Recently I have been scouring my timeline highlighting delightful “successes.” Now here are some “failures.”
Did not successfully pass my first ~5 years of auditions at the Springer Opera House—Ron would tell my dad that he was impressed I kept coming back. We can blame my dad for assuring me after the first audition that not getting cast was not necessarily a bad thing. It changed my way of thinking. Both Ron and my dad have always said variations of “And that’s okay!”
Did not make track team in 7th grade!
Got fired from a theatre camp counseling gig when I was 15. On the date of a previously approved dentist appointment, someone got hurt at the theatre while I was gone - there were a lot of other camp counselors and I wasn’t solely titled “Safety Monitor” at any point. I got a call from the director, “This wouldn’t have happened if you were here. Please don’t come back.” There is much more to the story, contextually, which adds to its own round of failures and hard-earned lessons.
Rejected from Point Park University’s Musical Theatre BFA!
Rejected from Pace University’s Musical Theatre BFA!
Did not get accepted to the Disney College Program my first semester applying. I was way too honest in the initial vetting questionnaire: “Do you get upset if someone treats you poorly?” “Sometimes.” The computer couldn’t understand that this didn’t mean I acted on it.
Next round: we will present the best. Got accepted. Obtained Excellence in Service awards, a promotion, and was then awarded an extension to my ideal job and location. The extra semester at my school gave me a chance to perform and learn more, too. Not to mention all of the glorious people from both places I got to encounter because of the timing. Added lesson: I probably enjoyed my first role better than the one I requested—”be careful what you wish for.”
Made a mistake with a friend while we were down there. (See: prank-war with roommates, and one went too far.) After getting in some stressful trouble, we were graced with leniency. Changed my life.
College was solid. Didn’t get everything I applied for: nominated to give a TEDxUGA talk and the initial presentation did not go well (did not get passed on to next round,) applied to be a Tour Guide and an Orientation Leader- didn’t get those; auditioned for some plays and usually got a callback but was only cast in one small show put on by a student-led organization, which I did enjoy. I also worked my tail off for very mediocre grades.
Only hit my sales goal at Yelp a percentage of the time. Made appointments and pitched like a boss though—it made work fun. Wouldn’t push for sales when folks brought up concerns about money- still have room to grow here…
Asked to emcee an event years ago now. Said yes. Wasn’t given a set-list, and did not push for said set-list, and therefore, was truly, extremely, embarrassingly underprepared. Not only that- I got so flustered that I insulted the audience. It. was. bad. I continue to work on washing that shame away.
Was closeted.
Rejected from Highwire Comedy’s Livewire Sketch Team in Atlanta!
Rejected from DePaul University’s MFA in Screenwriting program!
Have applied, and I’d be interested to know the real data here, to probably well over a thousand jobs. I can be dramatic, but it has to be A LOT. Name of the game? Helpful nuggets have come from many notable interviews. (In this blog’s initial posting, I shared some of the nuggets. However, I’ve decided that the specificity was perhaps only informative for my own path, and have since wiped the quotes away.)
Have asked for raises that were not granted. Have asked for raises that were granted.
Humbled to receive an opportunity making great money in a great role for a great organization in my hometown, and walked away after just over two months. It did not align with what I was working on big picture, which I know is hard to understand. Learned a lot.
There is a part of me who loves relishing in the here and now, but personal/professional improvement/development is fuel for me. My hope is that in making decisions with integrity I’m led where I’m supposed to be. Considering both sides, maybe I am where I’m supposed to be.
Note: additional failures not listed.