Diane Clark wrote:
<<Once again there's the rub. In NATS auditions, no money is involved in either renting a hall or paying judges. We go to whatever school is nice enough to invite us and take on the chore of hosting, and the teachers agree to judge because we want our students to have the benefit of comments from our colleagues, and therefore, we must reciprocate. We don't mind doing it, but if students realized what they are getting for so little cost, they might not be so quick to complain that someone is not smiling at them when they sing!>>
I'm not a NATS adjudicator, and I haven't sung at a NATS audition, though I have been in the audience when friends have sung. My response to those who don't care for the demeanor of adjudicators is that this is a great opportunity for a singer to learn to deal with professional audition-like conditions, but with few negative consequences because there's no job or role at stake.
NATS singers should embrace the opportunity of singing for business-like adjudicators and make the most of it. Does any singer here really think that in a professional audition that the person making the hiring decision is going to put a high priority on smiling and making the auditioner happy? Some may, but the auditioner had better be prepared to sing for busy professionals who have limited time and many responsibilities other than listening to singers.
So the first time a singer experiences this, it will be disconcerting. But don't let it be disconcerting the next time. This is as much a part of the singer's job as sounding beautiful, making great music and giving an effective performance on stage. In my opinion.
Peggy
---- Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA mailto:peggyh@i... "Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile"
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