“Well, yea. We know NOW you’re the best person for the role …. but. Sorry, Amy. You really don’t audition very well.”

Said to me by a very good friend of mine at the time. He was helping direct a musical at a community theater. I auditioned for the lead and was cast as the understudy.

I had been doing theater for YEARS and no one had ever told me I don’t audition very well.

I had no idea that the first impression I was putting out there was lacking in confidence. Lacking in my personality. Lacking in that innate sassiness and sarcasm that my friends know me for.

I’ve been thinking about this recently as I start gearing up for some photography workshops and conferences and get-togethers I have planned for the next few months.

Meeting new people.

Very like an audition.

Turns out I’m not so good at that.

What’s worse is, if I stop to think about it – I KNOW it. I can feel myself turning inward and putting out the ‘don’t talk to me vibe’ …. this, of course, is only useful when I’m at the gas station and an obviously sleazy guy drives up behind me. Ugh. Or the security guard is feeling chatty and I’m already late.

Maybe I’ve just read too many scary true crime books, but I have to remind myself that most of the time, it’s OK to talk to strangers.

This recent post from the Brand Camp blog reminded me. Sometimes, you just need to smile and say ‘Hi.’

So, if you see me out and about – from the grocery store to the Escalate conference – PLEASE come say hi to me. Even if it seems like I’m putting off the ‘don’t talk to me’ vibe. Just ignore that … I don’t mean it. It’s a reflex that I’m going to overcome.

I can’t wait to meet you!