DD(15) has fairly recently developed an interest in performing arts, so I’ve been doing what I
can to support this - singing lessons at school, a class in musical theatre. She wants to audition
for a local group’s musical next month, which I’m happy for her to do, but … it’s a really popular
group, a lot of the young people auditioning are well established within the group, and I know
around 18 girls are all going for one of the main roles alone - the total number in the cast is 30,
so there’s a lot of competition.
How do you deal with times when they are rejected, or your own feelings around that? I feel torn
between wanting to encourage and support her and also not wanting her to be involved in the
arts because of the risk of rejection. It’s also me that has to deal with the fall out if she does not
get cast. Her confidence is very much typical of a teenage girl so I don’t want her crushed! (I’m
well aware a lot of my own issues are at play here too, so please be kind!)
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Theatre mums - coping with rejection??
CocoPlum · 18/09/2023 12:35
CatatonicLadybug · 19/09/2023 21:24
@OhCrumbsWhereNow makes an excellent point I had never seen until I was a parent: the mindset of liking auditions. I was somehow brought up with the idea that because it’s a bit of a competition really, everyone else there is… not your friend. When I was away from it all, I realised this was maybe not so healthy, so I tried not to give that idea to DS and let him make up his own mind.
DS actually loves auditions because ‘everyone there loves the same stuff I do, and chances are they are good at it too’.
I honestly never thought of it that way and I absolutely love it. He’s right. They might all be trying for the same part, but take that away and they are with their people. Everyone in there is not the enemy. They might not be a bestie today but one day they might. The first time he explained it to me, I wished I had that perspective a lifetime ago.
(I also love the not-good-for-the-voice ice cream, as we do the you-might-break-something trampoline park with the same thought process!)
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