Every voiceover artist ends up with gigs that don’t work out. It just comes with the territory of running a business. This doesn’t make dealing with the failed gig any easier.

After a client says your work is unacceptable, you probably feel many different emotions – mad, sad, disappointment, guilt, and frustration. All of these emotions can lead to feeling down. You don’t want to do anything for at least a couple days afterwards.

The next thing you know is that one failed gig has caused you to get behind on many other gigs. Your business slips and you just don’t have the strength to pull it together.

You have allowed one failed gig to beat you. You have allowed it to make you weak.

Since this reaction to the gig is having a negative effect, it might be better to approach this situation differently. Instead of allowing it to hurt you and your business, turn it around and make it strengthen you and grow your business.

Here is how you can do this effectively the next time you deal with a failed voiceover gig.

Change Your Thoughts about the Failed Voiceover Gig

It’s likely after your client told you that he didn’t like your work, you felt something happened inside of you. Along with those feelings, you said to yourself:

• “He does not know what he’s talking about.”
• “I cannot believe I messed it up this bad.”
• “I must not be as good as I thought I was at voiceover.”
• “I’ll never be successful.”

The first thing you need to do is refute these statements. Instead of placing blame on the client or yourself, turn it around and use the information you received by asking yourself these questions:

• What went wrong with this project?
• What could I do differently next time?

Once you answer these questions, you can comfort your inner critic by saying:

• “It’s okay. This happens, and it doesn’t mean I’m unsuccessful.”
• “I’ll use this gig as a way to improve my business. I can do it better next time now.”
• “It’s unfortunate this happened. It was a learning experience, though.”
• “I’m a good voiceover, and this experience will help me later in my business.”

These statements are much more positive and powerful than your initial ones. This is what will help you stay strong and continue with your other work.

As you start other projects, use what you’ve learned from this failed gig. Remember what did not go right this time, and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Take the criticism you received from the client, and use it with the next project.

Use the experience you have had with the failed gig to make future clients happy. You cannot make everyone happy, but it’s those unhappy ones that help you make others happy, so be thankful for them.