Let’s face it, no one actually likes being rejected. But for voice over artists, dealing with rejection on a regular basis is just something that comes with the territory. Finding inspiration within that failure becomes absolutely essential. When I first started out as a voice actor, I didn’t handle rejection very well. I let it have a significantly negative impact on my work and my confidence. Eventually, I realized that I wouldn’t last very long in this business if I didn’t become more resilient. I had to learn how to get back up, dust myself off and try, try again. Here are a few practices I’ve cultivated along the way for finding inspiration in rejection:
Don’t dwell – say “Oh, well.” As a voice actor, your ability to feel good about yourself and your work cannot be dependent on whether or not you book a job. It’s important to remember that many rejections have nothing to do with you. Instead, they have to do with a change in casting specs, scheduling complications, or budget restrictions. More often than not, you’ll never know why you didn’t get a particular job, and trying to figure it out on your own can drive you absolutely crazy. Spending energy dwelling on the “why” of rejection and beating yourself up is simply counterproductive. A therapist I know once told me that when faced with rejection, saying “Oh, well,” then moving on in your heart and mind is a very productive way to handle disappointment. At first I thought she was completely nuts, but after practicing this for many years now, I can say it really does work.
Learn from rejection. While it’s great to get to a place where each rejection is not a devastating blow, you shouldn’t completely shrug it off. A big part of finding inspiration in rejection is being able to learn something about yourself and your craft as a result of the experience. Go back and listen to that audition you submitted. Make an honest list of the things you thought you did well, as well as the things you could have done better. Was your delivery as genuine as it could be, or was it a bit hollow? Was the quality of your recording top-notch, or did you forget to adjust your mic placement or levels more professionally? Assessing your work and getting feedback on your takes from a friend or family member can help lend some perspective and help you to better assess where you can improve. Participating in voice-over meet up groups or workout sessions is also a great way to get feedback from outside ears. This can help you gain a wealth of knowledge and experience, and with that comes increased confidence.
Stay positive. Anyone who steps up to the mic thinking, “I’m never going to get this,” probably won’t. That negativity and self-doubt will definitely come through in your read. Allowing yourself to start with a clean slate, and keeping a positive mindset, will eliminate the negativity from your next audition and give you more room to shine! Going in with the mindset that you’re reading each audition as if you’ve already booked the job, is a much better place to come from. Even when you start to get used to rejection, it can still sting. It stinks to be told, “no,” but if you can find a way look at your rejection differently and put some of these ideas into action as an inspiration, not only will you have a much easier time handling rejection, you’ll flourish in the face of it.
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Claudine is also an Emmy Award-winning director/producer, commercial and promotional voice talent for brands like Verizon, Listerine, and MasterCard, native Brooklynite, published photographer, and and was the live announcer for the first ever televised Hollywood Film Awards on CBS.
