’re still available for acting work I’d love to talk to you. Please give me a call…”
The message was left last Wednesday the 11th at 10:50am.
HUH?!?!
It’s a gracious little gift from the Universe. It means that any torment I slathered upon myself over a “bad audition” was wasted energy. I’m grateful to know I didn’t suck.
I think the key now is to learn how to overcome that kind of insecure feeling without NEEDING that validation. It’s nice to have validation, but most of the time that will not be available.
A number of years ago, when I was still performing, I often did auditions for on-camera gigs. One very odd audition was for World Savings Bank in Oakland. I drove all the way up there…found parking…found the building…the office…
It was a small conference room with a single person and a camera. I was asked to improv and situation I can’t quite remember…something about being a bank customer who creates some problem for the teller.
Now…I’ve never been comfortable with improv. I usually freak out a little. I go overboard.
In short, it’s usually a major cringe-worthy experience for me.
So…I do this audition…and I felt terrible about it. I was not surprised I never got a call afterward…and I’ve worked hard even since to put it out of my mind.
Fast forward to one day last week. I believe it was last Wednesday the 11th. At some point during the afternoon…for no reason at all…that audition flashed through my mind. I didn’t dwell on it except to acknowledge that I probably was chasing the wrong dream with those auditions since I did so poorly. I shuddered remembering the feeling I had during and after that bad bad bad audition. And then I went on with my day.
Sidenote: I have a cell phone, but I only carry it to make urgent calls while I’m out. It’s usually in my purse and I rarely even look at it, so I often do not get voicemail messages until a day or so late. But, not many people even know that number, let alone use it anymore, so it’s not a problem.
Back to last week…now on Friday…
I had just taken my cell phone off the charger and was putting it back in my purse. I turned the phone on and noticed that the red light was blinking, indicating that I had a voicemail. I called to get the message and here’s what I heard:
“Hi. This is a message for David Curley. I’m formally a video producer at World Savings. You had auditioned for us for a video production as an actor, and we liked your audition and we kept your information, and I’m no longer with World Savings but I am doing video production for companies in the Bay Area, and if you’re still available for acting work I’d love to talk to you. Please give me a call…”
The message was left last Wednesday the 11th at 10:50am.
HUH?!?!
It’s a gracious little gift from the Universe. It means that any torment I slathered upon myself over a “bad audition” was wasted energy. I’m grateful to know I didn’t suck.
I think the key now is to learn how to overcome that kind of insecure feeling without NEEDING that validation. It’s nice to have validation, but most of the time that will not be available.
posted by Daya Curley at
7:55 AM
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