How can you help a singer handle rejection and setbacks in their music career?

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"there are no failures, only unexpected results." Disappointment is inevitable in life, and especially in the music field. The rejection isn't important - how you react to the disappointment is very important. Take stock of what happened. If you find any skills or abilities that you are lacking that caused the rejection, make a list of what you need to grow, and find a coach or a mentor who can help you achieve them. You don't have any limitations. The only limitations are how hard you're willing to work and how long you're willing to keep growing and learning. Lifelong learning is the BEST.

Being creative is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because you have a talent that brings you joy when sharing it with others. A curse because you will continually be subjected to rejection which can be a blow to your self esteem and ego. Successful creative individuals never give up and continue to improve and promote their talents. Developing a thick skin is imperative.

Get them to accept that rejection is the first part of being a good singer. It suppose to bring out the fighting spirit. Every successful singer undergo several rejection, and if asked, they'll tell you it energised their fighting spirit. There has to be a fighting spirit within, at the point of wanting, and wanting to be a singer demands it. Sympathy is pampering. Ask any successful singer what gets them to where they are, and they would tell you determination and hard work. Getting over the hurt of rejection and forcefully grabbing hold of the line that leads to success and pull on it stronger than before. Those that cling to rejection as an excuse for not fighting on are lying with those, shoulder, coulders of life. Self-esteem?

Any singer must acknowledge that this is an incredibly tough industry. Often singers see failure as not booking the job and that is a dangerous equation. The job of singer isn't performing - it's auditioning. Every gig ends. Every show closes. Every record sale slows - except maybe Taylor's version. ;) Remind singers that: 1) This is an industry of "no" - you must keep working, keep honing your craft and, often, you must make your own opportunities 2) You don't book the gig, you book the room. The only thing you have control over at your audition is you & your performance. So, set goals for each audition and shift the view of success from booking the gig (out of your control) to accomplishing your goals.

The reality is, very often there isn't feedback and if it does come it comes to your agent not directly to the performer. That feedback can range from actual feedback on your work to, "I hated your dress." Remind a singer to: 1) solicit feedback from the appropriate people. Hearing that your grandma thought your rendition of "Jolene" was spot on is probably not so helpful to your career. 2) Seek feedback from trusted sources and then take it to heart. Be open to trying different things, even if they're outside the scope of what you usually do or how you see yourself as an artist.

I encourage my singers to audition as often as possible, even when their chances of getting the part are very slim. Why? Because auditioning itself is a very specific skill, and the only way to get better at it is to do lots of auditions. Sometimes, to prepare for a high-stakes opportunity, we create mock-audition situations and attempt to replicate as many aspects of the ultimate audition as possible. But the very best way to get better at auditioning is to do a lot of them.

Hearing "No" can wear on creatives who hear it a lot, but rejection and setbacks are inevitable in any career - no matter how talented, focused, or dedicated one is. Often we want to know why, but the truth might just be that it is beyond our control. It can be painful, frustrating, and confusing, but once you move past the shock, the good news is there will always be more opportunities. Stay true to yourself and your craft and keep planting seeds. Some of them will flourish. I will add that one of the most painful career setbacks I experienced later revealed itself to be dodging a bullet, meaning I wouldn't have been happy working with the people in the position I thought I wanted.

Again, you book the room - not the gig. As a performer you have zero control over whether or not you are the right person for the job. What you have control over is how prepared you are, how you present yourself, what material you choose etc.. Set your own goals and then go after them, make that the goal of each audition.

A unique contribution to boosting a singer's resilience involves incorporating mindfulness practices into their routine. Encouraging techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises can significantly enhance their ability to navigate stress and setbacks. For instance, incorporating a brief mindfulness session before studio sessions or performances can not only reduce anxiety but also enhance focus and overall well-being. This practice fosters a resilient mindset, allowing artists to adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving music and entertainment industries.

Every setback can be viewed as a punishment or a lesson. A healthy outlook is to look at the reasons for rejection and ask honest questions on improvement and apply to future opportunities. Don’t dwell after initial analysis, as long as it’s approached critically and with a positive outlook it will yield rewards. Seek out failure, become friends with it so when it arrives you know exactly how to deal with it-after a while you’ll welcome it’s lessons.

Pharrell Williams shared a very interesting insight on being unique in the music production process. And it's a mixture of sounds, synergies in style and techniques and also personality that goes into your craft. The music is a playing field where imagination and creativity interact and fuse to make an impact. Having fun is the key, and going outside of the box can lead you to a very new plane of luxury. It's outside of the comfort of your particular sound that new boundaries are formed. Hanging on that thread of known and unknown is a wonderful foundation for any artist. Growth happens in that land.

Get over it, Get back on stage, or Get out. Really, the first thing anyone in the performing arts should understand is that you're only as good as your last performance. If you're not striving to improve at least 1% each time, then you're going backwards. Do what you self care you need and then try again. Take an inventory; what are you struggling with? Then get help with it if it's something you can change, then change it, if not them learn to accept it. The music industry is brutal and will chew you up and spit you out if you take it too personally.

Performers need to have: 1) a strong support network of people inside AND outside the industry. Having muggle friends is essential to finding balance. 2) non-performance interests. Even the most passionate singers get burned out. Art imitates life, and in order to be able to sing about life - you must actually live it.

The most constructive thing to do is to tell them to get used to it, because it’s going to happen many times during their musical career. It’s happened to every single artist who’s now successful. The reality is that the number of singers that become successful is infinitesimal compared to those who try to be. The world is full of great vocalists all looking for great songs, so they can lessen the odds dramatically by writing their own material. Write songs constantly. If you can’t handle rejection, you’re in the wrong profession. Also, realise that it’s so much harder these days to actually make a living as a musician, let alone become a successful one. Be realistic, not a fantasist.

Singers,musicians, in fact anyone in the music business will come up against knock backs,rejections and disapointments through out their careers,in many ways,it's to be expected,especially early in their careers,but lucky breaks will come along,and when they do,your'e whole outlook will change compleatly.

A reframe which helped me when I started out & has helped others in many performing roles when I have passed it on is to see the 'No's not as the opposite of, or barriers to career progress but as part of our career journey. The only way to avoid getting them is by not putting ourselves out there at all.

Strategize. What can they do next that could provide an immediate win & boost their self confidence. Look for low hanging fruit: Something to engage with their fans? Something to gain new ones? It doesn’t have to be musical either. Sometimes, changing gears and just doing something within the community can help recharge and refocus. And of course, regardless of whether your singer enjoys working with original material or covers, make sure the *songs are strong!!* and the voice is matched to the right genre (s).

I believe healthy mindset is essential for a career in the performing arts. Disappointment, rejection and being ignored is sadly the norm. Learning to embrace this and even expect it, helps to continue to take actions despite the feelings that get triggered when we face a setback. The most helpful thing is to first create a plan with your team. A team could literally be just you and another singer or musician that you know, someone to share your ideas, successes and failures with. Once you have a plan, a clear marketing and business plan, then everything else gets easier. Then when you face a setback, its easier to just continue following the plan rather than try to start all over again in a new direction.