I didn’t advance at my audition. Again!
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." — Winston Churchill
Welcome to this week’s Peak Performance Mondays!
💡 The Struggle is Real:
So, you did all the work. You practiced relentlessly, prepared in every possible way, and yet, you didn’t advance. Again. It’s one of the most frustrating parts of the audition process, and it can feel like a punch to the gut. After all the time and effort, not getting the result you hoped for can make you question everything.
But here’s the thing—this isn’t the end of the road. It’s just a step in the process. It’s important to acknowledge the disappointment, but what matters most is what happens next.
The Emotionality of Failure:
When failure strikes, it’s easy to let your brain spiral into a sea of cognitive distortions and limiting assumptions. These are the negative thoughts that pop up like unwelcome squirrels, distracting and overwhelming you. Thoughts like:
“My family is going to be so disappointed in me...they’ve invested so much energy into my career.”
“I’m a total fraud. I knew trying to play my instrument for a living was a stupid idea.”
These thoughts may feel real in the moment, but they’re often distortions—automatic reactions that don’t reflect the truth. It’s crucial not to let these thoughts take over when failure occurs. You’re not a fraud, and failure doesn’t mean you’re unworthy or incapable.
One Solid Piece of Advice:
When you catch these thoughts sneaking in, try this: Write them down. Put them on paper, and then rewrite them. Reframe the negative thought into something more neutral or positive. For example:
Instead of “My family is going to be so disappointed in me,” try: “My family supports me no matter what, and I’m allowed to have setbacks on this journey.”
Instead of “I’m a total fraud,” try: “I’m working hard at my craft, and every setback is a learning experience.”
By reframing the narrative, you take away the power these negative thoughts have over you, giving you more room to focus on moving forward.
🧠 Quick Tips for Picking Up the Pieces:
Cry in Your Coffee Time:
The emotional impact of not advancing is real, and it’s important to give yourself space to feel it. Allow yourself some “cry in your coffee time” to process all the emotions—whether it’s frustration, sadness, or anger. But once that’s done, it’s time to pick yourself up and move on. The key is to acknowledge the disappointment, then shift your focus to figuring out what went wrong and how you can improve for next time.Pick Up the Puzzle Pieces:
Auditions are like jigsaw puzzles. At first, it feels confusing and overwhelming. But with every audition, you pick up a few more pieces. What worked well? What didn’t serve you? With every piece, the picture becomes clearer. You learn what to double down on, and what to let go of. One day, after enough work and reflection, you’ll snap that final piece into place.Do a Debrief:
After each audition, I make sure to do a debrief with all my clients. Why? Because it separates the emotional side from the logical side of your reactions. It helps you step back and assess things clearly, rather than being driven by frustration or disappointment. Here’s how to approach a debrief:Separate Emotion from Analysis:
Start by identifying and acknowledging your emotional reactions—whether you felt frustrated, disappointed, or even angry. But don’t stop there. Once you’ve processed those feelings, shift into analysis mode and ask yourself:What did I do well?
What didn’t work as planned?
What specific areas can I focus on improving next time?
Flip the Script:
Vulnerable feelings often arise after an audition doesn’t go as expected. Instead of letting those feelings hold you back, turn them into usable tools. For example:If you felt unprepared in certain sections, ask yourself how you can structure your practice more efficiently next time.
If nerves overwhelmed you, think about implementing more mock auditions or mental rehearsals.
If a certain technique didn’t work, identify the root of the issue and plan targeted exercises to address it.
Look for Patterns:
A key benefit of debriefing is that it helps you spot recurring patterns. For example:Do nerves consistently affect you at similar moments?
Do technical challenges arise in specific excerpts?
Are you holding yourself back because of fear or hesitation? Once you identify these patterns, you can create action plans to tackle them in future auditions.
Set Concrete Goals:
After each debrief, set at least one specific, measurable goal to work on before your next audition. Examples include:Improving rhythm accuracy in a specific excerpt.
Implementing a mock audition schedule to work on managing performance anxiety.
Breaking down a technical issue into smaller, manageable exercises.
A debrief isn’t just about reviewing the audition—it’s about using each experience as a stepping stone to refine and strengthen your skills. Treat every audition as a learning opportunity, and you’ll keep making progress, even after setbacks.
✅ Action Item of the Week:
This week, take 10-15 minutes to review one recent audition where you didn’t advance. List two things you did well and one area for improvement. This practice is about learning, not judging. Then, reconnect with your “why” to find the motivation to move forward.
🔄 A Final Thought:
What if it never works out? That’s a question many musicians struggle with, and the reality is that not everyone will win an orchestra job. But when you find yourself in a position where your goal is truly important to you, ask yourself: Am I going all in, or am I holding back a little because I’m afraid—what if it doesn’t work out? Sometimes, people subconsciously set themselves up with an excuse: “Well, at least I can say I didn’t really go for it.” But here’s the truth—you’ve got to be willing to fully commit. Only by giving everything can you find out just how far you can go.
Thanks for joining me for this week’s Peak Performance Mondays. Keep pushing forward!
Chris @ Honesty Pill Coaching
P.S. If you’re feeling stuck after not advancing and need guidance on how to move forward, I’m here to help. My Audition Accelerator is enrolling now, and together we can break down what happened, rebuild, and get you ready for the next opportunity.
