Why We Love "Little Treat Mentality" After Auditions

If you've been at an audition recently, we're willing to bet that you treated yourself to a little something right after. Whether it's a shopping spree, an ice cream cone, or a movie marathon of an old favorite, everyone has their own way of rewarding themselves after an audition.

"But Anonymous Author!" you may ask, "What if I totally blew it in the audition room? Surely I don't deserve a reward after a terrible performance!"

We hear you. We just don't agree with you. In fact, treating yourself after an audition can actually help you more in the long run, even if you didn't put your best foot forward! Now, we aren't saying go all-out and spend your life savings on "little treats," but there are real benefits to self-rewarding. Many people wait until the cast list comes out to either rejoice or lament, but we think you should celebrate long before that "Congratulations!" or "Unfortunately..." email hits your inbox.

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Here's why we think the attitude of rewarding yourself (affectionately dubbed "little treat mentality" or "little treat culture" in recent popular media) helps you, even after a bad audition:

It trains your brain to enjoy the audition process and motivates you for more

Yep! Science actually says that self-reward (in moderation!) is a great way to motivate that pink, squishy thing we call the brain. A little treat after a great audition tells your brain that your hard work is paying off, and to keep at it! After a bad audition, it still lets your brain know that you deserve to be rewarded for every effort made—and gives you a safe space to consider what to work on next time.

When you're selecting your little treat, keep this in mind—"little treats" are not a one-size-fits-all solution. You should choose your post-audition reward carefully, and consider not only your budget (though that is important), but also what makes you truly and instinctively happy! For the science of it all to actually work, you'll need to create your own small boost of dopamine—the brain's "happy hormone"—which can't be accomplished if you're rewarding yourself with things you don't really enjoy all that much. So find what makes you happy, and roll with it!

It can be an opportunity to bond with others in the same boat

If you're close with other auditioners, this feels like a no-brainer. Got an audition on the same day as a friend? Invite them for a quick bite afterwards at a favorite local spot! Chances are, you won't just be practicing "little treat mentality," you'll also be creating a bond with someone who truly understands. And guess what? If things didn't go according to plan in the audition room, the absolute best way to navigate the negative feelings is to have a chat with a friend.

Even if you don't know a soul in the audition room, you can still call up a non-theatre friend (if any of us have one of those) and go out to celebrate with them! You'll find your community is the best way to treat yourself while building meaningful connections with those around you.

It gives you space to decompress and look at your audition objectively

We've all been there. You practiced your audition piece a dozen times in the car on the way to the theater, and then... You blew it. You wobbled on the high note, or missed your entrance, or totally ran out of breath in the middle of your monologue. Here's the thing—chances are, you aren't the only one who made a mistake in front of the panel. When we're so focused on perfection, we forget the fact that live theatre is so rich and full because of our mistakes.

But we know, hearing that doesn't make your rough audition feel any better. Taking time for yourself after an audition can be an effective way to allow yourself space to decompress, and it lets you take a moment to look at your audition with new eyes. Did you really wobble that much on the high note, or are you just used to singing it differently? Was your missed entrance really that terrible, or did you cover up for it in a way that showed the panel you can recover on the spot?

This works the other way, too. Maybe you absolutely crushed your audition, and somehow made 0 mistakes (color us impressed). You can still find some time alone with yourself and enjoy a small treat, while you consider what you could do to improve even more. After all, we are always learning and growing!