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Why I am probably not the best ... Wednesday, 08-Jul-98 01:27:13
... person to answer this question. The short answer is that I never really had to go through the normal agency-seeking process, and to what extent I did have to go through it, I went through it in L.A., so as Lauri well points out, the experience might not translate out well to smaller markets. So, here's some random speculation on my part. The teaser letter is, in theory, at least, interesting. I suppose that the theory would be to get some name recognition and create some possible interest before revealing what you have to offer -- same principal in advertising. Not that it translates, but here's what would happen in L.A. ... you would have the agent thinking, "My God, lady ... you were lucky to have my assistant pass me something in the first place .. what on earth makes you think that I will take the time to open a second thing from you?" As for the follow up call? Yes, and no. There are pros and cons to both. There are people that feel that "Hey, if they were not interested enough to call me off my submission, then we're really off to a bad start in this relationship, and I don't think that they'll be rushing to call me if I do go with them." Then, there is the school of thought that until you have succeeded in getting in their faces once, you really don't know if they might be actively interested at all. Both opinions are valid, and I have seen the following of both lines of thought work in L.A. As for "when to resubmit" presuming it translates to your area -- no idea whether it would or not -- both the "more credits" and "more time" idea work just fine. I think that a combination of both more credits *and more time is usually the way to go. Goodness knows that many things, like training, or student films, or other things that siginificanntly improve a resume can change the balance of things, but I might suggest also that even if you were to book several huge things the week after getting rejected (or not reponded to) that a "quick re-apply" might not be the best thing to do, since there is already a "'no' momentum established." If you have turned somebody down for a date on "day one," even if they have changed a lot of significant things for the better if asked again in the week following, you would probably turn them down no matter what if they were to ask a mere couple weeks or month later. It's the momentum thing. So how long should you wait? Somewhat until they've forgotten that you ever submitted ... probably. They've probably forgotten in 90 days ... but personally, in L.A., were I pursuing agenting this way, I certainly doubt that I would submit more often than every six months, and yes, I would keep detailed records of my past submissions, including what had been on the resume when I submitted. Why did I not have to go through the process? I got "lucky" in a way that is time honored and tested. A few years back, only for about 3 weeks, I was dating a blond fluff-muffin that I met on the set of "The Nanny" (I have no concerns that she's reading this, since I am sure that turning on a computer would prove to be far more of a challenge than she's capable of). She was represented at the time, and maybe I did prompt it, but she asked me if I would like her to put in a call to her agency to get an appointment set up. She did, I went in, did the interview bit, got an offer of representation, took it ... and I have been with the same agency every since. The point is that agencies take the recommendations of their actors very seriously on who to see. Should this gal have put in the call? Hell no. She did not know for a fact that I could act my way out of a paper bag, yet she called the agency for me. Oh well. : ) Will I do the same for my fellow actors? Hell no. I have had over the years maybe 300 requests to put in a call to my agency, and I've never done it. A portion of them have been talented enough for me to call, but don't have the work ethic. A portion have been hard workers, but not very talented. For me to put in a call like that, I am putting my butt on my line with my agency. If that person screws up, they're screwing me too. Also, I have an obligation to the person, and if my agency did not work out and get them out if I felt that they deserved it, I would feel bad. So just because I got lucky in this way and had our friendly neighborhood fluff-muffin basically get me in the door, does not mean that I am going to selflessly reciprocate unless I see somebody who is both amazingly hard working, and amazing talented, and amazingly loyal, all in one package? There's just too much riding on it to do anything but that. I'll wait to see if it ever happens. So you might consider seeing if you can sneek out a reference from a represented friend in a position to request something for their agency, because I imagine that works in all cities. As for other recommendations, just too hard to tell if it translates at all to smaller markets. best, sterling Wolfesden Sterling Wolfe - The Rambling Man |
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