Understanding The Nature Of Rejections
It is quite a road for a kid actor or model until even reaching the point of a rejection. It means finding the right casting calls, applying to them, getting invited to audition, possibly more than one time, all only to receive the bad news of the gig going to someone else. It is understandably very disappointing for a child.
It is important parents understand themselves and explain to their kid that a rejection by the casting director is not personal. Matter of fact, it is an absolutely normal and virtually unavoidable part of the acting and modeling industry. No matter how talented the respective performer, they are pretty much guaranteed to receive more rejections than performing jobs. Every casting search for something specific within the pool of candidates, with complex criteria involved every single time. Sometimes it is even down to just getting lucky or not.
The sooner the kid performer and their parents understand this, the easier it will be to deal with the rejection as just another piece of gaining experience on the way towards the ultimate goal of getting cast for a project.
Discussing The Rejection Honestly
As mentioned previously, the kid performer will rely on their parents to help them get through the rejection for the casting call. Even if the basic reasons for it are understood, it can still psychologically weigh on the young actor or model, so parents should encourage a safe environment to discuss their child’s feelings following the rejection.
Parents should reassure their kid that a rejection does not put an end to their aspirations as a model or actor, while not dismissing the fact that the kid might feel the audition was a way bigger deal than it was in reality. Try encouraging a comfortable discussion environment by asking open-ended questions for the kid to be able to express their thoughts on the result of the respective audition, while gauging ways to improve next time.
Managing The Expectations Beforehand
As exciting as it can be to get invited to audition, parents should avoid expressing overly hyped emotions about it, as their child might feel undue pressure not to disappoint them, thus feeling that anything other than getting the gig will be sort of catastrophic.
Similarly, while also not downplaying the invitation to audition as great news, parents should remind their kid actor or model that nothing is guaranteed to them, as it is a competition, and the eventual result will not stain them personally.
Instead of only focusing on the results at the auditions, encourage the child to focus on it as a great opportunity to continue to improve and grow as a model or actor. No matter what the ultimate outcome will be, celebrate the experience of auditioning as a valuable achievement in itself.
Setting The Mindset On Trusting The Process
Accepting the rejection in a healthy way of course also should not mean the kid actor or model should stop striving towards ultimately achieving success at auditions, and just participate for the sake of it. Parents should also encourage their kids to continue focusing on working at growing and improving as a performer, while offering them new possibilities for it, including joining acting classes or hiring modeling coaches.
It can be a very enjoyable process besides just participating and trying to get the gigs, as it is an opportunity for kids to meet like-minded peers, spend time in a fun and proactive environment, and be grateful for the opportunities. The positive emotional support of parents while trying to succeed as a model or actor is also vital for the kid to remain on the track of continuing to believe in themselves as performers.
As the aspiring kid model or actor sets their mindset towards enjoying and trusting the process instead of just viewing the experience as getting or not getting the gig, it will help them more easily remain resilient and avoid feeling discouraged by the minor failure of being rejected following auditions.
