ADVICE FOR ACTORS: Dealing With Rejection
The performing arts industry is, sadly, an industry where being rejected for roles and opportunities is just a fact of life. This is something students in our PAD programme know all too well, as many of them have faced auditions and applications that haven’t always gone the way they wanted.
This week, our PAD participant, Helen, talks us through her experiences and shares advice for other young actors. Before joining Peer as part of our PAD cohort for 2021/22, Helen had been applying for multiple drama schools and opportunities without success and was searching for the best option to take the next steps in her training and career as a performer.
After her year with us, she is graduating the PAD Programme with offers from Italia Conti and Arts University Bournemouth, amongst others. Helen has decided to accept a spot at East 15 Acting School - the best fit for her future as a professional and a performer. We wish her all the best!
Read on for Helen’s answers to our questions, and for her advice to young actors out there who are looking for the same opportunities she was before she found Peer Productions.
PEer Productions: Why did you want to join the PAD programme with Peer? What made it feel like a good fit for you?
HELEN: After a few years of rejection I really felt like I needed an extra bit of help to keep going. I was looking for training to do in my next gap year but didn't know where to look. When I found out about Peer Productions I knew immediately it was the perfect fit for me! Being able to tour professional tours whilst training and receiving help with drama school auditions was exactly the next step I needed to take.
PP: The performing arts industry is, sadly, an industry where being rejected for roles and opportunities is just a fact of life. What tips do you have for young people looking to get into the industry who might struggle with feeling like they’re getting nothing but no’s?
H: Receiving lots of ‘no’s’ is extremely hard to deal with and can really knock your self-esteem. I think it is important to let yourself feel sad or angry about the rejection as it's all a part of the process. I find this most true during drama school audition season as often you can get a series of ‘no’s’ in a short space of time. I am also a strong believer in everything happening for a reason and that eventually you will end up in the right place for you. Looking back over the past few years has made me realise that finding Peer has been the most beneficial thing in my career thus far, and, without the previous rejection I wouldn't have had this opportunity.
PP: What are the best ways to pick yourself up after someone/somewhere has turned you down?
H: Do something you love. For me I will put on a TV show or movie that I find comforting or funny, I always find that a bit of distraction does wonders. I also try to remind myself that everything doesn't have to be about auditions. It's easy to get yourself wound up in your own thoughts. If you take some time away it will leave you with a more rational mind when you have to focus on it again.
PP: What’s something you know now or that you’ve learnt during your time with Peer that you wish you knew when you were first applying for drama schools?
H: It's not only the schools auditioning you, you are auditioning the school. We are often led to believe that you should accept any offer given to you from a drama school, however, sometimes a school might not be the right fit for you. If you come away from an audition with a bad vibe, it's important to know that if it is a ‘no’ - you might not have said yes anyway.
Another thing I wish I had known is that there is more to drama schools than straight acting courses. A lot of drama schools offer more courses that teach a wide range of skills that might be more suitable to you as a performer.
PP: What makes the PAD programme different from other drama school options out there? How has it helped set you specifically up for success in the future?
H: To me, Peer feels like a family. Everyone supports each other and we all work together to develop as performers. I have been very lucky to have always found supportive people within the industry, but creating more connections with inspiring people is beneficial as an artist but also as a person. Even though our time at Peer Productions is short, the friends I have made will be with me for a long time. The skills you learn over the year aren't just limited to acting. Learning different aspects of touring a show, creating your own work and working with others are all things that I will carry with me into drama school and further into professional life.
If the PAD course sounds like it could be a good fit for you, you can find out more on our dedicated course pages, where you can also download a digital copy of our course prospectus. You can also apply now, directly via our application portal.
You can read more about What to Expect When You’re Auditioning on our recent blog.