In one of my many awesome former corporate jobs, I worked as a voice-over casting director for the Armed Forces Radio Network. I saw/heard thousands of talented actors navigate this rollercoaster-y, unpredictable industry. A challenging moment occurs when you find yourself on the brink of landing a job—shortlisted, receiving positive feedback—and then, silence. Chirping crickets. This can leave even seasoned professionals frustrated and disheartened. Great news: what you perceive as a setback has a really solid “reframe” available.
First and foremost, mindset is always a game changer. “Rejection,” or what we label rejection, is not a reflection of your talent as a voice actor. As a casting director, the final candidates for my jobs were always extraordinary (that’s why they’re shortlisted!)—it came down to things that had nothing to do with their talent (for example, the chosen VO artist was a better blend with three other people in the project, or reminded the client of their spouse/child/grandparent!).
Instead of imagining what went wrong, imagine the client contacting you, repeating how fantastic you were (true if you were shortlisted)—happy you auditioned, relaying they pushed for you, and will absolutely have you in mind for something else. We’re often imagining an unhappy scenario without actual information – we can use that same imagination to choose differently.
One of my favorite mentors says, “You didn’t book the gig, and you still booked the office.” meaning you are now on that office’s list of go-to voice-over talent moving forward. Another true story: a good friend of mine auditioned for the same casting office twenty-seven times before booking a huge role. For many reasons (all out of his control) he wasn’t a fit for auditions one-through-twenty-six. This friend used a ton of mindset tools to remember what I’m talking about right now: auditions are a win. Positive feedback is a win. Shortlisting is a huge win. It all means you are doing something right, getting closer every time you step in front of your mic. 
To give you some context: a fellow casting director for the television world shared that for any given co-star role, she might receive three to five THOUSAND submissions. Every time you score an audition, remind yourself how many hundreds (or thousands) of other humans did not even get invited to the party. Take the victory! It is real, and celebrating will help you tremendously. It’s worth noting: sometimes the project you’re shortlisted for gets put on hold. Or canceled. Or the client scraps it and goes in a completely different direction—all a very real part of our biz.
Next up, shift your focus to action…
- Follow Up: Don’t be afraid to reach out for an update, if possible. Keep your message polite, brief, and professional, expressing continued interest in the project, and asking if there are any updates. Sometimes, a gentle nudge is all it takes to spark conversation.
- Feedback: If possible, request feedback on your audition. Of course, this request won’t always be answered: in my experience, a lack of an answer means that the office is likely just too busy.. If you have representation, it’s helpful to have your agent reach out for feedback.
- Stay Engaged: Keep yourself plugged into the voice-over community. Attend industry events (there are so many remote choices), workshops, and networking opportunities. This keeps your skills sharp, while increasing your industry visibility. It’s also a giant mood booster. Plus, you never know when you will make an authentic connection leading to a brilliant audition request!
- Diversify: Don’t pin all your hopes on a single job opportunity. I know both as voice-over talent and casting director that this can be a tough shift. Explore different genres, mediums, and platforms. When I began in audiobooks, my mentor asked me to audition for something that I thought I’d never book. Those of you who know me know I adore young adult sci-fi fantasy stuff. I picked True Crime—and booked the thing! I was terrified! Like you, I had a village to support me—and it was an incredible growth spurt.
- Self-Care: Rejection can take a toll on well-being. I know this so deeply, that I sneak a little “Radical Self-Care for Voice-Over Artists” into everything I teach. You are precious. In all of time and space, there is no one who can tell a story or address a piece of copy exactly like you can. Especially after a shortlist-then-release situation, make self-care a priority. On the day you get the news, choose three things for yourself that feel comforting. It’s different for everyone: time with pets or loved ones, delicious foods, favorite music, or time in nature. Sprinkle activities that nourish you liberally into your life that day, and even for that week.
- VO Mindset: Above all, use your voice-over mindset toolkits. If you don’t have a toolkit yet, here’s a place to start: choose one high-vibrational (positive, supportive, choose a word you like) thought about yourself as a voice-over artist. Make it in the form, “I Am…,” as in, “I am dedicated to this path,” or “I am getting better at both tech and technique every day.” Sit somewhere peaceful, close your eyes, and breathe in and out slowly a few times, repeating that “I Am” phrase in your mind with each inhale and exhale. What we perceive as setbacks also have the seeds of huge wins within them, and every audition—even those that don’t result in a booking—is a valuable learning experience and produces forward movement.
The voice-over career is joyful and challenging. By nourishing and strengthening your voice-over mindset and taking proactive steps, you can more easily bounce back and use that resilience to stay in the game.
Shortlisted, positive feedback, nothing—now what? It’s fuel. By the way, reading/listening to a blog on how to grow as a voice-over artist means you are absolutely in the game!
Keep auditioning, keep honing your craft, keep connected to your village, and above all, keep believing in yourself. Celebrate all the wins, tiny and mountain-sized. Your next big break might be just around the corner, and my wish for you is that you find a way to enjoy every aspect of this wild voice-over ride.
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