Managing Expectations
It’s no secret that working in the entertainment industry is the ultimate roller-coaster. Soaring highs and crashing lows are a part of working as a model or actor. However, that doesn’t make it any easier. This is especially true if you are a parent with a child in the industry.
While adults can handle life’s ups and downs and they can deal with a bit of rejection, how do we manage this when it comes to our children?
Everyday there are hundreds of children all through Australia attending castings for a range of opportunities within the industry.
For a lot of kids this will be their first ever casting, so they might not know what to expect. They will most likely have to meet a few unfamiliar faces, be asked some questions, be prompted to read a script or act something out for a casting director. It will all be over in the blink of an eye, and then the waiting game begins.
When your child is facing the prospect of rejection, it can be difficult as a parent. However, alongside your agency, you can work together to equip your child with the tools to be resilient and bounce back from being let down. After all it is a part of this industry.
Most experienced actors and models will be able to manage their expectations professionally, and not allow their thoughts and feelings to run away with them. While they may really want that job, they know that in this industry, it’s anyone’s game. So how do we teach this to our children and help to manage their expectations?
A lot of this will come from experience, and the best way to show a child the ins and outs of the industry is talking to them about what to expect - you can usually get helpful information about this from your agent. This will help to set them up with the right expectations from the get-go, before they have even attended their casting.
It is important to explain to your children how the industry works and to be totally honest. Tell them that even if they attend an audition or casting, that there is no guarantee that they will get the job. All they can do is try their best. There are a myriad of reasons why your child may not get a job, despite having a great audition, which is why you shouldn’t take it personally.
Kids should treat each experience, whether it be an audition, casting or call-back as a positive and enjoyable time, and not place the focus on booking the job.
With each casting that your child attends, they will grow more confident and comfortable with not only general entertainment processes and environments, but they will also be more at ease within themselves. These opportunities can build resilience within your child, which is a great skill that they can use throughout their lives.
Castings and auditions can be a great experience for kids and it’s important to set them up with the right expectations, so they can keep a positive mindset. Regardless of whether or not they get the job, attending a casting is a great achievement and a big step in the direction of your child building a successful portfolio and career.
We want to keep our kids interested in the industry and motivated to keep trying, even when it doesn’t eventuate to a job opportunity, so make sure to have fun!
