Shoot the Piano Player, Please

So I had two auditions yesterday.

How blase an opener.

The first one was fine. I have been having been weird auditions for the last week. Things just don't seem to be gelling when I get into the room.

But yesterday was the penultimate is crappy auditions, and my own solace is in the fact that it had NOTHING to do with me.

I sang Billy Joel's Shameless. No page turns. Chord markings galore. Easy song. Recognizable.

What ensued was the worst audition of not only my short stay in NY so far, but my entire theatrical experience. I set the book down, identified the song, the tempo, the start and stop.

We go...

I immediately realize that something does NOT sound right and realize we are not in the same keys. And it ain't me.

Then we finally latch on at the big note....and he takes off and is about two measures ahead of me and shows no signs of attempting to get it together with me. One CD is rocking out to the music with his head down, the other shows no signs of life, and I am thinking: WHAT the hell???

Now a rational person would have stopped and asked to start again. I was so curious to see a) where this train wreck was going to go, b) how I was going to get myself out of it, and c) how the CDs were going to respond.

I get done. Nothing. A thank you. I go to get my book and the accompanist gives me an apologetic look and I just want to pummel him with my binder. I walked out...head down...MORTIFIED.

I mean, MORTIFIED.

Needless to say, I was angry all the way home. And now it is just another funny anecdote in my book of: Can You Believe THIS?

Show Choir! comes to an end tomorrow. I start shooting The Stoop next week. I have a stack of auditions over the next few weeks. Then I do the new composers showcase for APAC, and then Henry and Mudge and then who knows.

And do I think I am doing enough.....nope? Gotta be more.