How to Deal with Audition Rejection

Hi, guys. I’m Skylar Paige Jamele, your STO Officers for Delaware, part of troupe 1321, and I’m here to talk about how to handle rejection. Now, this can be a really, really tricky thing. I’ve gone through it. Everyone’s gone through it. Anyone who’s in theatre has been rejected. They don’t get everything, and sometimes it feels that way, but I promise you it’s not. So, I’m gonna talk about five ways that you can handle rejection.

1. Sometimes, It’s the Little Things

First off, I want to point out that it’s not always you. Sometimes it’s little things like, “Mm, I wanted her hair to be blonde,” or “I wanted her taller or shorter,” or uh, “I just… I don’t know. I really liked it, but something wasn’t sitting right.”

It’s the pickiest things, and that’s just how theatre is, and that’s just the way it is. And they might see you and go, “Wow, she was really good. I’m gonna keep her in mind for the future,” or, “He was really good,” or they. And I just think it’s really important to keep that in mind because a lot of the times we self-reflect like crazy, especially when we’re waiting for a cast list or a callback list.

We’re like, “Oh my God, I thought I did good, but maybe I didn’t. Don’t. Stop spiraling. Calm down. So when you actually might get to the rejection part, don’t do that either. That’s the first step. Don’t spiral. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t doubt your self-worth because, like I said, it could be about anything.

It could be about, “I just was hungry. I didn’t really… I wasn’t paying attention. I was worried about lunch.” It happens. A-and it sucks, but it happens. And hopefully in high school that’s not the way it is, but sometimes it is, and that’s okay. Sometimes auditions start to blend together, and directors get a little mixed up, and that’s okay.

It doesn’t mean you didn’t stand out. It doesn’t mean that you’re amazingly beautiful. It just means that- You were unlucky in the time that you picked or any other reason that could possibly exist.

2. Keep Your Relationship with Theatre Positive

Now, second, don’t create a space of darkness for theatre. Like, what I mean by that is don’t think that theatre is so negative because you get rejected once or twice.

Come back. Keep auditioning. Keep going. If you get ensemble, do ensemble. Don’t quit. When people quit ensemble, it sets them up for failure because you’re not learning anything by that. You’re just saying, “Oh, this is a waste of my time. If I’m not the lead, I don’t wanna be here.” And I get it. Sometimes it’s warranted, but usually it’s not.

Usually it’s because, “Ugh, I got rejected and I’m afraid of rejection again.” That’s another thing. You have to learn to not be afraid of rejection. It’s terrifying and it takes time, but you have to because it’s gonna happen so much, especially if this is the business that you’re going into. That’s a part of the job.

Eventually, it’ll become a thing where it’s like you get an email that says, “Oh, sorry, you didn’t get this,” and you’re like, “Well, another day.” So that’s another thing. You have to let it roll off your back.

3. Look for Improvement Opportunities

I’d say number three, make sure that you’re just trying your best as well. As much as it cannot be us, there’s also things we could do to improve.

So if you get rejected, maybe go to the teacher, go to the director and say, “Hey, what did I mess up on? What can I improve on?” Because usually they’ll give you back feedback. Sometimes, give or take, you don’t get the best feedback back and it’s about little things like I talked about earlier. But always try to improve no matter what.

4. Avoid Comparison

Number four, don’t compare yourself to others. When you get rejected, don’t compare yourself to others. Be happy for others because that might be you one day. You might get that lead and you might be so excited because you worked so hard, and then there’s other people who are doing that and it makes you feel sucky.

So don’t do that. Support each other. As much as it may hurt, it’ll benefit you in the end.

5. Don’t Forget the Fun

And number five, I’d say just have fun because every time you’re in an audition room, if people are watching you, they’re locked in on you and they just want to have fun with you. It’s like when you watch a movie and you start crying because it’s an emotional scene.

They’re with you. They’re locked usually. And just have fun with them or make them cry, make them laugh, do whatever. And then you know that you put your whole heart into that audition, and they know that, and they know that you’re a fun person to be around. In your slate, get yourself out there, act like yourself, and then drop in.

And then if you still get rejected by then, say, “Hey, I was myself, and that’s okay, and I’m gonna keep being myself.” Don’t change yourself. Be you. And have fun at auditions.