Auditions: How to deal with rejection without losing your confidence

Rejection sadly is an unavoidable part of being an actor. No matter how experienced or successful you become, there will always be auditions you don’t get. It can be difficult not to take rejection personally, particularly when you have spent hours preparing for an audition, taken time and gotten emotionally invested in the role and let yourself imagine what it would be like to book it.

But not getting a part does not mean you are a bad actor. In reality, rejection isn’t always a reflection of your ability.

Acknowledge that rejection hurts

The first step is simply to acknowledge that rejection can be disappointing. You don’t have to pretend that you don’t care or immediately tell yourself that it “doesn’t matter”. It is completely normal to feel disappointed when you really wanted a role.

However, try to remind yourself that casting directors want you to get the part. They are on your side and are looking for the right actor for the role. Sometimes, there are simply factors involved that have nothing to do with the quality of your audition because casting is not based purely on talent. Age, height, appearance, availability, chemistry with another actor, previous experience and even the specific ways you fit the director’s vision can all influence a casting decision. You could give what might be the best one of your life, and still not be the person they choose, but a lot of these factors are completely outside of your control. So don't let it get to you.

Don’t assume you know why you weren’t cast

One of the easiest things to do after a rejection is to create your own explanation for it. Thinking things like "I wasn't good enough,” "they hated my audition, I should have done it differently, "I'm never going to be successful as an actor" is not going to help you. Also, you don’t know if any of these things you are thinking are actually true.

It is very easy for our minds to fill in the gaps with the most negative explanation possible. Whereas in reality, the reason you weren't cast probably had nothing to do with your performance. So try not to allow one audition, or even a series of unsuccessful auditions, to become a judgement on your ability or define your career. One casting decision is just one casting decision. There will be plenty more opportunities to come.

Focus on what you can control

When so much of the casting process is outside your control, it can be helpful to concentrate on the things that are within it.

That starts with your preparation. Learn your lines thoroughly, analyse the scene, understand your character and make bold, considered choices before you start filming your self-tape. Give yourself the best possible chance to show what you can do.

It is also worth making sure the professional side of your career is up to date. This incudes you your headshots, showreel, acting CV, Spotlight profile and IMDb page – so when an opportunity comes along, you are ready for it.

Your self-tape setup matters too. Having a decent space and equipment means you can focus on your performance rather than worrying about technical issues. I cover this in more detail in my blog, ‘How to film the perfect self-tape.’

Also never underestimate the importance of training. You can never really have too much training as an actor. Continuing to develop your skills can help keep you creatively engaged, build confidence and ensure that you are ready when the right opportunity comes along. I have been attending acting classes on a regular basis since 2017 to ensure that everything I have learned is staying fresh in my mind and so my skills are still developing.

Most importantly, you should keep looking for opportunities. Casting platforms such as Spotlight, Backstage and Mandy are only a few examples of places with good casting opportunities, as well as social media casting calls and other industry contacts. The more opportunities you put yourself forward for, the more chances you create for yourself to build on your credits and gain on-set experience.

Don’t compare yourself to the person who got the part

Talking from personal experience - it can be really difficult when you find out who was cast instead of you. Often leading to thoughts of “What do they have that I don't?”

Try to resist that comparison. It’s not going to help or make you feel any better.

Someone else's success is not evidence of your failure. They may have been exactly what the production was looking for on that particular occasion, but that doesn't make you any less talented or capable. At the end of the day, there will always be actors who book roles that you wanted. Just like how there will also be roles that you book that someone else desperately wanted. That's how the industry works.

Your career isn't a competition against every other actor so try to focus on yourself rather than using someone else's career as a measurement of your own.

Keep track of your wins and measure progress differently

When bookings are the main measure of success, it can be easy to feel as though you are failing every time you receive a rejection. Instead, try measuring your progress in different ways.

A win might be getting a recall, receiving positive feedback, having a really good audition, or simply feeling that you performed better in your most recent audition than you did six months ago. Personal and professional development counts too.

I personally have also found that having a strong support network can make a huge difference. Having people around you who understand the highs and lows of acting can provide encouragement when you're feeling down after a rejection. Sometimes you need someone else to remind you of your progress when you can't see it yourself.

Remember that repeatedly putting yourself forward for auditions despite experiencing rejection takes resilience. Every time you pick yourself up, prepare for another audition and put yourself out there again, you are demonstrating your determination to make this work. Not just to other people, but to yourself.

Let it go and move on

Once an audition is finished, try to let it go.

You have prepared, performed and done everything you can and now the outcome is largely out of your hands. Of course, you can be disappointed if you didn’t get it. But try not to let that disappointment become a judgement on your ability as an actor. The most important thing you can do is pick yourself back up and move on to the next opportunity. None of these things determine whether you are a good actor or whether you have a future in this industry.

Rejection is all a part of the journey when it comes to acting, but it doesn't have to define your career. It is important you keep learning, keep improving, keep putting yourself forward and just keep going.