How do you handle not getting cast?

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How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:45pm

My daughter tried out for a musical. There were about 140 kids there. The director stressed that it was a dancers show. Even though my daughter was probably the youngest there, she has been dancing most of her life. However, kids who were in the show last year got to audition first at a closed audition. Then they had 2 other days of auditions. Some of the kids who auditioned the first day of open auditions took it upon themselves (without getting called back to do so)to reaudition on the second day of open auditions to get seen again. (the director said kids could reaudition for singing only if they prearranged it with her- they could not do the dance audition again- a friend of mine said that the kids got to reaudition with the dance as well- with kids who were there for the first time and did not know the dance) My daughter felt confident in what she did and chose not to reaudition. She felt like if she did, TPTB would think that she did not believe in herself. Is this a normal audition process? Doesn't seem like it was very fair. Seems like the new kids to the show this year were at a disadvantage. Also found out that last year's kids got copies of the script ahead of time. What are your thoughts? If this is normal, then at least my daughter will learn early how to handle rejection. As of yet, she has not gotten a call.

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:53pm

Nope. Re-auditioning is not normal. Letting the kids who were in the show last year audition first is a little unusual, but that just goes along with the usual politics in theatre. Something else she's going to have to learn to handle. There's really nothing you can do. Tell her to take a little time to self pity and then get right back up and try even harder next time. Encourage her audition for the next show. I remember my first rejection. I cried hystericly for about an hour. Since then I've learned that it's just something I need to cope with.

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/30/07 at 12:29am

Most of the time, it's nothing to me..too many shows to get upset about. However if it's something I really wanted and didn't get...a good movie and a pint of my chunky monkey cures the blues for me :)

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/30/07 at 1:12pm

I too, am a supportive mom. What to do? --Let it go.
No audition is "fair". The audition process is what it is -and you can't control it.
Ask you daughter if she did her best, tell her you're proud of her and get a chai latte.

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/30/07 at 5:09pm

It is very hard when you are in the throes of woe and disappointment to see the positive side of not being chosen for cast. (And sometimes a tougher heartbreak for mom!) BUT probably some of the best life lessons ever come from these disappointments. Yes, it is sometimes political. I understand if a director would choose the known talent over an equal unknown, he knows the work ethics, etc of the person he has worked with before. When our children do chose theatre as career goal, wow, they are in for a lot of no's. A great director-type friend of mine has shared the following: "We are judged equally by the grace we exhibit when we are denied an opportunity and well as the grace we show when we are awarded the most glorious opportunity."
As mom, and I so try not to be the pushy kind of stagemom, I will encourage great use of time channeled into other things, like those things we have not had time for..all of those scripts she intends to read, extra time for lessons, etc.

And if it helps, I am certain we have all walked in your steps in same situations. And some people might even suggest asking for some sort of tech kind of job in the show if your child really wants to be involved. Good luck.

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/30/07 at 6:48pm

Thanks to all who responded. First of all, let me say that I am always proud of my daughter and the things she has accomplished. I was able to watch the dance part of the audition and told her that she did a great job with that. As a former competitive gymnast, she is fully aware of subjective opinions and how unfair they can be at times. After the audition, I asked her if she felt like she had done her best and she said she did and felt very good about it. That's all I needed to hear. She was also willing to do tech as well. She did get a call today and got cast in the ensemble (we are both very happy about that!). That is great for probably the youngest person at the audition (12). What amazed her the most was that some of her friends were also cast in the ensemble after lying about their skills on their audition sheet. Luckily, she knows all about karma! I really appreciate all of your comments. I guess I just wanted to make sure I was handling things right. My daughter remained positive throughout the whole process because she knew she had done her best. She also knows that each experience builds upon itself and that if she keeps plugging along, only good things will happen. All of this is a learning experience and it's something I will be dealing with for a long time as a supportive mom!

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/30/07 at 6:50pm

If anything, every audition, good or bad, is a learning experience and there is always something you can take away.

Tick Tock

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:06pm

A large majority of the shows I have tried out for I have not been cast in, but I'm not that much of an actress or a singer, so I can understand why, but I've had a huge problem with dance team tryouts. I've been dancing ever since I was 8 (which makes it about 10 years for me) and my freshman year of High School I tried out for the dance team. I made the team and was very happy. I don't know what happened but the next year I apparently wasn't good enough to make the team again. I was heartbroken and it pretty much tore my life apart because it was so difficult to not get picked after having been chosen the previous year. My mom told me that I could either let the disappointment tear me apart, or I could work extra hard and try again the next year. I tried again and didn't make it, then I tried again my senior year and still didn't make it. It was hard for me to go back and keep trying, when all the other girls my age trying out had already been on the team that year. It never worked out in my favor, but I was glad I gave it another shot because I knew that if I gave up that would be worse than trying again. There's always hope too. You have to know that something better is coming even though it seems like it will never get there. I recently found out that I made the dance team as an alternate at the College I'm going to next year. It's a step in the right direction and the coach tells me that if I work hard enough I could look to earning a permanent spot on the team. So in conclusion...you just have to keep a positive attitude. Remember that everything happens for a reason and that there is something better coming for you. I know that it sounds really cliche, but it's true.

<--Sometimes it's easier to get out of a jam than into one

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:52pm

You are absolutely adorable! Your personality really comes through and I can tell that you are a very warm person. I could feel your disappointments in your story and truly admire your perseverence and positive attitude (btw, did they ever tell you why you didn't make it the following years?). You are an excellent role model and I showed your reply to my daughter. With your determination, I have no doubt that you will get on your college team. I don't know what your major is in college, but I can tell by your response that you would make an excellent teacher. Your mom sounds great as well and love your dog. I see you're from Chicago. My daughter's drama club is going there next summer for a week- any suggestions for middle school drama kids to visit? I heard Comedy Sportz is great for kids improv. Good luck. You've got a fan in florida!

#10

re: How do you handle not getting cast?

Posted: 5/30/07 at 9:36pm

i just move on, because in the past when i let it get to me it really brings me down, so usually if i'm not cast (which i'm glad to say is rare) i schedule 2 other auditions for things, or something like that to give my self no time to think about it and focus on something else.

Can, can I have it?

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