CONFIDENCE KILLER: HOW TO DEAL WITH CASTING REJECTION

Feeling frustrated about not booking the job you thought you were perfect for? We’ve all been there. It’s hard not to feel discouraged. But it’s also important to keep things in perspective. So you can stay on track to achieving your goals and dreams. Here’s how to survive rejection and emerge with your confidence still intact.

Lesson #1 – EVERYONE EXPEREINCES REJECTION!

I challenge you to find one person in show business that hasn’t experienced some kind of rejection or disappointment at on e point in their career. It comes with the territory.

It’s how people handle this inevitable disappointment that can make the difference between a successful and un-successful career. It’s simple enough to say that rejection should make you more determined! Some days it does just that. Other days however it’s hard not to feel upset or confused when you do badly at an audition. On those days Mia Price (veteran Broadway Performer) shares that it was helpful for her to go get lunch or a coffee with other dancers who had also been cut. It’s important to have a support system in this business. Something as simple as grabbing a coffee with other performers in your situation can help you remember that you ‘re not the only one feeling frustrated.

Lesson #2 – DON’T MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS AGAINST SOMEONE ESLSES!

It’s crucial to remember that we are all individuals and we can all bring something unique to the table. WE can fall into a discouraging trap when we try to understand why one person is successful and we are not. The reality is that there are so many factors that go into casting, it would be futile to try and figure out why you didn’t book a job. The key is to focus on giving your best audition and highlighting your individual talents. You have something to offer that is unique and when we try to emulate some else we miss out on our own potential.

Remember…. What works for on person may not necessarily work for you. That being said however, there are plenty of good habits we can learn from other performers. Casting begins the minute you walk into the room so your appearance, attitude and energy are all being noted by the creative team right away. The next time you’re at an audition pay attention to which performers exude confidence, positive energy and ability to absorb notes and style from the choreographer. These skills are key and will greatly contribute to the success of your audition.

Lesson #3 – LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES!

Mistakes at an audition can be frustrating but they can also be learning experiences. There is no point beating your self up about a mistake or dwelling on it – it’s done. You can’t go back and change it but you can make a pact with yourself not to do it again. Sometimes we don’t know if a song or an acting choice will work until we try it but the point is we have to try. It’s better to take a big risk and flop then to not risk at all. Take chances! If you are primarily a dancer try going to a singer’s call to practice your 16 bars. If you consider yourself a singer, then attend an open dance call to get your mind and body working in a different way. Just think, if you make it through that cut you’ll be back in your comfort zone and a step ahead of everyone else. You just might surprise yourself. Don’t be afraid of mistakes – nobody gets anywhere by playing it safe.

Lesson #4 - MAINTAIN YOUR FOCUS ON OTHER PASSIONS AND INTERESTS!

It’s easy to obsess about booking a job when it seems like everyone around is getting work and you’re not.

We all know however that waiting by the phone is not going to make it ring and will only make us more frustrated in the end. It’s important to have other interests and to stay busy with other things so we’re not constantly checking the cell for missed calls and messages. If you have another job you enjoy then you’re set! If not then use that creative mind to find other things you’re passionate about. Maybe teaching or working on your own projects? You might be neglecting another talent or have extra time to donate to a charity or organization as a volunteer. It an even be as simple as immersing yourself in your training with dance, voice or acting lessons. The point is you need to find other outlets for your creativity. When you are happy and fulfilled in your life outside of show business, you’ll be able to take the urgency and expectation away from auditioning. Suddenly it becomes a process you can enjoy rather then a cause for anxiety.

Lesson #5 – DON’T LET REJECTION BECOME A CAUSE FOR INSECURITY!

It’s natural to second-guess yourself when you’re experiencing a dry spell in your career but don’t let rejection get the better of you. There is a reason that you decided to become a performer in the first place and it takes certain strength of character and determined personality to make it in this business. It’s inside you somewhere if you’ve come this far so doesn’t lose sight of it.

We all let our insecurities get the best of us at one point or another but it’s important to remember that being cut at an audition does not always reflect on your talent. There is so much that goes into casting that it becomes like trying to fit together pieces of a complicated jigsaw puzzle. You could be too tall, too short, too ethnic, not ethnic enough… the list goes on and on. Each production has very specific roles to fill and it could even come down to whether you fit the costumes of the performer you’d be replacing! It’s easy to chalk it up to something you did wrong in an audition but the truth is that the creative team may have loved you but you weren’t the perfect fit. It’s important not to doubt yourself or lose confidence because the director or choreographer who couldn’t use you this time may think you’re perfect for their upcoming project… don’t lose hope!

Lesson #6 – BE PERSISTANT!

Nobody builds a successful career overnight. Of course there is such thing as a “lucky break” but keep in mind the years of hard work and training that needed to be invested before that lucky break was even a possibility.

If everyone gave up on themselves after a period of frustrating auditions, there would hardly be a Broadway to speak of.

There is an opportunity out there for everyone even if you have to create those opportunities for yourself.

Dancer Kara Madrid is a perfect example. Kara lived in NYC for SIX years before fulfilling her dream of dancing on Broadway. But she certainly didn’t sit around and wait for it to happen. In the meantime Kara built a successful career as a model, a Radio City Rockette and a Choreographer. She put together a demo reel of her work and got herself out there booking jobs in industrials, film and television. Kara also capitalized on her special skills as a rhythmic gymnast to open doors for her and when the Broadway musical “Tarzan” began auditioning she that this was her chance.

“The show is extremely athletic and physical and my gymnastic ability along with my technical training is a big asset.” says Kara.

Even so, it still took 6 call backs before Kara landed the job.

“There were so many times I came close to giving up but I knew deep down that (Broadway) was something I could achieve” she says.

So listen to that little voice that got you this far in the first place! Don’t let rejection keep you from achieving all that you are capable of.

“If you can dream it, YOU CAN DO IT!”