Rejection In Acting – It’s Part of the Process

In a nutshell (because who’s got time?)

• Rejection isn’t personal - it’s part of the process.

• You’re not doing anything wrong just because you didn’t book it.

• Learn what you can, then move on.

• Fixation will burn you out.

• Momentum wins - not obsessing over the last thing.

• We believe in you through the quiet spells and the big moments.

Rejection isn’t the enemy.

Fixation is.

In an industry that feels like one long audition process - self-tapes, recalls, chemistry reads, near misses - it’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring your value by the jobs you didn’t get.

But here’s the truth we say to every actor we work with:

Rejection isn’t failure - it’s part of the process. 

And success isn’t instant.

Reframing rejection in acting

We know how it feels. We have been through the audition process ourselves - we’ve trained, we’ve taped, we’ve walked into rooms. We know the sting of hearing nothing back or watching a job go to someone else.

And while we’ll always say don’t beat yourself up over a missed job, we do believe in looking at each moment as a chance to reflect and prepare for the next casting:

• Was the material the right fit?

• Did the self-tape feel like a fair reflection of your work?

• Were you happy with the choices you made?

  
  

The goal isn’t to second-guess everything. It’s to stay open to growth, without tying your worth to the outcome.

Success is a long game

At DBM, we say it all the time:

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

Careers are built over years - with peaks, plateaus, setbacks, and sudden breakthroughs.

We believe in our clients through all of it. The jobs they get, the ones they don’t, and the quiet stretches in between. Because being a working actor isn’t about constant wins - it’s about showing up, staying ready, and keeping your focus on the bigger picture.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

One of the best pieces of advice we were ever given during training?

Don’t pin everything on a single audition.

It’s tempting to pour your heart into one tape, or to over-analyse a first-round meeting. But the healthiest actors we know - and the ones who work consistently - are the ones who keep momentum moving.

Audition. Let go. Prepare for the next one.

You can care deeply without clinging to every outcome.

DBM Tip:

When you’ve finished a self-tape or audition, make a conscious decision to step away.

Go for a walk, grab a coffee, do something completely unrelated.

Give yourself space to reset - not spiral.

Small wins matter

A recall is a win.

A self-tape request is a win.

A kind word in the room is a win.

Even just feeling good about a tape you sent - that’s a win too.

Success doesn’t always show up in a contract or a calendar. Sometimes it looks like progress. Sometimes it’s quieter than you expect.

When we say we back our clients, we don’t just mean the press releases and wrap photos. We mean the unseen effort too.

DBM Tip:

If you’re not booking yet - track the positive signs. The number of tapes, callbacks, interest from CDs, feedback.

These are indicators that you’re in the mix. That’s worth acknowledging.

Final thoughts

Getting a rejection in acting doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’ve been in the room - and that’s already a huge step forward.

Every self-tape, every meeting, every “no” is part of a longer path.

Some roles you’ll lose. Some jobs will slip past. But the right ones won’t.

Keep going. Keep growing.

And know that you’re not alone in the middle bit.

We’re right here with you.