Trust the Process: From First Contract to Consistent Work

We’ve all heard it: you have to get through 100 no’s before your first yes.

But what no one talks about… is what happens after that first yes.

In this episode of The Artist Behind the Art, Jennifer dives into the reality of building a sustainable career as a circus artist—especially the space between contracts. The part of the journey where doubt creeps in, questions start stacking, and the path can feel uncertain.

This episode is about learning to trust the process, understanding what’s actually happening behind the scenes of your career growth, and how to use the “gap” to your advantage.

In This Episode, We Cover:

•  Why the time between contracts is normal (and necessary) 
•  The truth about consistent work in circus (it’s not just talent) 
•  How reputation is built—and why it matters more than you think 
•  The qualities that actually get you rehired 
•  The challenge of being both an artist and your own business 
•  What to do when you feel stuck, uncertain, or behind 
•  How to stay visible and relevant in the industry 
•  Why refining your materials can change how casting sees you 
•  How to use the “gap” as a period of growth, not failure 
•  The role of side hustles in supporting a sustainable career 

Key Takeaway

You’re not just trying to get work—you’re building a reputation.

And that reputation is built through:

•  how you show up 
•  how you collaborate 
•  how consistently you perform 
•  and how you handle the moments in between 

Consistent work isn’t immediate.
 It’s earned through trust over time.

Reflection Prompt

Ask yourself:

•  How am I showing up in every rehearsal, show, and interaction?

Join the Conversation

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another artist who’s navigating the in-between.

And connect with the podcast here:
 👉 Follow on Instagram: @theartistbehindtheart

Thanks so much for listening to The Artist Behind the Art.
This podcast exists to support performers in building sustainable, aligned, and castable careers — beyond just the skills.

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Most of the time, it’s not a complete overhaul.
 It’s a few missing tools and a few shifts in how you’re approaching the process.

That’s what takes you from second-guessing your work
 to becoming the artist who is ready to go for the opportunities you actually want.

If that resonates, I’d love to connect.

📩 Email me at jennifer@aretementorship.com

📲 Or DM me on Instagram at The Artist Behind the Art

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Remember — you already have what it takes.
 The question is: are you ready to prove it to yourself?

Until next time — show up big and own the stage.

Transcript

Speaker 2 0:01

Welcome to the Artist Behind the Art, the podcast that lists the curtain on what it takes to thrive as a professional performer. I'm your host, Jennifer Pierce, artist coach, creative strategist, and lifelong advocate for performers who are ready to go from unsure to unforgettable. This is where the gatekeeping ends and your journey to thriving in the industry begins. Let's dive in.

Speaker 0:31

So we've all heard it, you have to get through the 100 nos before you get to the first. Yes. And getting that first contract is a huge milestone, but no one talks about what happens. After the first. Yes. So you've gone away, you've had a fantastic contract. And then there's the gap between contracts and this is where as an artist, you start questioning everything. So today is all about. Trusting the process and the why and the truth process and why the process is also going to feel like you are on a tilter world and what you can do during the gap of the process to get on the other side even stronger. And the thoughts that I remember having and are just so common are, am I good enough? Are my materials strong? Did I send too many emails or not enough? And the reality is you can be doing everything right and you're going to still find yourself in the gap at some point in your career. And the truth about consistent work as it's not just talent based, but. It is built through time, reputation, and relationships. And what's actually happening in the beginning stages of your career is you're not just trying to get work. You are building your reputation and your reputation is what leads to consistent work. And a few things to keep in mind as you go through every contract is to make sure that you think about how your reputation is built and are you on time and are you prepared and are you consistent because how you show up. Really speaks to who you are as a person and ultimately in the market that is saturated. People want to work with artists that are just not a hassle to work with. And within that also is the preparedness, is your ability to deliver your act. So can you perform it reliably, repeatedly, and with quality, not just once, but every show. The directors and casting are impressed with how you can show up and your consistency is amazing, and not even that, that it keeps getting better because with every show is the opportunity to tweak and connect even more. So this reputation of building how you show up and how your act shows up is so important. And with every contract you also have. The ability to develop so many different qualities, and these are the qualities that are going to definitely be the things that are gonna get you hired back. And those are, are you a strong collaborator when you come up to a challenge within a show load? In process? Are you the person that is there offering the solutions and. Able to just kind of roll with the punches. Do you take direction well and can you contribute without ego? And just having the solution and letting it just exist. So those things are just some of the things that help your reputation just start proceeding you. And the big thing also within this reputation factor is can people live with you? Can they travel with you and can they trust you because you are a little family when you are in a cast. And that ability to play well and live well with others, uh, for people, with people around them for months is so important. Because having someone that. You can trust on a contract that is a dime to a dozen, and it it's being one of those people that someone says is an amazing artist, but that you don't cause any drama. That is truly just an amazing quality to have someone say about you to casting or to a choreographer, because everyone wants to work with the person that is not only talented, but drama free. So also in the reputation factor is your ability to adapt. So something goes wrong, what do you do? Do you shut down or are you there? And just the person that sees the prop on the wrong side of the stage and runs it to the other side, just taking that ownership really, really is one of those things that you can't build that in one contract. All of these things are just built over time and, and just the process can suck. And in the beginning you're gonna feel like you're not getting more work. But with every opportunity, what's happening is people are learning who you are, that they can trust you, that you can be relied upon. And at the end. Would they hire you again? And this is the process that takes time and you do everything right and you can still be waiting. So really make sure that. In any opportunity that you remember the ever rehearsal, every show and every interaction is part of your reputation being built. And this goes with your interaction, not only with your cast, but with your crew and your casting teams, because they're gonna remember how you show up. And even at the end of the contract, that email that. You send that says, thank you so much for the opportunity. I had an amazing time and would love any feedback that you have for me to be able to select, be selected for the next opportunity. If you can get that response of things that you can work on that gives you the opportunity to work on those things and then send another follow up saying, here are the things that I worked on. Thank you so much for the feedback, and I look forward to a forward opportunity.

Speaker 3 7:14

Quick pause. If you're listening to this and it's resonating, I would love to hear from you. Head over to my latest post on Instagram at the Artist Behind the Art, and let me know what do you wanna hear more about on the podcast? I'd love to hear what you're navigating right now in your career in training. Or in act creation. I read every message and your feedback truly helps shape these conversations so they can serve you at the highest level. Can't wait to hear from you.

7:45

I.

Speaker 7:47

So remember, reputation is everything, but it takes that consistency and time. So the next component is the identity challenge, and I think one of the hardest parts of a circus arts career. You are both an employee at times, but you're also your own brand. So we go from this part of trusting the process of the truth and the truth is the reputation, and then the process can feel like you're on a tilter world because one moment you are the employee on the contract and you are told where to go. When to you know what to wear and what time and where to stand on stage. And then in the next breath you can come home, be doing gig work and now you are promoting yourself and you are having to be adaptable and show ownership over your product and over contracts. And I think this identity challenge of. That line between, okay, now I am working for someone and yielding to what they want me to do. And that showing up now as the person that is creating the art and is helping the show go completely flawless is one of those things that I think can really throw artists for a whirl. And, but I also think it's one of those things that. Gives us the ability to really show our creative side, because when you have more gig work, then you're able to create more and really show what is possible. So all of these things just give you more opportunity to develop you as an artist, but it doesn't make the process. Any less painful or confusing or feeling like you are on that tilter whirl because the process of getting work, yo-yos of sending out all of the different casting requirements and then the waiting, and then you're doing the process of going between gig work and hoping that that long term contract is coming in and all of these things can really lead to you just feeling. Kind of unsettled of what is the right direction, and I think to keep in mind is that there is no wrong, and that loving the process of each performance opportunity is what is the really important aspect and loving the opportunity to. Connect with others and, and meet different artists. These are all the opportunities that we need to live for as much as the opportunity to be on stage. Now, the last part of the trusting the process is making sure that. What do you do in the gap so that that process of getting to the other side is something that is planned and that you are able to make sure that these periods of time that you make them normal. And they are necessary because of the opportunities that you can create for yourself. Because these are the times that you get to have recovery for your body and you get to reset your mind and your direction. And I think the biggest thing is in these times, make sure that. You have support because even within the normal and the necessary, it can feel really awful and there can be doubt in your direction and there's frustration in, you know, why aren't you hearing back from somebody? And the uncertainty that is in the gap of time between the submission to when you think you might hear something is really, really. The part that is just so uncomfortable. So what to do in the gap? You have to keep putting yourself out there. And some of those ways that you can do is to really stay connected in the industry. And this looks like going and seeing shows and. You meet artists on your contracts, go and visit and, and see where they are performing and really make sure that you are staying on the forefront of what is exciting and new in the industry. I. And staying visible is so important because then casting and directors are still getting the opportunity to see you or choreographers that are maybe, uh, at a location and they are working on a workshop. So them seeing you is the part of helping getting yourself out there. Another thing to do as far as some actionable items is to refine your materials. Revisit your submissions. This gives you the opportunity if you are, you can ask if something represents you. You can look at your profile and see does it need to be updated? And you can try a new angle, a different narrative, and, and sometimes casting just needs to see you in fresh. Eyes and these give you the opportunity to really take a step back and look at how are you putting yourself out there? How are you changed by the last contract you were a part of, and does that represent you well? And if it doesn't. Use that gap of time to really make something fresh and new, and you can really use the opportunity to go train somewhere new and see a new space, a new coach, and get new perspective and feedback because this is gonna help you unlock a new level of performance and instead of this downtime. It's not something that is bad anymore. It's now development time and you're able to focus on your skill refinement, your artistic growth, and expanding your range, which is really expanding your ability to really contribute on the next level. So think about that gap time of. How can it be of use to the development of your career? And once you start kind of looking at from that perspective, it becomes an exciting time where you are able to represent yourself in a completely different way. And the last way to utilize your gap is to find a side hustle and not a career distraction, but something that is more of a support system. So ask, what could I do on tour? And what supports my lifestyle and goals. Sometimes this might be creating workshop opportunities when you are traveling and you have, let's say, some downtime in between weeks where. You maybe don't have a show and you are, there's a few weeks that the shows are down, and now you have these different opportunities that you can offer to studios that are then going to be able to be your support system, not only financially, but mentally and emotionally. And these are gonna be the things that are going to support you in your financial, mental, and creative expansion. And I find when you can find some side hustles that really support the way you make choices in life, you all of a sudden don't feel like you are at any lack any time. You almost feel like, wow, I have to really make choices that are going to align with. Where I want to go, instead of feeling that you are stuck. So trust the process. You are not behind. You know how to do it the right way, and this is part of the path and you have to keep showing up. Refining and connecting. And truly, the artists that have the most sustainable careers are the one who not only trust the process, but can learn to love the process and make it work for them. Because there are so many different ways to. Connect and thrive in the gap and grow yourself and know that the next opportunity is around the corner and you are the one that can create that, and really the next opportunity can be the next thing that's gonna catapult your career. So there's not as much time in that gap.

Speaker 4 17:29

Thank you so much for listening and for spending time investing in your career. If this episode resonated with you, I would love if you would share it with a friend or another artist who you know, and if you haven't already, please take a moment to leave a review. It truly helps the podcast reach more artists who need these conversations. Thank you for listening, and remember, you already have what it takes. Now it's time to prove it. Until next time, show up big and own the stage.