If you’re receiving it in person, you may not have a choice in this. But if you receive feedback in writing or another way that isn\u2019t face-to-face, you can\u2019t ignore it forever. If you feel the critique will be hard to receive, make time to put yourself in a comfortable, loving and safe space physically, mentally and emotionally before taking the feedback on-board.<\/p>\n
Step 2: Note down what\u2019s helpful and what\u2019s not<\/strong><\/h4>\nIs there anything that rings true or that you can work with? Are there any phrases that feel hurtful or confusing? You don\u2019t have to justify your feelings or reasoning at this stage. Just note down anything that stands out to you.<\/p>\n
Step 3: Revisit positive feedback from the past<\/strong><\/h4>\nEven well-constructed feedback can make us doubt ourselves. Revisiting praise \u2013 whether it\u2019s a good review, praise from a teacher or friends hyping you up \u2013 can remind us that we are talented, despite this critique. If you struggle to recall positive feedback, take time to collect good reviews and praise. You can do this digitally in an online folder, or physically in a journal or scrapbook.<\/p>\n
Step 4: Acknowledge that \u2018bad work\u2019 is part of the process<\/strong><\/h4>\nWe can all name great actors who have given a terrible performance. Sometimes we do bad work and that\u2019s okay. It\u2019s not a reflection of our self-worth or talent and it provides us with an opportunity to learn and grow.<\/p>\n
Step 5: Analyse the feedback and your response to it<\/strong><\/h4>\nGo back to the criticism. If there\u2019s anything particularly triggering? Explore why that might be. Does it remind you of criticism you\u2019ve had in the past? Does it sound like any negative self-talk you have?<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s any confusing or unhelpful feedback, try and find the underlying problem that prompted that observation in the critique. For example, if you get the note to \u2018be more believable\u2019, think about what you might not have been doing that would cause your performance to be less believable. Could you have been more present? Could you have used clearer actions or objectives? If you\u2019re stuck with this, seek advice from a trusted teacher or mentor.<\/p>\n
Step 6: Emotionally process the feedback<\/strong><\/h4>\nOnce you\u2019ve mined the feedback for anything helpful, process any emotions that are still lingering. These can be uncomfortable emotions like disappointment, rejection or shame, but also lighter emotions like gratitude, acceptance or pride. This is the time to acknowledge any praise and useful advice in the critique, honour any hurt that it caused and defend yourself and your art. You can do this by writing a letter to your critic \u2013 but don\u2019t send it \u2013 journaling, comforting your younger self, or talking through the feedback with yourself or a\u00a0trusted friend or colleague.<\/p>\n
Step 7: Decide what you want to do with the feedback<\/strong><\/h4>\nDo you want to take the feedback on board or discard it in part or entirely? You have a choice in what advice you listen to. If things in the critique feel helpful, it may be wise to act on it. But you can also consider how much you trust the person critiquing you, how experienced they are and your own artistic preference. Remember that\u00a0feedback is opinion-based and subjective, therefore, it doesn’t always need to be listened to.<\/p>\n
Step 8: Do something creative and proactive<\/strong><\/h4>\nNow you\u2019ve done all that work, it\u2019s time to get back on the horse. Do something creatively joyful like singing through your favourite song or pulling out\u00a0your favourite monologue<\/a>. If there are things from the critique you want to work on, book in a lesson or a class.<\/p>\nIf doing something related to your acting work feels too raw right now,\u00a0do something creative<\/a>\u00a0but unrelated. Paint, play music, write or craft. Engaging with creativity will prevent this feedback from blocking you and reconnect you with your love for what you do.<\/p>\nConstructive criticism is rarely comfortable. It forces us to see our work through another’s eyes and opens us up to feelings of rejection and ridicule. But with a combination of an open mind and self-compassion, you can handle and grow from any feedback you receive.<\/p>\n
Find more\u00a0tips and advice for auditions<\/a>\u00a0on our website.<\/em><\/p>\n
Even well-constructed feedback can make us doubt ourselves. Revisiting praise \u2013 whether it\u2019s a good review, praise from a teacher or friends hyping you up \u2013 can remind us that we are talented, despite this critique. If you struggle to recall positive feedback, take time to collect good reviews and praise. You can do this digitally in an online folder, or physically in a journal or scrapbook.<\/p>\n
Step 4: Acknowledge that \u2018bad work\u2019 is part of the process<\/strong><\/h4>\nWe can all name great actors who have given a terrible performance. Sometimes we do bad work and that\u2019s okay. It\u2019s not a reflection of our self-worth or talent and it provides us with an opportunity to learn and grow.<\/p>\n
Step 5: Analyse the feedback and your response to it<\/strong><\/h4>\nGo back to the criticism. If there\u2019s anything particularly triggering? Explore why that might be. Does it remind you of criticism you\u2019ve had in the past? Does it sound like any negative self-talk you have?<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s any confusing or unhelpful feedback, try and find the underlying problem that prompted that observation in the critique. For example, if you get the note to \u2018be more believable\u2019, think about what you might not have been doing that would cause your performance to be less believable. Could you have been more present? Could you have used clearer actions or objectives? If you\u2019re stuck with this, seek advice from a trusted teacher or mentor.<\/p>\n
Step 6: Emotionally process the feedback<\/strong><\/h4>\nOnce you\u2019ve mined the feedback for anything helpful, process any emotions that are still lingering. These can be uncomfortable emotions like disappointment, rejection or shame, but also lighter emotions like gratitude, acceptance or pride. This is the time to acknowledge any praise and useful advice in the critique, honour any hurt that it caused and defend yourself and your art. You can do this by writing a letter to your critic \u2013 but don\u2019t send it \u2013 journaling, comforting your younger self, or talking through the feedback with yourself or a\u00a0trusted friend or colleague.<\/p>\n
Step 7: Decide what you want to do with the feedback<\/strong><\/h4>\nDo you want to take the feedback on board or discard it in part or entirely? You have a choice in what advice you listen to. If things in the critique feel helpful, it may be wise to act on it. But you can also consider how much you trust the person critiquing you, how experienced they are and your own artistic preference. Remember that\u00a0feedback is opinion-based and subjective, therefore, it doesn’t always need to be listened to.<\/p>\n
Step 8: Do something creative and proactive<\/strong><\/h4>\nNow you\u2019ve done all that work, it\u2019s time to get back on the horse. Do something creatively joyful like singing through your favourite song or pulling out\u00a0your favourite monologue<\/a>. If there are things from the critique you want to work on, book in a lesson or a class.<\/p>\nIf doing something related to your acting work feels too raw right now,\u00a0do something creative<\/a>\u00a0but unrelated. Paint, play music, write or craft. Engaging with creativity will prevent this feedback from blocking you and reconnect you with your love for what you do.<\/p>\nConstructive criticism is rarely comfortable. It forces us to see our work through another’s eyes and opens us up to feelings of rejection and ridicule. But with a combination of an open mind and self-compassion, you can handle and grow from any feedback you receive.<\/p>\n
Find more\u00a0tips and advice for auditions<\/a>\u00a0on our website.<\/em><\/p>\n
Go back to the criticism. If there\u2019s anything particularly triggering? Explore why that might be. Does it remind you of criticism you\u2019ve had in the past? Does it sound like any negative self-talk you have?<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s any confusing or unhelpful feedback, try and find the underlying problem that prompted that observation in the critique. For example, if you get the note to \u2018be more believable\u2019, think about what you might not have been doing that would cause your performance to be less believable. Could you have been more present? Could you have used clearer actions or objectives? If you\u2019re stuck with this, seek advice from a trusted teacher or mentor.<\/p>\n
Step 6: Emotionally process the feedback<\/strong><\/h4>\nOnce you\u2019ve mined the feedback for anything helpful, process any emotions that are still lingering. These can be uncomfortable emotions like disappointment, rejection or shame, but also lighter emotions like gratitude, acceptance or pride. This is the time to acknowledge any praise and useful advice in the critique, honour any hurt that it caused and defend yourself and your art. You can do this by writing a letter to your critic \u2013 but don\u2019t send it \u2013 journaling, comforting your younger self, or talking through the feedback with yourself or a\u00a0trusted friend or colleague.<\/p>\n
Step 7: Decide what you want to do with the feedback<\/strong><\/h4>\nDo you want to take the feedback on board or discard it in part or entirely? You have a choice in what advice you listen to. If things in the critique feel helpful, it may be wise to act on it. But you can also consider how much you trust the person critiquing you, how experienced they are and your own artistic preference. Remember that\u00a0feedback is opinion-based and subjective, therefore, it doesn’t always need to be listened to.<\/p>\n
Step 8: Do something creative and proactive<\/strong><\/h4>\nNow you\u2019ve done all that work, it\u2019s time to get back on the horse. Do something creatively joyful like singing through your favourite song or pulling out\u00a0your favourite monologue<\/a>. If there are things from the critique you want to work on, book in a lesson or a class.<\/p>\nIf doing something related to your acting work feels too raw right now,\u00a0do something creative<\/a>\u00a0but unrelated. Paint, play music, write or craft. Engaging with creativity will prevent this feedback from blocking you and reconnect you with your love for what you do.<\/p>\nConstructive criticism is rarely comfortable. It forces us to see our work through another’s eyes and opens us up to feelings of rejection and ridicule. But with a combination of an open mind and self-compassion, you can handle and grow from any feedback you receive.<\/p>\n
Find more\u00a0tips and advice for auditions<\/a>\u00a0on our website.<\/em><\/p>\n
Do you want to take the feedback on board or discard it in part or entirely? You have a choice in what advice you listen to. If things in the critique feel helpful, it may be wise to act on it. But you can also consider how much you trust the person critiquing you, how experienced they are and your own artistic preference. Remember that\u00a0feedback is opinion-based and subjective, therefore, it doesn’t always need to be listened to.<\/p>\n
Step 8: Do something creative and proactive<\/strong><\/h4>\nNow you\u2019ve done all that work, it\u2019s time to get back on the horse. Do something creatively joyful like singing through your favourite song or pulling out\u00a0your favourite monologue<\/a>. If there are things from the critique you want to work on, book in a lesson or a class.<\/p>\nIf doing something related to your acting work feels too raw right now,\u00a0do something creative<\/a>\u00a0but unrelated. Paint, play music, write or craft. Engaging with creativity will prevent this feedback from blocking you and reconnect you with your love for what you do.<\/p>\nConstructive criticism is rarely comfortable. It forces us to see our work through another’s eyes and opens us up to feelings of rejection and ridicule. But with a combination of an open mind and self-compassion, you can handle and grow from any feedback you receive.<\/p>\n
Find more\u00a0tips and advice for auditions<\/a>\u00a0on our website.<\/em><\/p>\n
If doing something related to your acting work feels too raw right now,\u00a0do something creative<\/a>\u00a0but unrelated. Paint, play music, write or craft. Engaging with creativity will prevent this feedback from blocking you and reconnect you with your love for what you do.<\/p>\n Constructive criticism is rarely comfortable. It forces us to see our work through another’s eyes and opens us up to feelings of rejection and ridicule. But with a combination of an open mind and self-compassion, you can handle and grow from any feedback you receive.<\/p>\n Find more\u00a0tips and advice for auditions<\/a>\u00a0on our website.<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/spotlightuk\/image\/fetch\/w_{width},c_limit\/https:\/\/spotlight-cmsmedia.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/media\/2605\/michaela-bennison-headshot_02.jpg\")
<\/span>Michaela Bennison<\/a>\u00a0is an actor and writer, whose performance credits include ‘Into the Woods’ at The Royal Exchange, Manchester, ‘Lady of Jazz’ at Hope Mill Theatre and ‘The Dresser’ UK Tour.<\/em><\/p>\n