Dealing with failure and rejection.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm"
- Sir Winston Churchill

Here's an issue I want to touch on today since it affects many aspiring musicians.
you know the scenario...
You've sent off that top recording or demo, entered that competition or applied for that band position...
You were sure your art was a hit.
The answer you got back.... Drum roll please... was a um no, or worse still a no reply.
You are devastated... Your big break dissolved into smoke and gone.
You'll never be a performer again.
Goodbye cruel world...
And you hold a pity party where everyone is invited (but nobody shows).

Before you crawl back into your shell - here are a few pointers to get you back on track.

1.
Maintain a good attitude and don't take it as a personal attack.
Don't get angry and start spouting off about the rotten deal you got - yes I know it is upsetting, but venting your anger at judges or record companies is not going to help - in fact a bad attitude and inability to deal with criticism will kill your opportunities quicker than anything I know of.
If you get a reputation as a spoilt brat - unwilling to learn thinking everyone else needs to change (except you) then no-one will want to work with you.

2.
Apply what you have learned - ask for feedback - where do I need to improve?
Remember to be a student not a star.
Identify where you need to change.
Most people are not out to get you and will gladly offer helpful advice if you ask for it.

3.
Get more feedback from other sources to see if you can hit on some common denominators (Not from your friends who tell you you sound great).
Join a music community and find mentors that will offer constructive criticism.
Need to go to music school to learn some more skills?

4.
Use your failure as FUEL.

Find out where you went wrong (get feedback from several sources, mentors, competition results etc).

Use the opportunity to grow in your character and resolve to do better.

Educate yourself with knowledge and skills (songwriting, vocals, composition, playing skills).

Learn to apply all of the above in your daily practice, dealing with people, and developing your art to a higher standard.

I personally have faced rejection from record companies, stores that won't sell my albums etc, but that hasn't stopped me.
I have established myself now, proven I can sell more than just a couple of CD's and am continuing to grow and expand.
You can too if you are willing to learn.

To your music success.
Mark