Belmont Auditions: CHECK

And so it begins! The crazy process of college auditions has commenced! I only hope that I will be this enthusiastic in a couple of weeks!

First audition: Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

I was so happy and relieved to find out that my first audition was the one closest to home. I am already very familiar with Belmont, which proved to work in my advantage!! I felt so comfortable and relaxed (something that almost never happens at auditions for me.) In fact, it was probably one of the best auditions I have ever given. Normally I have this weird swallowing thing where I get so nervous to the point that I can't control when I swallow. I'll do it in the middle of songs, while I'm talking... Yeah, It's awful, and it makes me looks like an IDIOT.

But for the first time ever, I WAS SWALLOWING NORMALLY!!! Praise GOD, otherwise I'd be in some serious trouble. I can only hope that my other auditions go as well!

So, many of you may be wondering what I actually had to do, so here's the breakdown.

1. Arrive at 8:00 am. (blech.)

2. Receive Itinerary. (Up until this point I had no idea when my actual audition was. I could have been first at 9:00 am, I could have been last at 1:00 pm. Unfortunately for me, it was the former.)

3. CHILL FOR THREE HOURS. (this one was hard because you literally just sit there thinking about everything that could go wrong in your auditions. It's. Bad.)

4. Basic Musicianship Test (I got to clap rhythms. What? Am I in preschool? I thought this was college!! BRING ON THE AUGMENTED CHORDS!!!)

5. WAIT ANOTHER HOUR.

6. Audition time! (It really sucks to think that I put all this time and effort into something that literally lasts five minutes, sometimes shorter. But oh well, that's show biz!)

So....that's pretty much it! Auditioning is actually a very boring process, (Aside from all the drama that revolves around it.) and also one I don't like to practice. I really hate auditions with a burning passion and just wish auditors could just look at you and know you were the right choice for their school. But of course in my perfect world, everyone would poop rainbows...

All I can say now is, one down, one million to go.

Literally.

till the rainbows aren't runny,

lindsey

september say whaaat?

I refuse to believe that it’s September. Cuz that means that my life is really hectic and busy and I have a lot of crap to do.

• It means that it’s officially fall, which is when all my applications are due.

• It means that I have spent all my summer money and have nothing left for the winter months. (how am I going to stay WARM?!)

• It means that the outdoor pool is closed and i’m STILL a lifeguard.

• It means I have ONE MORE YEAR OF FREAKING SCHOOL AND IT’S ONLY THE FIRST SEMESTER!!!

blah, I hate september.

till the calendar burns,

lindsey.

seven- a person or a thing that has had a great impact on your life.

Okay, this one is definitely a cop out, but it would have to be my parents. So many of the things i'm interested in/LOVE are because my parents introduced me to it.

Did you know that my parents met in a theater? My Dad came to see a show my Mom was in, (although he came to see some other chick), and I guess it was love at first site. They had mutual friends and it just...worked out! My Dad proposed to her after going to see Phantom of the Opera together. Oh yeah, and they sung "All I Ask of You" at their wedding. I guess you could say that musical theater runs in my system...

Even though I'd like to take credit for the piano thing, (cuz i begged my mom when i was five to take lessons.) it would never have happened if my mom and dad didn't encourage me to work hard and practice. I wouldn't be were I am now if it wasn't for them! (well...OBVIOUSLY.)

Most people say it's your friends that influence you the most, but I think we all know it's really our parents. I couldn't and wouldn't have done everything that I've accomplished to this day without their support and encouragement. I am so blessed to call them Mom and Dad.


till the baby pictures come out,
lindsey.

every task seems to be harder for me simply cuz my name is lindsey...

It's come; the time for me to apply to colleges. Scary, I know. Just thinking about the fact that I'll actually BE in college by this time next year is so freaky! But by then, this whole ordeal with applications, auditions and all the PREPARATION involved will be over. And the only thing i'll have to worry about is how cute my dorm room will look. ;)

But, unfortunately I'm not there yet. I still have LOTS of work to do (good thing I have good teachers to kick my butt and keep my going!) As a Senior looking to audition for Musical Theater, there are many aspects of applying. Not only do I have write up multiple "creative" essays, but I also have monologue auditions, dance auditions, singing auditions, piano auditions, head shots, resumes, AND interviews that I have to prepare for and look forward too! And because I am applying to so many schools, all of them have different audition requirements, which in turn, makes more work for me.

I seriously, don't know how i'm going to get it all done in time! Along with all these fun, interesting tasks comes (believe it or not) my everyday life! I still have a job, work, piano lessons, voice lessons, swim team, and any shows that I will foolishly audition for and become over-committed with. :)

Yesterday, I was feeling a little overwhelmed. (no surprise there.) I was researching schools and then it hit me, I've got a LOT of work to do, and I have absolutely NO idea how I'm going to find the time to get it all done! I was thinking, I'm going to put all this work into my application, and I really have a slim-to-no chance of even getting in to most of these schools...but guess which verse I came across last night in my Bible?

JEREMIAH 29:11

"'For I know the plans I have for you.' says the Lord. 'Plans for a future and not for disaster.'"

THANK. GOD.

Cuz you know what? I couldn't do it without him. I know as tough as it's gonna get, God is gonna be right by my side and leading my the whole way! I KNOW that this is where God has gifted me, and by golly, I know if this is what he wants for me he's gonna make it happen!!

I just wish he would make filling out applications a little easier...

till the application deadline,

lindsey.

school, piercings, and the end of Bye Bye Birdie.

I am very sad.

Bye Bye Birdie ended yesterday and I can already feel the hole in my heart getting bigger. This cast has been the most talented, hilarious, heart felt, stylish, adorable, dedicated and FRIENDLY casts I have ever been involved with!! I have made so many good friendships, and now I hate to actually put them to the test; can you say long distance relationship? I know they don't work out most of the time, but these kids are my family now, my brothers and sisters, and I have to make it work somehow.

Maggie, Michelle, Abbey, Hayley and Ali (a.k.a. my "blood sisters") I will definitely miss the most. These girls are so beautiful in every way, and I'm so sad that I won't be able to see them constantly anymore. To think that we spent every hour of everyday together and we never got sick of it! You guys truly are my sisters and I will never forget you. I mean, I got my cartilage pierced with you!! Love you girls!!

Speaking of cartilage piercings...(i know, seamless right??) I GOT MINE DONE!!! :D And of course, because I am a responsibly 18-year-old, I didn't even need my parents permission!! I know, I'm so BA. ;)

It's still a little sore, but only when I touch it. Most people say that when you get it with a gun (which I did) that it stays sore for a longer period of time, but it seems to be getting better each day! And although my parents weren't absolutely thrilled, they still liked it. :) Up next: NOSE PIERCING!! :D

and NOW comes the part of the show when Lindsey talks about SCHOOL.

can I just start by saying EW?? Seriously, I hate school with a burning passion. I really don't know how I'm going to get through high school, let alone four more years of college. I mean, we spend half our lives in school!! (or something like that, anyway...) I'd rather be out in the world actually learning things from real people then sitting in a classroom (or in my case, on my couch) and just reading about them! And now that I'm a senior, it's really crunch time. Since I'm going to college for theater (i think) I have to get my lead role before the year is through, and it's SO much harder than it sounds. I have some hope though, The Center For The Arts is doing "Hairspray" in January and I actually think I have a shot to be Tracy! Being in Bye Bye Birdie really helped me in getting to know everybody at the Center, including the Director for Hairspray. And since I'm a little bigger than the other girls, I think I have a leg up with the physical appearance. Now, I KNOW from past experiences that I can't get my hopes up but a girl can dream, right??

till the song ends,

lindsey.

NOTICE: Auditions Posted

As an aspiring actress/singer, you think that I would be very comfortable with auditions by now and be so amazingly awesome at every single one.

FALSE.

Auditions can be VERY stressful. In fact, I don't think actors are appreciated enough for their struggles. Seriously, we got it bad. I mean, doesn't it scare you at all to think that a single note or a once-over is the only thing that separates you from a great part? We are judged based on appearance, the way we read, talk, dance, even the way we dress! And most of these judgments are made as soon as you walk in the door. Very rarely do you get to show the director what you can really do in an audition. Due to 'time constraints' (and the gorgeous skinny blonde next to you,) your chances of getting the part you want are pretty slim.

For those of you who don't know, most auditions consist of something called a "Cold Reading". This refers to the amount of time you have to look over a scene before you read it. Which of course, is no time at all. Now, THIS part of the audition is a piece of cake for me. I've always been a very good reader and I know how to deliver something without looking over it ahead of time. This just comes naturally to me.

But the singing and dancing?? HA.

As many times as I have stood in front of strangers and performed, auditions have a totally different kind of pressure to them. Somehow I manage to make an absolute fool of myself and all hopes of a good part are flushed down the drain. It's almost funny, actually. And sometimes, not so much.

Thing is, when you are at an audition, you aren't a character. I don't care what people say, but you come as YOURSELF. For me, that's really hard. I find it much easier to perform as a character when people are judging me. Why? Because they aren't judging ME, they are judging the character. It can be so much fun to be someone else, and that's what I absolutely love about acting. It's all about removing yourself from your own shoes, and it's what makes it so enjoyable. But standing there, just being "Lindsey" is much harder.

Most of you are probably really clueless as to what I'm talking about. But if you ever think about it, ask me! Even though I find auditions to be very stressful and hectic, I would do it over and over (which I do!) to be apart of this wonderful gift called Theater.

till callbacks are made,
lindsey.