It’s no secret that one of my biggest gripes with the way this industry works is the struggle actors go through when trying to land roles. More specifically, the pressure they feel and the consequences of the decisions they make. They get desperate. They’re afraid of failing as a working actor. They’re constantly comparing themselves to others, worried that they’re just not good enough to try in the first place.
First of all, that’s bologna. Whether or not you’re good enough has nothing to do with someone else’s success. It all comes down to trying to find the right fit for the part, and that’s decided by the casting director. If they think you don’t vibe with the role, you wouldn’t want it anyway, would you?
Still, that knowledge might not be enough to work through the anxiety, frustration, and fear that comes with no after no after no after no after no…and so on. It’s much easier said than done. Let’s take a look at some other things actors should keep in mind, and what they can do to stay motivated.
Rejection Isn’t About Talent
This is going to sound obvious, yet we rarely consider it-
You don’t know the reason you weren’t given the part.
You can assume, you can speculate, your imagination can run wild (you’re an artist, that’s unavoidable). But unless you get an explanation from the casting director, you don’t know. It could be a number of things, and it’s rarely ever a matter of not being talented enough. More often than not it’s because of things like height, hair color, eye color, and other things beyond our control.
Even A-listers get turned down, so it’s clearly not a matter of being ‘good enough’. Think about these weird castings we would’ve had to endure if people were never turned down just because they had experience or talent-
- Jennifer Aniston as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction
- Matthew McConaughey as Jack in Titanic
- Christopher Walken as Han Solo in Star Wars
- Courtney Cox as Buttercup in The Princess Bride
Creatives have a hard time not taking things personally. Sometimes being turned down feels like we’re being judged as a person, not an artist. That can be extremely discouraging. Here’s something else to consider- not landing a role isn’t a form of constructive criticism, or any type of criticism period. It just means you’re not a good fit for that role. But for every role you’re not a good fit for, there are plenty others that are in dire need of someone with your unique qualities and characteristics. In other words, not landing a role is really just encouragement to find something that was practically tailor made for your brand.
Put Rejection In Perspective
Sometimes not getting the role you wanted is disappointing. Other times it hits hard, it hurts even. Don’t keep your feelings locked up inside. It’s okay to get upset about it. Do things like journaling, get out of the house to get out of your head, cry, vent to a friend, whatever you need to do so your feelings don’t overtake you. Acknowledge them, but don’t hold onto them.
While validating your feelings is important, so is putting them in perspective. Take a moment to think about the situation from an objective point of view. What are the consequences of not getting this role? What’s the worst thing that’s come of it, in terms of your career? Is your frustration proportionate to the situation itself, or your perception of the situation? If not getting one role was truly career ending, no one would be employed in Hollywood.
There are tons of other actors who are dealing with the same emotions as you are, but you’re actually working through them – they’re not. That alone gives you a huge advantage, and it’s through consistent, strategic effort that you finally hit the bullseye.
Rejection Is an Opportunity to Grow
Wanting a role doesn’t mean you’re ready for it. If you aren’t cast, maybe it’s because you’re not experienced enough to handle the demands that come with it. The casting director and other decision makers are being mindful of the integrity of their project. If you were the head of a project, you would only want to bring people who can handle the scope of the project on board. That doesn’t mean you’re a bad actor, you’re just not at the level they need. Not yet, anyway. Walk before you run, right?
Part of being an independent actor is continually honing your craft. The biggest names in Hollywood still meet with acting coaches so they don’t get rusty. Think about famous athletes who get into the Olympics. They don’t stop training just because they made it to the Olympics. And the athletes who don’t get in? They train harder so they can one day get there. Your career is no different- you’ve got your own kind of training to undergo, and that training doesn’t stop after you land your dream role.
Something else to keep in mind is that you might not have gotten the role you wanted, but you might get offered another role in the project. You might be what they’re looking for, just not in the way you were aiming for. That means you stood out to them for something you weren’t even trying to do. How cool is that?
The Right Approach to Auditions
Not landing one role is just that, not landing a single, specific role. If you’re repeatedly being turned down, then you should analyze for patterns. What do the roles that you’ve done in the past have in common? What about the roles that you’re not getting? Finding those common denominators will help you understand which roles to aim for in the future, and which ones likely aren’t worth your time.
Contrary to what some might tell you, you shouldn’t audition for anything and everything you possibly can. It doesn’t increase your odds of finding work, but it does increase the number of rejections that you face. Hollywood is in many ways a numbers game, and this often leads people to becoming victims of scarcity mindset. Hollywood needs actors, it just has a terrible way of expressing appreciation (sometimes it doesn’t do it at all). It can feel like thankless work, but as long as there are stories to tell, there will always be a need for actors – and we will never run out of stories. There is no shortage of roles, and new ones are being listed everyday! It’s all a matter of auditioning for the ones that suit you. You don’t want to change who you are and what you’re all about just to land a part. Focus on auditioning for characters whose essence is true to who you are as a person, not just a working actor.
And if you can’t find a role? Make it yourself!
Looking for more acting tips and tricks to get motivated and inspired? Sign up for my exclusive online course for beginning actors looking to give themselves an edge!