Let’s face it: When you are standing in, you might feel like the lowest person on the totem pole.

You might think everyone around you has years and years of professional experience, and you — well — are just trying to figure out how to do your job.

When you have a crew member telling you to move a little one way or the other, and maybe you overdo it, or move the wrong direction, a slew of thoughts may rush through your head.

The first of which might be: “I’m sorry!”

… as if you’ve done something wrong.

And it doesn’t help that this crew member appears to have much more professional set experience than you, and his or her telling you to move is said with just a bit of gruffness or contempt.

Well.

Ha.

The truth is, there are some fantastic, professional crew members who will make you feel wonderful on set, and who are exceptionally clear in giving directions.

And not all crew members have the greatest personalities. Some might be downright rude.

And just because they are rude doesn’t mean you are an inept stand-in.

Or that you need to apologize.

Sometimes the fault is the crew member, no matter how bad they may try to make you feel.

So the next time you’re standing in on set, pretend you’re just as much of a professional as everyone else on set.

Avoid letting yourself think you are anything less than an equal.

And if a crew member is rude to you, bossy to you, or if you legitimately make a mistake …

It’s no big deal.

You’re only human.

And you’re doing the 100% best you can.

And you can’t do any better than that …

… so you can’t be faulted.

Any faulting you is not a sign of your weakness — it’s a sign of theirs.

Never apologize.

(Or at least choose your apologies wisely.)

It’ll do wonders to your self-esteem on the job, and help you better see how inappropriate it is to call you out, put you down, or make you feel bad.

Avoid letting that crew member’s personality make you emotionally spiral.

Sometimes, it’s just not you. It’s they.

How do you handle crew members with “personality disorders”? Rude crew? Post your advice in the comments below!