Rejection is one of the hardest things we face as humans.  Our nature is to want to feel accepted; and even beyond that to feel appreciated, valuable, and respected.  When those needs and desires aren’t meant, we are left with a choice.  How do we respond to rejection?

This week’s posts are in the words of other working actors.  Glean what you can from their perspectives and try each philosophy until you find one that works well for you.  As unique as you are, your needs are unique as well.  What works well for another talent may not work well for you . . . but you’ll only find what does work for you by practicing suggested philosophies until you find that what you are practicing is more comfortable than your current response.

How do you respond to rejection?

Alicia Minshew
New York; credits include All My Children, Going P.O.S.T.A.L.

Although overall I have been relatively fortunate, there have been times [that] made me wonder what the heck I was doing. Early in my professional career, I quickly booked a couple of commercials. However, there have been years when I went on literally hundreds of auditions and booked nothing. Then I’d book a small job and then go for another 200 auditions with nothing. But I knew I’d booked in the past, so that helped to keep me going.

A few other things kept me going. First, I have a wonderful and supportive family. My father is a minister, so if there was ever a question of “keeping the faith,” well, that was infused in me at an early age. My mother is an aerobics instructor, and that’s all about consistency. I was brought up to work hard and to believe in myself, but not at the expense of others, and [to know] that if I worked hard enough, I could reach my goals — or at least grow while making the effort. Also, when I began my professional career, I was lucky enough to find a manager who went through all the rejections with me, kept my head held high, and said that he thought anyone who didn’t hire me was crazy.

Also, I always kept myself very busy taking classes as well as having all those survival jobs. Let me tell you, if you are too busy, you don’t have time for self-pity. I was always focusing on my next class, my next session with my scene partner, and my next challenge. I really did enjoy the process because each audition held unknown opportunity.