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1. Thrive on Rejection
One of the early students in my model and talent school was a woman who was probably five or ten years older than I. At the end of her course, she went on her first interview. After learning that she had not been hired for the job, she resigned from the my model agency.
"Why would you quit after one interview?" I asked.
Her answer was, "I looked as good as I possibly could, I performed the best I could, and I still did not get the job. I cannot suffer this kind of rejection--I give up!"
In vain, I explained that she could look and do her best, and still not get the job, perhaps because she was not the "look" the client was seeking. Perhaps she was the wrong age, her eyes were the wrong color, or maybe she resembled the interviewer's aunt (that she hated). Her rejection could have come from many different things that had nothing to do with her preparation or performance.
I reflected that the same experience had occurred during my first week of professional modeling. At the initial interview I was told that I was "too all American", yet at the next I learned I was "too exotic". The following found me, "too short" and another "just too tall" for the job in question. It seemed that each interview was a contradiction of a prior one.
My efforts were to no avail. The woman, not having been prepared to deal with repeated rejection, could not be dissuaded from giving up.
From then on, we taught our students to thrive on rejection in advance. We encouraged them to look on it as a challenge to expect and overcome. The models and talent learned that rejection can be an opportunity to grow and an incentive to never, never give up.
2.
Look the Part
As an instructor and agent for models and talent, I stressed the importance of becoming the part to get the job. As a result, when one of our movie and television character actors, Hank Underwood, went on an interview for the part of a construction worker in a commercial, he dressed in his hard hat, work clothes and wore his tool belt. At the reception desk, he announced; "Hank Underwood here, what would you like for me to do?"
The receptionist said, "Oh, I'm afraid you have the wrong building, the construction is going on next door." Of course, he got the job.
3. Ask with Conviction
One morning a young woman applied for registration at my modeling school whose first impression was very unattractive. She was tall, thin, and clean but that is about all you could say about her physical beauty. Her complexion, hair, posture, and clothes were all problematic. Trying to be honest and kind, I suggested she go across the street and enroll in a business course. I encouraged her to learn the skills to get a regular job, and suggested she might return thereafter and consider modeling. Her eyes looked directly into mine as she responded firmly, "Mrs. Mazzetti, if you will let me take your course, I will be the best black model you ever have." She knew what she wanted, was confident of what she could do, and was determined to do it. I signed her up immediately. After completing her training, correcting her skin problems, redoing her hair, and perfecting her posture and walk, this new model began accepting professional assignments. She modeled with such grace and style that people who watched her at restaurant fashion shows put down their forks to admire her. This unforgettable woman in fact became the best black model I ever had.
4. Be Gracious in Accepting a "No"
Models and actors may have several job interviews every day. Most of the interviews end in rejections. Rather than stomping out with an attitude of ''What a wasted effort,'' we encouraged our models to send thank you notes. We taught them to be grateful for those who had spent time with them, and to thank them for the opportunity to ''try out'' for the job. With each interview came a new potential friend in the business and a new experience that would give the model or actor a better chance the next time. One of my top male models, David Schnitzer, sent not only thank you notes, but also flowers, even when he did not get the job. As a result, he was never forgotten and was included in future interviews.
5. Don't Burn Your Bridges
There are times when a model or actor waits the better part of a day to be interviewed for a job, and is then treated rudely by the interviewer. Temptation to return the attitude can be very great.
The tables can be turned, however, if the job seeker understands that the interviewer may also be exhausted, after a long day of seeing people who are totally wrong for the clothes or part. The following statements have sometimes landed our models the job: ''I understand that I have not been selected and I want you to know how much I appreciate your time with me. I really enjoyed talking to you and look forward to a future date, when I might be the right person for you.'' Or another positive reply might be: ''If 'no' is your response to me this time, what might I do to get a 'yes' next time?''
Responses such as these have registered so positively with clients that further opportunities to test or interview have been given--the bridge was never burned.
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