It's fall, which means audition season is in full swing. Between YAP and company auditions, it can be a stressful, busy time. Inevitably, a rejection email or two will find its way to your inbox, and it might happen in the middle of your audition tour. While it's easy to let those rejections bring you down, finding other ways to cope will help you during this stressful time. Here are some tips to help you have a successful audition season.

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1. Handle it like a pro

It's going to be so tempting to take to your social media pages and share your unfiltered thoughts on the company or director after finding out you're not getting an offer. In the moment, letting your personal feelings loose will probably feel really good, but in the long run, it's a questionable move. After all, who doesn't love the virtual sympathy that tearful status offers? Everyone gets rejected, and while gaining virtual sympathy can help temporarily alleviate your feelings, it's not worth the possible negative outcome. If you need to vent, try calling a reliable friend or family member.

2. It's OK to cry

Did you spend months and a summer's worth of bartending earnings to audition for a handful of YAPs in NYC only to get a round of PFOs? You are not alone. Of the singers who audition for YAPs this season, only a small percentage will receive offers. That's the reality of the business. Go ahead and cry, eat ice cream, and binge watch Netflix. All of that is OK. Give yourself a day to grieve and then move on. There's always another audition.

3. Focus on the positive

As singers, we're taught to be highly critical of ourselves. It's easy to obsess over what didn't go well and think, "That high C at the end was terrible," but try to turn that mindset upside down. Think of a few things you did well. Was it a new aria? Great job for getting something new on its feet and audition ready! Did you make new character choices with an existing aria? Way to step out of your safety zone. Try making a list of the positives. It might not take the full sting out of the rejection, but it's heartening to know you did some things really well, too.

4. Do something fun after the audition

There's nothing better than ending a stressful day with dinner at a great restaurant or catching the latest Marvel movie. After your audition, treat yourself! It gives you something positive to look forward to even if the audition doesn't end up going your way. If you are in an unfamiliar area for your audition, do some research on what's near your AirBnB. You never know what might be nearby!

5. Remember this is just one audition

Or maybe it's two or three or ten. The point is there will always be more auditions. When planning your audition season, do not place all of your hopes on one or two programs. The reality is that you aren't always the right fit for the needs of the company, even if you're a killer Zerbinetta. Plan for multiple outcomes. If you get into the programs, what will you do? If you don't, what's your plan B? Remember, there are plenty of ways to further your training even if you don't get into a YAP this year. Take time to chart it all out. A flow chart or Google Doc is an excellent way to visualize the various outcomes.

6. Find an outlet

Eating out on the road and not having the structure of your daily life fuels the stress. Instead of succumbing to the temptations of late night takeout and reduced sleep, make time to take care of yourself. Maybe that means taking a walk or getting up 30-45 minutes earlier to meditate. Maintaining a regular fitness pattern helps the body to stay in fighting shape as well as take the mind off a lackluster audition the day before.

Audition season is stressful. There's no way around it. However, you can choose to make it less stressful by taking steps to put your mental and physical health first. Enjoy the ride, but don't let it take over your life. You're worth far more than an audition result.