Rejection

is a universal part of the actor's

journey,

but its frequency

and intensity can make it particularly

challenging

in the acting profession.

For professional actors,

rejection often feels personal

and can lead to negative

defeatist or

detrimental feelings.

Here's a comprehensive exploration

of these struggles and actionable

strategies

to work through them.

This is a more sombre episode, but I

find it to be really, truly helpful.

This is casting actors cast

guessing

box.

watch you

every week.

We're bringing in your watch.

We're going to kick off the show right

after this.

Well, hello and welcome to today's

episode of casting actor's cast.

I'm casting partner Jeffrey Dreisbach

with the McCorkle group in New York.

How are you?

I hope you're having a good day.

I'm having a good day.

And I really wanted to take on this

subject for some time now, because I

think there's this time of year, in

particular, I think, is really, kind of

challenging for a lot of us.

And I thought, why not take this

head on?

Why not really talk about this in a way

that I hope you'll find is helpful,

and most importantly makes you feel

hopefully, hopefully makes you feel

that you're not alone.

That's the most important thing.

Please take out the website, casting

actors cast all one word dot com for

more information

on stuff that I'm involved with, from

classes that I'm teaching, my books

that are available to you.

There's a form that says, dive into the

talent pool.

You can also submit your video.

If you have an audition that you want

some feedback on, I am going to do a live

gosh.

These podcasts are so popular.

It's actually a live evaluation of your

audition.

So if you've got the gumption,

if you've got the guts, and you want to

submit it to me, you can send it

through casting actors cast dot com or

casting actress cast a Gmail dot com.

And that's going to be an upcoming

episode

very, very shortly.

So I appreciate you submitting that to

me.

And for those of you who have submitted

to me already, I haven't forgotten

I'm just trying to line up several

episodes in a row so that I can do this

about you.

pretty consistently, because I think

people will find that really, really

valuable.

And now here's a little bit of a

special announcement that I beg your indulgence.

You might know that I've been a film

and a TV professor at norweck

conservatory of the arts, which is a

professionally

accredited institution in norwat,

Connecticut, for two years now, where

in our second year of existence.

And our second year training program

for actors

is about to come to a conclusion after

this spring semester.

And those second year film and TV

students will be heading to Los Angeles

at the end of February

for major career opportunity.

They are going to showcase in front of

top industry talent agencies and

casting directors

now listen.

This is an incredible chance for them

to make connections and take their

careers to the next level.

They are absolutely

wonderful folks that I just wish

nothing but the best.

I've had a chance to work with them for

a while, and I can vouch for their creative

talent and their tenacity.

And to help cover the costs of the

travel and accommodation to Los Angeles,

they've gone ahead,

they've set up a go fund me campaign

that will help support their travel and

living expenses while they are out

there.

On the showcase they could really use

your help

by going to their go fund me page and

making a contribution, you're going to

help make the most of this opportunity

for these amazing

acting students.

So the link I'm going to put on my

website

it's at casting actors cast dot com.

Please go there.

The link is very easily found right on

the landing page.

So if you have any questions, or you

want to chat more about the details,

don't hesitate to reach out

and thank you so much for the support

you're going to be providing these

young talented folks.

All right, let's move on from there.

Let's get into the subject at hand.

Why actors struggle

with rejection?

Well, I think the first thing that

comes to mind if you've had this

experience yourself is that there's a

personal investment

that's involved.

You see, acting is deeply personal.

Actors pour their emotions, their

creativity

and their individuality

into their performances,

make sense,

so that when they're rejected,

it can feel like a rejection of their

essence

or their talent,

rather than

it's just simply their suitability for

a role.

See, roles often resonate on an actor's

identity or aspirations, making the

rejection feel especially poignant.

There's also that factor of high

competition.

The entertainment industry is fiercely

competitive,

with hundreds of, even thousands of

actors auditioning for a single role.

The odds of success

can feel very, very overwhelming.

So what does that do for you, if you

have that awareness?

Because repeated rejections can lead

actors to question their abilities or

their worthiness,

especially if others around them seem

to achieve success more easily.

Also another reason,

lack of feedback.

You see, rejections often come without

explanation,

leaving actors wondering if they did

something wrong or if they simply

warn't the right fit.

This ambiguity

can lead to overthinking and can lead

to self doubt.

An actor alone

is in bad company,

in my opinion.

Another reason, well,

let's talk about career insecurity.

For many actors, rejection just isn't

emotional

it's tied to financial and professional

stability.

This pressure can amplify the sting of

rejection and create long term stress

about their future in the industry.

Another

social comparison,

social media and industry networks

frequently.

Showcase others' successes.

You know, when that happens, it can

make our actors feel left out.

They feel left behind.

Inadequate

or they can even feel excluded.

Common negative reactions

that I have experienced and that I've

seen in other actors.

Number one, defeat us thoughts,

believing that rejection signifies a

lack of talent

or the inability to succeed.

Also

feeling hopeless about future

opportunities.

Here's another reason.

Emotional burnout,

experiencing a buildup of frustration,

of sadness or anger after repeated rejections,

you can view, being the actor can

become emotionally detached from the

craft as a form of self protection.

Detachment

can signify

a safety mechanism that we have

because it sometimes is just simply too

painful.

A third reason, self sabotage.

I've seen actors avoid auditions or

opportunities out of fear of future rejection,

allowing negative feelings to impact

performance

during auditions

or projects.

So those are all areas in which we can

identify

thoughts that we

put ourselves through

when we are experiencing these phases

of rejection.

So there are some strategies for working

through rejection,

and we're going to talk about those

right after this.

Are you wishing for acting success?

Are you ready with audition techniques

for theater film and television are you

ready with proven methods for growing

your talent?

Are you ready to boost your business?

It would help if you had a playbook to

guide you.

Now there's jeff's jots.

The actor's career play book by

Geoffrey drisbach.

Jeff's jots

at amazondot com.

Casting actor's cast dot com, available

in paperback, hard cover or e book.

Stop wishing and start doing with

jeff's jobs.

The actor's career play book.

So welcome back.

We're talking about how to deal with

rejection.

And I think it's important to take a

look at some strategies for working

through rejection.

Number one, I think you should reframe

rejection.

Understand the factors that are at play.

Break it down for yourself

casting.

Decisions are influenced by many

factors beyond talent,

beyond physical appearance, chemistry

or other actors, or even logistical

concerns.

Rejection

is not personal.

Think of it as redirection.

Every rejection, in my opinion, is a

step towards the right role or opportunity.

I know that sounds a little Pollyanna,

but I think that that's a healthier way

to approach it.

Many successful actors experience

countless rejections

before they have their breakthrough.

I think it's also important to

celebrate the opportunity.

Focus on the fact that you were invited

to audition,

which means some one recognized your

potential and talent.

And I've said this before.

As a casting person, I wouldn't bring

an actor into audition if I didn't

think that they were right for the role.

So casting is definitely on your side.

So that is something to celebrate.

Here's another way to take a look at

it, and that is to cultivate a growth mindset.

I think it's important to learn from

each experience,

reflect on what went well and where you

can improve, if possible,

seek constructive feedback from trusted

mentors or from coaches.

There's a whole network of people that

care about you and are willing to give

you some honest feedback about where

you are

in your emotional place, but also in

your career.

I would also ask you to Embrace

practice,

not perfection.

View auditions as opportunities to

practice your craft, not as a pass or

fail test.

An opportunity to audition is an

opportunity to perform.

You're a performer.

And I've often said this as well.

are not events.

If you treat the audition like it's an

event.

You're making a bigger deal out of it

than it needs to be.

In my opinion,

what's helpful is to celebrate an

audition,

then treat the audition like you've

already booked the job and it's your

first day of rehearsal

that's a much better approach.

It's very, very healthy.

I also think, I think continuing on

with these tips is to set process

oriented goals.

In other words, focus on what you can

control, like preparing thoroughly or

building relationships.

Every audition is an opportunity to

build relationships

rather than fixating on booking the

role.

Another tip,

build emotional resilience.

Separate identity from outcome.

Remind yourself that rejection is a

reflection of the casting needs, not

your worth as a person or as an actor.

I also think it's a valuable tip to

practice self compassion.

Treat yourself with kindness and

understanding

after rejection.

Recognize that struggling is a normal

part of the process.

Allow yourself to feel

process emotions like sadness,

frustration or disappointment,

without judgment.

Bottling them up can lead to burnout,

for sure.

Also strengthen your support system.

Lean on your network, when you need to

share your feelings with fellow actors,

with friends or family who can

empathize and provide a different

perspective.

Moving on from there here's a great

tip.

If you haven't done this, please

consider it.

Join acting communities.

Participating in support groups can

remind you that rejection is a shared

experience in the industry

there's no shame.

Also in seeking professional help, if

needed,

therapists or career coaches can help

you manage stories, stress,

help you build confidence and develop

strategies for handling rejection.

Moving on from there,

consider,

diversify your life.

Pursue other interests.

Engage in hobbies, passions or side

projects

that bring joy and fulfillment.

Reducing the emotional weight of

rejection is key here,

maintain financial civility.

Having a part time job or other source

of income can alleviate the financial

pressure tied to acting rejections.

Here's another tip, develop non

industry friendships,

building relationships outside the

acting world.

Provide a balance and lessen the

industry's impact on your self esteem.

What am I saying here?

Focus on the long game.

Keep a perspective.

Rejection is a part of long term

career.

Of every long term career,

every step

brings you closer

to a yes.

Track your progress.

I suggest you keep a journal

or a record of your auditions and

feedback.

Seeing improvement over time can boost

your confidence.

Remember why you started.

Reconnect with your passion and

storytelling and performing.

And keep sight of your love for acting.

That can help you stay motivated,

moving on from there.

Celebrate small wins.

Acknowledge progress,

completing an audition or getting a

call back, even without booking the

role as a success.

Worth celebrating.

Recognize personal growth.

Celebrate how each experience makes you

a better actor, whether it's mastering

a new monologue or refining your

audition.

Technique.

Stay inspired.

Learn from rejection stories.

Many successful actors have faced

significant rejection.

Hearing their stories can remind you

that persistent days off.

I also suggest that you consume

uplifting material,

watch films, plays or interviews that

inspire and reignite your passion for acting.

Rejection

is an inevitable and challenging aspect

of a professional actor's career.

But it doesn't have to be defeating.

By reframing rejection, building

resilience and maintaining balance in life,

actors can not only survive

but thrive in the face of challenges.

Each rejection is definitely an

opportunity to grow, refine your craft

and move closer to the roles and

opportunities.

Meant for you.

I hope you found this helpful to day.

Thank you so much for joining me on

this episode.

I look forward to seeing you next time

on casting actor's cast.

It's been great having you in our

talent, full to day.

Your support means the world to us.

So please consider sharing, liking and

reviewing this episode wherever you

jump in.

I'm.

Meg and grace Martinez.

Thanks

from all the lots to screen.

Fast

to

every

for you.

Bring down the

sorry next morning with jeffray

dove ages and dig slide.

Watch you

every week

in your