It always surprises me when I hear actors not taking advantage of opportunities that are coming their way. Opportunities are few and far between in an oversaturated industry, why wouldn't you say yes?
I've seen actors be presented with auditions, only to decline them whether they were commercials, web series, musicals or even tv/film roles.
I've seen actors be presented with networking opportunities by being given a card or a contact detail to send through their materials and yet they sit there for a week wondering if they should send through their stuff.
I've seen actors beat around the bush for so long that the opportunity passes and they regret it later on.
Right now you're thinking "If that was me, I would never let that happen" but I can guarantee you probably have. I want you to reflect on it and ask yourself WHY did you do it and you'll probably find it was one of two things: The fear of failure and the fear of success.
The fear of success and the fear of failure needs to be addressed.
Most of us are aquatinted with the fear of failure. It's what holds us back as actors from really letting us commit completely to the scene because we may make a fool of ourselves - well guess what? That's our job! We may be afraid of not being word perfect but that's not our job in the audition room. Our job is to present our interpretation of the character in their situation whilst taking direction. We may be afraid of the pressure of the size of the role - well you've got the role for 15 mins so enjoy it & show casting what you can do with it! Our fear of failure is an insecurity that's blocking our path to success and is usually in our own heads without warrant.
The fear of success is more unknown but still resides in our psyche. We develop a fear of success when we make it to the next round after believing we weren't good enough. We develop this fear when something that we want that's unexpected comes to fruition. It's ok. Process it and work on it little by little and realise it's ok that something big is coming. It doesn't have to overwhelm you because all you have to do is say yes.
When you say yes, you give yourself permission to take that next step forward. It allows you to move along your journey. It allows you to step through that door of opportunity. It allows you to never say to yourself "What if?' and that is something you never want to do - especially in this industry.
Then you think "but what if something better comes along?".
Then you say "yes" to that as much as you ethically can. You never want to be in a position of not having a job, and I've seen this happen. A performer is offered a contract right there. But they know another contract is POTENTIALLY coming. So they hold out. 2 weeks later, the first contract's deadline is coming up. They decline because they really want the other one. The other one never comes. No contract for this performer. This is the worst case scenario.
The best case scenario is that the performer gets a choice in a timely manner.
The safe case scenario is that the performer accepts the first contract and the second contract doesn't come.
When you have an opportunity whether it's a student project, a web series, an independent film, etc - take it. Don't just leave it. I said yes to an unpaid film 2 years ago and now it's doing fabulously! All because I said "Yes".
CHECKLIST:
Which fear do you have - failure or success?
Why do you have that fear?
What is the logic behind that fear?
What's the worst if you say Yes?
What's the best if you say Yes?
Say Yes!
Say no to work that is of commercial use and is underpaid for such usage!! Know your worth!!!