Last night I was watching So You Think You Can Dance, which is my favorite TV show in the summer. I'm sure you can tell because I have already made a previous post talking about it, haha. Last night the episode showed us the 200 and some odd individuals who made the first cut of auditions and had the opportunity to participate in an intense week of auditioning in Las Vegas for one of the Top 20 spots. The judges weren't messing around, they immediately began cutting tons of people left and right. They were on a mission, they were looking for the 10 best male and the 10 best female dancers. They knew exactly what they were looking for: performance, talent, technique, poise, personality, and especially coach-ability. The dancers were put under tremendous amounts of pressure. Not only were they being physically exhausted, but mentally too. As the group was narrowed down to fewer and fewer dancers, it was amazing how individuals true character and ability to be coachable really shined when they became tired and stressed out. There was one girl in particular that I am thinking of who made it through the entire week without being cut. When it came to auditioning the last piece of choreography she actually did well. The judges complimented her to reassure her and then told her that they noticed her getting overwhelmed while learning the routine. Rather than saying, "thank you, yes I was overwhelmed for a minute but I learned a great lesson," she began to rattle off a whole long story full of excuses. The judges were completely turned off and actually cut her because they didn't like her attitude not because of her dancing abilities. If she hadn't said too much, she would have had the opportunity to do her solo and be considered for one of the Top 20 spots. At the very end of the episode there was another situation where a girl said too much. She was asked if she didn't make the Top 20 if she would come back and try again next year. She said no and explained that the rejection was too hard on her emotionally. The judges, again, were turned off by the attitude of this girl. They didn't like that she would be willing to give up at age 19 when she has so much talent. After her comments the judges decided to recast the vote to see if she should make the Top 20. Despite her negative comments, she still made the Top 20. But she almost missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime because she said too much. I felt really bad for both of these girls who gave really bad impressions of themselves because they said too much. It made me think of how many times we say too much, and later find ourselves regretting it because of the consequences. Sometimes less is more, enough said. . .
When I was in 9th grade (junior high) I was in an audition choir. At the end of the year I, along with many other girls, performed a solo for our high school choir teacher, Mr. Tortorica. We were given scores on our solos and they also counted as our audition for varsity choir our sophomore year. Very few were given an 'A' rating on their solos, and even less made it into the varsity choir as a sophomore. I was nervous to perform in front of Mr. Tortorica. After my performance when I went to receive my critique from him he told me that I did very very well. I said, "thank you! I was really nervous because I've had a cold so I was worried I wouldn't be able to sing." He set me straight so fast! He told me that all I needed to say was "thank you" and that no one likes working with anyone that makes excuses. I apologized. A few days later I found out that I did receive and 'A' rating on my solo, but I did NOT make the varsity choir. I had said too much. It was one of my many lessons learned on saying too much. I actually spoke to Mr. Tortorica about it and because I did he allowed me to be in the A Capella varsity choir (the only sophomore in the choir) which I was extremely grateful for, but I would still have to wait until the next year to re-audition for our women's varsity choir. I said too much, and there were consequences! Has something like this happened to you before?
It is not just in auditions that we miss out on opportunities if we accidentally say too much. I think this happens to us a lot, especially in arguments. Why is is that people always want to be the one that gets the last word? Only to find that their last word caused some serious heart ache. How often when we are tired and under serious stress do we say something that we didn't really mean in the first place? Think about how frustrated it makes you when you let someone else tell their side of the story without interruption and then the second you start telling yours they interrupt you! They said too much! Or how about when someone gives you a compliment and instead of simply saying, "thank you," you disregard the compliment? I think everyone makes these mistakes. I think it is one of those life lessons that you you learn over and over again.
However, even though everyone makes these mistakes you still feel bad for them when they do. I am going to try to be more aware of when I am saying too much. I recommend everyone else do the same. Sometimes it is best just to say "ok" or "thank you" . . . enough said.
Dusting off the blog
1 year ago
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