5 Ways to Support Child Actors in Dealing with Rejection

One of the hardest things child actors have to deal with in the entertainment industry is rejection. No matter how talented or successful a teen or child actor is, they will still have to deal with rejections and disappointments. No one likes rejection. Yet even successful people have experienced it. Avoiding criticism or aiming to be perfect should not be done because it is unrealistic. What is important is to know how to spring back effectively after a major blow. As a parent, you should find ways to help your child cope with rejections during acting auditions. Things will get easier when you are able to open your child’s eyes to the bigger picture and make him realize that not getting the role has nothing to do with them or their talent. It is just about the role not being for them. However, if your child continues not to know how to handle their emotions after being rejected, there is a tendency that they might get frustrated and out-of- control. So, here are a number of ways for you to assist your kid in easing the pain: 1. Do not criticize your child after an audition. Remember to continue giving your child positive reinforcement. Praise them when they do well and do not criticize them when they are being less than perfect. Instead, suggest that they do things differently when they move on to their next acting auditions. No one is perfect, including your kids. So, neither expect perfection out of them nor let anyone else expect that from them. 2. Be a Friend. As a parent of a young actor, one of the roles you should take on is that of a friend. You have to do your best to help your child deal with rejection and disappointment since these things go hand and hand with being an actor. What you say and do and how you view things and teach your child to look at things will have a big effect on how they will react to rejection and disappointment in the entertainment industry. If you do not act rejected and disappointed, your kid may not feel the same as well. Encourage your child to view each audition as an opportunity to have fun and do what they love. They should be able to treat it as a learning experience and a chance to meet new people rather than as an interview for a job. 3. Make sure your child has different interests. As a parent, you should know of your child’s other interests aside from acting. If they have a talent in playing different kinds of sports or are interested in other volunteer activities, then help them get involved with these. Having other interests will help them deal with rejection faster because they will be able to have more confidence and sense of worth. 4. Understand the Chances. The entertainment industry is a tough business. Since there are millions of hopeful aspirants, it has been said that it will take at least 99 auditions to get one job. Although these numbers are just hypothetical, it is still a fact that even actors who get lots of work also face tons of rejection. So, help your kid by explaining to him the chances of booking a single job with the use of visual aids. Tell them that eventually, everything will fall right into place. Plus, this will give them an idea that being a professional actor is really not an easy job. 5. Explain the reality of casting. Auditions and casting calls are the initial point for a successful and popular acting career. People who aspire to become actors, models, comedians, or dancers on TV or in films have to start from here. But, these are quite challenging. Casting professionals invite over hundreds of aspiring actors to these auditions so they could select the best that suits the character or role they have in mind. If your child does not make it after an audition, tell them the facts about casting. Not getting the job does not mean that they are not good. There are just certain qualifications they are looking for that are not in your kid. Because of this, advise them to learn from every audition and to give their best during the next one. Rejection is an inevitable part of show business. The less power it has over your child’s well-being, the more competitive they will be. If your child really wants to continue in the entertainment industry, it will be essential for them to develop a “thicker skin” and learn how to deal with criticism and rejection. No one likes rejection, but a good child actor must know how to easily get past it and move on to the next opportunity.