Rejection is a part of the actor's journey. You may have started out your career with a deep passion, investing time, money, and energy, only to feel disillusioned when you don’t book roles.
You may have worked hard, taken classes, studied with coaches, poured your heart into auditions—yet when you don’t book, it can feel like a personal rejection. The sting can build up and start affecting how you approach each new audition.
This creates a trap. If you’ve been hurt by rejection, you might bring that bitterness to the next audition, hoping to finally prove yourself or get the casting director’s approval. But this focus on not being rejected puts your attention on protecting yourself rather than fully BEING your character.
When you watch my training below you will discover that when that happens, your ego is in the room, not your artist. You might feel as if rejection is personal or even question your own worth, but that’s your ego talking. Casting decisions aren’t a judgment about you—they’re just about finding the right fit for the role.
When you interpret these “no’s” as rejection, your ego starts to take over, making the process painful and toxic. This is the conditioning you’ve been raised with—to worry about being “good enough” or “worthy.” But this isn’t about YOU. Your job is to serve the character and tell their story, not to please the casting director.
Here’s the good news: Not booking a role may be an opportunity for you to see that your ego is driving your performance. If you can step back and let your artist lead, showing up fully as the character instead of protecting yourself, things change. When you do this, casting directors start to see you—and even if you’re not the exact fit, they may remember you, call you back, or even adapt the role to fit you.
By undoing your conditioning, you can step into the audition room as your authentic self, focused entirely on defending your character’s needs. That’s when you’ll start booking more roles, feel fulfilled, and find real connection with your audience. Rejection, in this way, becomes a tool—an invitation to let go of ego and truly embody your art.
Watch my training below to hear all my thoughts on this topic.
After you watch the training, I'd love for you to join in the conversation happening in our private Facebook Group THE INSTINCTIVE ACTORS' SOCIETY. You can get answers for your specific situation directly from me and connect with THOUSANDS of like-minded actors across the globe, so we can move things forward faster together.
If you're not already a member, be sure to request to join ASAP here.
See you there!
Jo Kelly
Creator, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom
P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are three ways I can help you:
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