Is it normal audition anxiety or a sign that maybe theatre isn’t for you?
Once I’m actually in a show, I enjoy it on a deep level, but singing auditions make me so anxious that it feels like my body just shuts down.
I can sing something at home and feel totally fine, and then in the room it’s like the air gets knocked out of me and I suddenly can’t sing the way I know I can. Even in voice lessons, singing in front of new people can be hard for me.
I’m getting back into theatre as an adult and I’ve had some success, but mostly in smaller roles. I’m often auditioning with people who are way more experienced, have theatre degrees, and seem completely comfortable walking in and giving it their all. If I can’t actually show that I really can sing in auditions and be comfortable, directors are never going to trust me with bigger parts.
How does one cope with the nerves?