Five Steps for Mastering the Art of Rejection

If you’re a voice-over artist, you’ve likely been rejected. Congrats! No, seriously, rejection is a sign that you are taking risks as an artist, and that’s something to be proud of. No pain, no gain.

That being said, rejection is never easy: You put yourself out there, you put your heart and soul into the audition. You did your very best, and the casting director even liked you! And yet, you didn’t get the job. Anyone would feel disappointed. But this is a normal part of the process, and if you can master the art of rejection you might just be unstoppable. Learn how with these five actionable steps.

Feel Those Emotions

Give yourself permission to experience your emotions as they are. Feel sad, angry, relieved, and/or disappointed. Whatever you are feeling is okay and understandable. The audition process is nerve-wracking from start to finish. It can bring up any number of emotions, often all at once. But, suppressing these feelings will only make them worse. The only way through is acceptance. Cry it out, vent to a friend, scream into a pillow (without damaging your precious vocal cords of course). Try not to dwell here for too long though.

TIPS:

Accept whatever you’re naturally feeling
Vent / Talk it out / Find a support group
Do something physical like going for a run or hike
Let it out!

Once you have gotten it out and allowed yourself to react naturally to the disappointment, you can move on to step two.

Don’t Take it Personally

When your career is all about your voice, rejection can feel personal. It is crucial to remember that casting decisions can be about any number of things — scheduling, budgeting, or casting preferences — that have absolutely nothing to do with you. Even if the decision was personal, what can be gained by taking it personally? Instead of internalizing this rejection as a personal failure or making assumptions about the decision, shift your focus to the unbiased truth.

TIPS:

Challenge negative self-talk
Remind yourself that casting decisions don’t define your worth
Accept that it wasn’t meant to be
Remember that there can be endless reasons for this rejection that have nothing to do with you

Self Reflection

You might not always know why you were rejected. That lack of closure can be difficult. Whether you know why this happened or not, try to take an honest look at what could have been better. Maybe you could make some technical adjustments next time. Maybe doing more research, warmups, or deep breathing exercises before an audition could help bring out a stronger performance. Ask people you trust for feedback and remain open to change.

TIPS:

Assess your performance honestly
Ask for feedback from friends and colleagues
Implement feedback
Try something new
Embrace learning and improving

Stay Positive
Throw those negative feelings away.

If you can shift your perspective and start viewing a lost gig as an opportunity to learn and grow, your fear of rejection will shrink, and your resilience will expand. With this outlook, every “no” is one step closer to a “yes”. One closed door might just allow another to open. Lean into your strengths. Connect with other voice-over artists who share your passion. Read up on voice actors you admire who have faced rejection just like you. Let this inspire you to get fired up for the next opportunity.

TIPS:

Challenge negative thoughts
Make a list of your strengths
Remember why you love doing this
Connect with other voice artists
Be inspired by those you admire
Use rejection as fuel for self-improvement and future success

Get Back Out There

Whatever you do, do not let rejection silence your unique voice. Putting yourself out there after being turned away is always challenging. But, with an open mind and a positive attitude, you can charge back out with your head held high and the tools to fail like a winner. Think about it this way, rejection can help you go into your next audition with more self-awareness, confidence, and excitement to show off what you can do — regardless of the outcome. Even if you don’t book the gig, every audition is an opportunity to make new connections that could lead to something even better down the road.

TIPS:

Be brave
Keep having fun
Don’t let rejection silence your voice
Make connections
Take advantage of every opportunity to show what you can do

Whether it’s a failed audition, interview, or romantic date, if you can face every rejection fearlessly and turn it into an opportunity to learn and grow, then every loss becomes a lesson. Every “no” becomes a valuable experience to help you nail the next gig, or the next one, or the next one. Keep these five steps in your toolkit and you’ll be able to dust yourself off in no time, with an even more powerful voice.

Why not wear each rejection like a badge of honor? Print out that disappointing email, stick it to your wall, and never forget that there is often more to learn from failure than success. Rejection means you’re brave enough to go after a dream, and that’s something to celebrate.