Dear musician or dear actor,
Everyone, even the great ones among us, fall flat on our faces and have bad performances sometimes. Remember, "It ain't nothing but a lesson, son." Setbacks are setups for comebacks, if you let them be. You can use performance stumbling and hiccups to figure what skills and knowledge gaps and deficiencies, or blind spots, or character or workhabit flaws you need to address, or you can wallow in your self pity and embarassment and lay down and surrender. Your call.
Sincerely,
The other side
As a sax player, I used to frequent a world famous uptown NYC jazz jam session when I was in and just out of college. I vividly remember a semi-famous jazz singer coming up to jam with us and she called a tune to be played like a bolero, which wasn't that common to hear at a session but the style is fairly straightforward. The drummer whose turn was called kept fumbling around with it, or the technical term as was called then; stepping on his d*ck. After a few measures, the singer turned around and yelled "Yo! Who is this not knowing how to play a bolero drummer motherf*cker!"
On that, the whole room exploded going "Owwwhhh!" and "daaaammmmmnnn!"
I had heard stories in the old days of the old jazz cats ripping apart cats that were "snakey" or clueless and unknowledgable, but at this time, cats just generally wouldn't talk to a cat or ignore him if he was not up on his skill sets, or say "yeah man, you sound good"(which usually meant go F yourself and go practice), so this public castigating was a little shocking.
The drummer was embarrassed, and tried to talk to the singer after, but she would not have it. Later, a veteran sax player came up to the cat and said, "Yo, it ain't nothing but a lesson, son"
The treatment may seem unfair or downright cruel, but I can understand the environment. Many artists want the real deal right now. Developing is one thing but cats want to see if you got what it takes right now to perform with them and water seeks its own level. If an opportunity comes, you want to be ready for anything.
I've found the world of acting to be similar. There are certain skill sets that directors are looking for right now. Depending on where they are in their careers and the level of their production values, they will expect a certain standard from their actors.
There are stories of actors at auditions or on sets being embarrassed by another actor or a director.
If you don't have a good showing on that day, they may just say, "thanks for coming." I've said it and have it said to me as well... Sometimes it means go F yourself and learn something to get better, but you never know. They may just be holding their judgement to themselves or playing their cards tightly to the vest.. or they could just have a laconic personality.
Never assume that you are or aren't cast, that they did or didn't like it. and in the end of if, whatever the outcome, you just have to say. Ok that's over.... next!
However, wise producers and directors (and actors) know, or should know by now, that they should never say that someone is talentless or won't make it.
You don't want to be that person that said that this actor or producer couldn't make it and when they do, you end up as a social media post of a naysayer. Plus, it's just not good karma or good business. The people you meet on on the rise to the top will be the same you meet on the way down. Nothing is ever constant. Careers ebb and flow, fortune comes and goes.
That being said, you can address when things are incorrect, and sometimes a wake up call or proverbial smack to the head , is valuable in teaching you or someone else about what works and doesn't, when the critiques are delivered with grace and tact and respect.
Take any criticism or setback, bad performance or audition screw up, in stride, with a grain of salt, see if there is anything valuable in it, learn from it and keep going. Keep getting better in your craft.
It ain't nothing but a lesson, sons and daughters. It ain't nothing but a lesson.
Be well,
Vincent
Break a leg.
My name is Vincent Veloso. I am a writer, producer, director, actor and musician and martial artist. I have worn many hats in my career, learned some things, still learning, but in this blog, I will be addressing my experience and insights making films and music... stories from casting to wrap party... the good, the bad, the really bad and the ugly.... and the really ungood.
I never use real names, and many times I address my concerns on the day directly to people in real time. I point out my own missteps just as much if not more because I have been that actor/writer/producer/director who has made the same gaffes just as much if not more. Hopefully as I address the circumstances, others can gain valuable insight, through story and my experiences, it will give people help. It is not meant to be mean spirited, but like all subjective commentary and blogs, and many other existing advice and commentary articles, I understand that audience perception is subjective and do hope you know that I hope to help others.
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