You just can't give them an excuse or reason to not possibly hire you.
I freely admit that I'm in perfect shape. I don't have the most glorious instrument known to man, but hey, I sing very well, have a good resume, am versatile and bla bla bla, and I still have a hard time. Why? Cause there are lots of 5'2 little blonde soubrette/LC's running around that are tiny and good. There just are.
If I was 50 pounds heavier, I can say with utter conviction that I would not have had a single young artist program or role that I have done on my resume, I'm sure of it.
It's nothing personal.
It's just that if A sings and acts well, and B sings and acts well but doesn't look as proportionate or good in clothes, they're going to go with A.
I know everyone gets on here and whines and whines about how the art of singing is lost and that noone sings well anymore, but that simply isn't true. There are a lot of great singers out there. All WE can do is step up to the plate and not give them a reason not to hire us. Keep the technique polished, keep the package well rounded and fresh, take care of your body, do something to make sure you move well. In the end you can do all that right and STILL not get hired. So why give them a blazing reason, when having it all STILL may not be enough?
And sorry ladies, the 12 of today is not the 12 of yesteryear. Today's 6 is about the "12" Marilyn Monroe wore back in the day. I think our idea of what is healthy has gotten warped. I don't want to start this whole "a size 12 isn't fat" thing. It depends on muscle mass, height, proportion, and so many factors.
Odds are, you know what your healthy ideal is for you. We all have our own healthy, our own ideal, our own way of carrying it, and odds are, you know what your healthy ideal feels like it should be. And odds are, it's about right as to what looks best on YOU.
This is a business. It's mostly about singing, but it's about other things too. Actors have to deal with this. Dancers have to deal with this. And we do, too. It takes some work and effort, it's just a fact.
If possible, why give them a reason or excuse to not hire you if you can solve the issue with some effort and lifestyle changes? Remember, it is NOT personal.
BQ
"Until last week, I thought legato was a cured meat!"
