Commonwealth Games Audition

Well hello there lovely readers!

On Saturday 26th I attended an audition to be part of the cast for the Opening/Closing ceremonies of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

I applied a few weeks ago on a whim (and because I need no excuse to dance!) and got an email inviting me to audition, so I packed my bags and headed off to Glasgow to see if I've got what it takes! ;) 

Now, for those of you who know me, you'll know that traveling isn't my strong suit. I know it's only a short distance from Aberdeen to Glasgow, but I've been stranded, penniless and phoneless, in Australia, I've watched buses drive off without me en route to Paris, made it no further than Edinburgh for what was meant to be a weeks' holiday in Magaluf, got my best friend really quite lost during Freshers Week by taking her the wrong way into town (5 years later she's still not let me forget that one), and just the other week it took me 1.5 hours to find the bus station from Sauchiehall street, which, for those who are not familiar with Glasgow, is a distance of about a hop, skip and a jump. Oh, and on that same occasion I booked the hostel for the wrong weekend and only noticed at 10.30 at night about 10 minutes before I arrived.

So needless to say I was *a little* nervous to see what level of failure this trip would be!! I had my thousands (ok, not thousands) of Facebook followers tuned in to my newsfeed to observe the likely catastrophe, and I will now share it with you.

Step 1: book, locate, and board correct bus.

8am start = coffee

Nailed it! This is the 3rd time I've gotten a bus out of Abz with no problems and no confusion and no missing the bus and no thinking the bus is on its' way when its actually gone. Think I've finally got this step down.

Step 2: arrive in Glasgow and locate hostel (on correct date)

Check! This is the exact same route which took me 2 hours last time (in the opposite direction), when I got totally, completely and hopelessly lost and walked in circles for about 6 miles until I somehow, and by accident, stumbled upon the bus station. I'm glad that this time I seemed to somehow know the exact route without the blink of an eye and with barely the use of a map, but 1) HOW?? and 2) WHY??? was it so hard last time?!?!

Step 3: identify audition location

It was all going so well at this point that I stopped to brag about it on Facebook, as you do. I then headed off to find Mitchell Library, and at about 90% of the way there, I realised...

Yup. My volunteer agreement, my ID number, my bus times and reservation numbers, the maps I'd printed, all sitting on the steps outside the hostel. Fortunately, I'd left myself quadrillions of time because I JUST KNEW I WOULD DO SOMETHING SILLY, so I was able to run back and get them. Pretty lucky they were still there after about 30 minutes but I don't even want to think about that. 

*shudders*

The audition was at Mitchell Library

 Now, from conversation I'd had and the fact that we all had to sign volunteer agreements as well as have our photos taken for ID badges and our measurements done for a costume, I was under the impression the audition was more or less a formality. 

It was not. 7000 people were auditioned, and 3500 people are needed to perform. That gives me a 50% chance.

To be honest though, that's OK. I had a lot of fun doing the audition (and conquering Glasgow!) so I'm just feeling really happy!! There were no disasters on the day and I did as well as anyone else - with the possible exception of the girl in front of me who was doing some fine looking breakdancing moves!! Go girl!

This seems like a good point to thank Steve and his team for leading the audition - they were so good at getting everyone energised and inspired, the bubbly atmosphere was contagious and I think I'm still feeling it today!!

This is my "OMG you gaiz that audition was for realz!" face

I then decided to keep the lucky-memento going and go to a restaurant ALONE. Because yes, I find that quite weird. It was totally a success though, unless you count one or two little sticking points, but I don't. I got fed, I was alone - I call that success!

Fettucine bolognese, which I ate by chopping it up and I'm not even sorry.

And now I'm home safe and sound in one piece! I'll be hearing about the success of my audition in the next few weeks so I'll keep you updated. I had such a good time though, I'm riding high this week!

[PS a secret other thing happened which I will hopefully be able to write about next week. SO.  EXCITING.]

Much love everyone!

Naomi x


Update 17th May!
I got an email last week telling me I'd been offered a place in the reserve cast for the opening audition :)
 I'm sure had I taken up the offer I may well have been able to land myself a spot, however the post involved a lot of trips to Glasgow for rehearsals, and it's just not something I can afford to do, financially or time-wise, with no guarantee of actually being involved in the performance itself. So, no Commonwealth for me this summer! However I do have tickets for Belladrum in August, and I can tell you now there will be much dancing at that! Swings and roundabouts, eh?

I did however have a lovely weekend conquering Glasgow and taking part in the audition, so no regrets.

Je regret rien ;)

Much love (again)
Naomi