I want to address a question that crosses many of your minds at least once in a while: “Should I just give up?”
So often, life trips you up with challenges. Sometimes, you may go through a long dry spell and it seems as though the auditions have evaporated and might never come back. You might be frustrated in your acting classes when it appears that you just aren’t getting it or that you have reached a plateau and can’t push past it. You might get frustrated working two other jobs to support your acting habit until you “make it.”
You could be thinking right now: “Will I ever work again?”
You’re not alone. I have an actor’s positive support group on Facebook called Actors for Actors. Recently, someone posted that he had gone through such a frustrating time that he was about to give up. He hadn’t been getting many auditions and when he did, he wasn’t getting called back on any of them. He had decided to throw in the towel when his agent called to inform him that he had booked a big movie. At least 10 people commented that they had been just about to give up too until they read his story. And they thanked him for reminding them to keep going.
Don’t give up! Never say “no.”
My sister, Morgan Fairchild, went on over 200 auditions in New York and was turned down by every one of them. And one day, she got a part that made her a star almost overnight. What if she had given up after the 50th rejection? Would you have given up after 150 rejections? I asked her once why she kept showing up at those auditions when everyone rejected her. She said: “Because if I don’t show up, they don’t get to tell me no.” What she meant was that if she stayed home in her bedroom that would guaranty a definite “no.” At least showing up would make someone else say it. Never say “no” to yourself. That is truly the only no that will ever stop you.
Don’t give up! Keep on going.
What makes you succeed is that you show up more and work harder than everyone else. You get up more times when you are knocked down. The others will give up. Just keep getting back up more than they do. You know what makes you win auditions? You show up to 200 and the others showed up to 20. If you don’t buy a ticket to the lottery, you won’t win. And maybe you won’t win even if you do buy that ticket. But you never know. Someone wins. And the more tickets you buy the better chance you have of winning.
Don’t give up! No doesn’t really mean no.
And by the way, when they tell you “no,” they only mean no for right now. They don’t mean no for tomorrow. That’s right! They may tell you they hate you today and that you are the greatest thing they have ever seen next week. You know how I know? It’s happened to me.
Don’t give up! Ask for support.
One of the reasons that I love writing these articles for Backstage is because this is a wonderful place to support actors like you. Everyone needs a support team. If you don’t have a local mentor or group who can give you positive encouragement, don’t give up. We are here for you. I am here for you. Reach out to others and learn to ask for and give support. I believe that each of you has something powerful to share. You have a light that no one else has in the whole universe. I want you to know that there are people who have gone through doubts and hardships and have come out the other side. There are caring folks who will kick your butt or hug you to keep you moving toward your dream. I am passionate about helping others to keep going. Feel free to join my Facebook group and ask for help.
Please don’t give up! You may light up the world some day! And the world needs more light!
Now that you're determined to keep going, check out our film audition listings! And watch the video below for more great advice from Cathryn Hartt!
The views expressed in this article are solely that of the individual(s) providing them,
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
