The truth about acting #2

"Unfortunately you weren't successful but they thought you were really lovely"

Disappointment.
If you told me that not getting a role didn't disappoint you, I wouldn't believe you. Anyone would feel slightly hurt at the very least, even for a minute.
I think that it's the feeling of hurt that's the secret to how it all works. The next time you feel the hurt, concerntrate on the feeling and remember it.
Method preparation, like method acting, only for real.

I'll have half a glass of wine, please.
We aren't drinking away our sorrows, we are being optimistic in a glass half full kind of way.
You see, by not winning the part you feel like you have lost. Right?
Wrong. The part was never yours to begin with so rightfully you have not lost anything.
Sure, you can see it as though you've lost to someone else, but acting isn't about competing with others, you are competing with your own personal best.
So, if you haven't lost, what have you done? Gained. You have gained audition experience, contacts, knowing that someone is interested in you hence the audition, and the bonus of experiencing "that feeling".
The key is "that feeling", you need to let it convince you that experiencing it isn't what you want and you need to do whatever it takes to limit its occurrence.  Use it to Drive you.

Kick me in the guts.
Remember how I said that you should remember the feeling of hurt? You are going to kick yourself and use it.
Make yourself feel that disappointment on the day you audition, or any day, and ... drive.

Drive like it's stolen.

After your audition.

There's one thing that I often wonder and that is what I could do after an audition to help myself, or push myself to be noticed just that little bit more.

I was recently in a CDs office when a delivery of mini cupcakes arrived from an actor who had booked a job. You know, just a quick little thank you and what-have-you.
When the hell did this start happening and WHY wasn't I doing it?
Eh, to think my hand written thank you cards have competed with way cooler mini muffins! I definitely lost.

As an actor you work hard for years in order to literally just get an audition. You have an expensive, professional headshot.  You take classes. You work for free to gain experience. You update your online profiles. You create your own projects. You analyse scripts for fun. You bust your ass trying to get an agent. You work for free some more. Then BAM.. You get an audition.

Im guessing that you prepare for that audition and apply every little technique you've ever learnt to your analysis and performance. Beg people to read lines with you. You think cleverly about your audition attire. Do a quick Google search on the casting director to see what they look like (dont judge, it helps me to feel more at ease, you know, familiarity). You pray - beg - the universe for just one bloody slither of a break, and then, you let it all go.

So what we have here is a lot of stuff going on prior to getting an audition, even more stuff to do once we get the audition, then after the audition you do...nothing?

This brings me to my question;

What can I do after my audition to help myself?

If you are anything like me then just sitting around and refreshing your email every ten minutes doesn't suffice. I want to be active, I want to know that I am doing the best for myself and that I am giving myself that one last push that might just see me cross that line.

I will be forever curious.