In the highly competitive (and sometimes cutthroat) industry of theatre, film and the arts in general, it's important to remember that celebrating the achievements of our colleagues, friends, and industry peers benefits everyone involved.
No one can deny the slight pangs of jealousy when someone else 'gets the role'. No problem! Its only human. But once we have gone through the process (and lets hope it's a very short process) of coming to terms with what 'feels' like rejection, its important to turn that energy into a celebration of the 'other'.
As anyone who has done the minutest reading about auditioning, rejection in the arts, or preservation of the artist understands, there are many factors to why we do not get the gig and 9.5 out 10 times they are very logical factors and are just part of an industry that is steeped in aesthetics, suitability, and sometimes as simple as your height. You may never know why you didn't fit into the role—and trying to figure it out can make you crazy.
How to Deal With Rejection in Acting (feat. John C. Reilly). Backstage
So why should we celebrate others success?
Hervin Antonio Hidalgo has done the work and put this great LinkedIn post together. Here is an excerpt of his five reasons to celebrate others success and which I totally agree with.
Inspiration and Motivation: When we celebrate the successes of others, we inspire and motivate not only them but also ourselves. Success stories are powerful reminders that dreams can be achieved with hard work, dedication, and a positive mindset. So inspire each other to reach new heights!
Cultivating a Supportive Culture: By celebrating other's successes, we foster a culture of support and camaraderie. When one person succeeds, we all succeed, as success often comes from teamwork, mentorship, and the support of others. Together, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued and encouraged to bring their best selves to the table. (This is mostly from a corporate perspective, but think about it in terms of the ensemble AND the industry. Also, if we can support the industry by supporting each other, then we feel not so alone.)
Learning Opportunities: Celebrating others' successes also opens up learning opportunities for us. We can gain insights into their strategies, experiences, and approaches to problem-solving, which can be invaluable for our own personal and professional growth. Embrace the chance to learn from one another!
Fostering Gratitude: Celebrating others teaches us to appreciate the achievements of our peers and be grateful for the abundance of talent around us. Gratitude promotes positivity and helps us maintain a healthy perspective on our own journey.
Building Lasting Connections: Sharing in someone else's joy and celebrating their achievements creates strong bonds. It shows that we genuinely care about each other's well-being and success. Such meaningful connections can lead to fruitful collaborations and partnerships in the future.
Extend your network through your celebration of others.
Generally, people like people and are attracted to people who make them feel good. Making someone feel good can inspire your network growth. Utilising your energy in feeling good for other people and sharing your praise for their work is a great way to extend your network and can possibly lead to them wanting to work with you. Celebrating someone's success is a much better way to connect with an artist you admire than simply saying 'Give me a job!' Believe me, this happens at least 3 times a month to me and those people do NOT inspire me to employ them, especially when they do not know anything about my work. Be smart! If you are going to contact someone regarding wanting to work with them, make sure you can answer their question.....why do you want to work with me?
“Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.” – Anais Nin, author
Follow other artists articles. Comment on posts and join the conversation. Add value to what THEY are saying whenever you can and don't just make it about yourself. This makes people feel good about themselves, you, your intellect and your instincts and can lead to even more connections, more invites, and more opportunities to connect with the people who are making things happen and possibly, which has happened to me several times, can lead to a friendship that you take with you for the rest of your life.
Who is Celebrating 'Me'?
Another way to look at it is this...When we finally get to a moment in our career or have an achievement we have been working towards and we have dreamt about, what if there’s no one celebrating 'Me'? We all know what it feels like when someone sincerely and genuinely celebrates us or recognises our achievement. It feels AWESOME! (Gosh, even an insta love heart these days can get the adrenalin flowing!) So, if we recognise how good it makes US feel, then why not inspire that feeling in others? You'll be remembered for it!
Generosity is contagious
Your generosity and your kindness shown through celebrating others is contagious. If you support an artist, they will support another artist, and soon enough there’s a spiralling network of support among likeminded artists.
The simple act of giving another artist a shout-out on social media can do a world of good for the entire community.
I have a regular post that I put into my stories on one of my Insta's which says, 'If you can't afford art, then PROMOTE art'. This simple post has led me to conversations. contacts and friendships with some extraordinary artists around the world and also to discussions about collaborations in the future. I believe in the post, and it comes from a very sincere place, but the professional benefits are fantastic.
No Harm Done
Ultimately, there is no harm done and very little energy needed to celebrate someone else's successes and achievements. It is good networking practice, it inspires collaborations, it puts you in the mind of others and....it makes us all feel great!
Native Spirituality: We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive.
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