Acting is the most intimate, the most personal, of the arts. We literally use ourselves — our bodies, our faces, our voices — and also our impulses, which is like exposing our psychology, warts and all.
This brings unique challenges, not only in the work itself but in how we navigate our professional relationships.
Despite well-intentioned advice to the contrary, it’s hard not to feel rejected when we audition for a project and don’t get the job. Our confidence can take a hit.
Good acting requires a certain confidence, a certain boldness, a certain baseline assumption that our impulses are good ones, and we can trust the results if we allow them free expression. And cultivating professional relationships requires the confidence to say, in essence, “I’m good – you should work with me.”
But confidence is fragile, especially in extremely confusing and uncertain times like these. And where exactly is the line between confidence and arrogance?
As the saying goes, Confidence is King. But arrogance is off-putting and transparent. I remember hearing somewhere — I can’t remember exactly where — that arrogance is the mask of fear. That struck me as both perceptive and true.
So what’s my advice?
First of all, remember that what we’re doing is hard and cut yourself some slack. Take the wins. Take in the satisfaction and justifiable pride you should feel in continuing to put yourself out there. To live in that vulnerability.
Second, keep mastering your craft. Acting is on one level deeply mysterious. As they say: “Sometimes the gods visit.” But that’s not something we can control nor should we try to. All we can do is create the conditions.
Because on another level acting is a craft, and like any craft it can be mastered. For me, this is the surest road to confidence. Not confidence that you will never feel vulnerable or that you will never encounter difficult, perhaps even frightening, challenges when you act. But confidence that you have the technique to solve any problem that arises. Confidence that you will bring to any professional situation, whether it is an audition or a job, a level of professionalism and skill (even artistry) that you can be proud of.
The mere fact that you are doing this is already cause for celebration, pride, and respect. Keep mastering your craft, and those will only grow.
Finally, it may help to remember that acting is a noble calling, with roots in the sacred. And I believe there has never been a more urgent need for the healing that storytelling makes possible. It’s really powerful and anything really powerful involves risk.
Find a community that has your back, that supports you as a human being and an actor, no matter the ups and downs, (because they WILL come.)
To quote our most beloved storyteller: “The readiness is all.”
– Chris
Upcoming classes with Chris include Intermediate Scene Study II: Exploring the Tools starting 1/4, Professional Scene Study Intensive II: Self-Adjustment starting 1/7, Shakespeare Acting Class I starting 1/16, and…
…the Daytime section of the 2025 1-Year Intermediate Acting Program starting in January. Apply Now!
Check out TBG’s full schedule of classes, including youth options!