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How to Deal with the Post-Show Slump


February 26, 2024

The post-show (or post-gig) letdown can be intense, especially if you don’t have more acting work lined up. In my experience, few actors, regardless of their level of experience, are immune to the “what if I never book again” doubts that like to sneak into our brains during periods of unemployment. If you’re struggling with a post-show slump, here are some things to keep in mind.

Don’t discount the physical aspect. Whether you’re coming off a six-week run or just wrapped a feature film, you’ve likely been physically pushing yourself. Your sleep schedule has likely been disrupted and you’ve been running on fumes. For those of us who also have to maintain a day job, juggling can make for even longer days and a huge demand for focus.

Keeping up that kind of schedule and output (emotional and physical) takes a toll. When the project is over, an adrenaline crash is almost inevitable. Don’t try to push past it. Attend to your body’s basic needs: rest, nourishment, hydration. You have to recharge and refuel, or you’re headed straight for burnout.

What does rest look like?

A couple of days of sleeping in won’t do it. You have to allow yourself periods of rest. Return your body and mind to equilibrium.

This will, of course, look different for different people. A return to routine often helps. For the more introverted, some social isolation might be needed. To truly take advantage of rest, you can’t spend it anxiously thinking about all the resumes you have to send out, the new headshots you need, etc. You have to fully engage. Let your body set the pace, rather than your expectations. You’ll be more productive in the long run.

Recharge

Coming out of a post-show dip requires more than just physical rest. “Me time,” and doing things that are unrelated to work are important. You’ve just expended a lot of focus and energy, now you need to allow yourself to absorb. So many of us deny ourselves the things that please us, deeming them frivolous, but mental play is necessary for creative output.

Recharging can happen on multiple fronts! Make sure you’re recharging both as a person and as an artist. While there might be some overlap in that Venn Diagram, it’s important to attend to each. Make sure you’re doing things that are just for you, that bring you pleasure and strength outside of the acting world. This will make sure that when you’re launching back into work, it’s from a balanced and fulfilled space.

Part two is to recharge as an artist. After long periods of output, you might need to touch base with the parts of the industry that inspire you. Go see shows that excite you, and engage with art that reminds you why you got into acting in the first place. If you go from gig to gig without recharging artistically along the way, it can start to feel like a hamster wheel.

Don’t let the momentum die

Part of coming out of the post-show slump is diving back in. Rest and recharging are important, but waiting too long can make jumping back on the horse tough. If you’re starting to feel intimidated or rusty, start small. Go on some low-stakes auditions, get back into class, workshop with peers, whatever gets the gears moving for you.

Post-show slumps can be a bummer, but they do not predict future work (or lack thereof). They have a big physiological component, and can be easier to manage once you’re meeting your physical, mental and emotional needs. Remember that peaks and valleys are all part of the actor’s journey. If you’re having a dip, it probably means you just had a job that was challenging or important to you, and that’s a good problem to have.

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