What does an agent do?
An agent's job, basically, is to be on top of what's being casted at that point in time, in order to get auditions for his clients. Agents recieve daily notices called "breakdowns". These are descriptions of the characters that need to be cast in the new TV shows and movies that are in development. Your agent will read through these descriptions, and if you fit it, he will submit your picture and resume to the casting director. If the casting director wants to see you, they will call your agent to set up a time for you to come in and audition.
Do you need an agent?
Eventually, you will have to get an agent. Information about auditions is usually kept from the general public, so you will need an agent to access it. Also, having an agent gives you credibility and producers will be more willing to work with you because they are protected in some ways if you don't do your job.
However, if you are just starting out and have no experience at all, you'll want to build up your resume by taking some classes and doing some theatre before you go looking for an agent.
Also, if you live in a small town, don't bother getting an agent. Anything you can do you will be able to do on your own and there's no sense in paying an agent if you don't have to.
How much is an agent paid?
First of all, you NEVER pay an agent to represent you. Ever. If they ask for money up front, run fast and run far! Agents only get paid when you get paid, and it's only 10% in the States and 15% in Canada.
When should you look for an agent?
Once you've done a couple of plays (or, if you're lucky, film or TV roles) and have taken some classes, you can start looking for an agent. It's not essential to have a decent resume when you're looking for an agent, but it's certainly going to help a lot - the more experience you have, the better your chances are of having an agent want to sign you. For ideas on how to gain experience, check out the Gaining Experience section.
What can you do if you don't have an agent?
Some casting directors accept unsolicited submissions, so find their addresses (try the phone book, other actors, the union, or books about casting directors) and send them a picture and resume. There's not a great chance that you'll be cast like that, but there's still a chance, so it's worth a shot.
Keep an eye on the newspaper, radio, and TV for word on what's filming in the area and if there are any open calls. Follow up any lead you find.
Get into theater - just call the ones in your area to find out about auditions. Once you're in a production, invite agents to come and see you!
Network with people - go to any parties, openings, and screenings that you can and talk to everyone. And volunteer at film festivals, fringe festivals, theater productions, anywhere - it's a great way to get involved. You never know when someone you meet might lead to an audition!
Can you get an agent in another city?
There are some agents that will represent out-of-town clients, but for the most part, you need to be in the same city as your agent.
How do you find an agent?
When you're first trying to find an agent, look under "Theatrical Agents" or "Talent Agents" in your phone book, check out websites like SAG's or ask fellow actors who they are represented by. There are also many directories that are published that list agents - examples are Reel West Digest in British Columbia and The Blue Book in LA.
How do you get an agent?
Once you find the name of an agency, send them your cover letter, resume, and photo (put your photo and resume back-to-back and staple them together once at the top in the center), and address it to a specific agent in the agency. If you have a demo reel, send that along too.
In your letter, let them know that you'll be calling them in about a week's time to talk about a possible meeting. Then make sure you do call them.
Making that call will likely be nervewracking, but trust me, they're used to getting calls like that and they won't think you're strange. Ask to speak to the agent you addressed your package to, refresh their memory by letting them know who you are and that you recently sent a package, and ask if it would be convenient for them to meet with you. Don't be surprised if they turn you down - chances are, they won't be interested. It's very hard to find an agent, since there are so many people pursuing the same thing. But, don't take it personally if they tell you they aren't interested in signing you at that time. You can always try again in 6 months or a year - things change. Sometimes, even if you're incredibly talented with a great look, an agent won't sign you simply because they already have someone like you. If that happens, try another agent! Keep at it, and eventually you'll find success.
If you'd rather not have to make a follow-up call, another thing you can do is simply enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard bearing the following information:
I understand you're busy, but please take the time to check one of the following:
Unfortunately, you are not interested because:
It's easy to fill out, and if they aren't interested, at least you'll know why, without having to call them. You're less likely to make any progress this way, but it might be a good place to start when you're just figuring out how things work.
What happens if the agents wants to interview you?
If an agent is interested and calls you in for an interview, you'll either be asked to read a scene that he/she gives you, or you're going to be asked to perform a 2-3 minute monologue. You should always have at least one monologue ready to go just in case. You can find these in libraries, on the Internet, or ask your drama coach. Have two ready if you can - one comedic and one dramatic, and chose them according to how comfortable you are with them. Don't chose a piece that you think the agent will like, but you find it difficult to do. You want to put your best foot forward and look professional. It's also better to choose pieces from theater rather than film or TV - your performance just isn't going to look as good if they've already seen Meryl Streep or Tom Hanks do that same monologue on screen!
What should you find out before the interview?
Find out - either through the internet, other actors, the unions, or wherever you can - the following things:
1) Is the agent franchised? That is, is the agent registered with the Screen Actors Guild? You can check this out by calling the union to request a list (See Links & Other Info for union addresses and websites) For Canadians, you can check with ACTRA.
2) Is the agency a good size, with only about 50 or so clients per agent in the agency? You don't want to get lost in a huge list of clients.
3) Do they represent any successful actors? You want to know if their clients are getting work. Try doing a search for the agency on the internet and see what names come up. On the other hand, you also don't want an agency that represents a slew of famous actors. Why? Because you'll get lost. Why would an agency spend time on you when they have Julia Roberts or Leonardo DiCaprio to make money off of?
4) Does the agency have a good reputation? If their name looks bad, so will yours. You want someone who is respected in the industry.
What can you expect at the interview?
Likely you'll start off by chatting, although some agents will have you read right away. He or she will probably give you a bit of feedback, and you'll discuss your career.
What questions might the agent ask?
1) What kind of experience do you have? Give him a few interesting highlights from your resume. Try and think of a couple of interesting stories related to what you've done, as opposed to just listing off your credits.
2) How do you see yourself as an actor? ie. girl-next-door, villian, quirky best friend, glamorous leading lady, nerd etc.
3) What type of roles are you looking for? Most people's instinct will be to say "Anything, just get me work!", but really stop and think about that. Are you willing to do nudity? Would you do a horror movie? Are you primarily a comedian? This is a great time to let him know what your limits, morals, and interests are.
4) What do you expect from an agent? This would be a good time to stress the fact that you're working as a team. You could say that you realize you have limited contacts on your own and that he'd be enhancing the networking you already do on your own.
5) What will you do to further your career? Let him know you plan on continuing to take classes and look for oportunities on your own.
What should you ask the agent?
You have to make sure that you like your agent and that you trust them to handle your career! At the interview, find out:
1) How many people of your age & sex do they represent? Do they look like you? People who would be going out for the same roles as you are called "conflicts". You shouldn't have any conflicts in the agency - if they already have a 26-year-old tall blond guy, and that's what you are, think twice about signing with the agent. You'll want someone who will be promoting you.
2) How often do they send people your age out on auditions? If you're in your 50s and his other 50-year-old clients haven't had an audition in months, you might want to check out a different agent.
3) How do they see you as an actor? If your agent has a different idea of what type of roles you could play than you do, it likely won't work to have him or her as your agent. However, you also need to consider that maybe you aren't seeing yourself how other people see you, so if his idea of who you could play and your idea differ, inquire about why he sees you that way. You might begin to see yourself in a new light, too.
4) How often do they like their clients to contact them to stay in touch? If an agent doesn't want you to call at all, that's not a good sign - it shows they're too busy to bother with your career. But, they also shouldn't have so much time on their hands that they want you to call daily. Usually you'll get an answer of "about once every week or two" or perhaps only when you have a specific question.
Also, you should observe the following things:
1)Is the agent enthusiastic about representing you? You need someone who's going to really work to get you ahead in your career. A word of warning, though: don't expect your agent to do all your work. You're still going to need to look for opportunities yourself.
2) Is the agent's office clean and organized? This says a lot about the agents! If it's a complete pigsty, you can pretty much guess that the agents aren't very. . . umm. . . motivated. However, if the agency is clean, you can tell that the agency takes pride in being presentable.
When will you know if they're interested in signing you?
Often they will let you know right there at the interview, but they may say they'll call you, in which case it could take a few days, or even a couple of weeks.
What if the agent wants you to take their classes?
Agents aren't allowed to *make* you take a class, especially one that they are running. Most often, it's a scam to get your money. You also can't be forced to use *their* photographer. An agent can recommend a course or photographer for you, but can't make you do anything. Be weary of any agency that requires its potential clients to take classes they offer.
What can you expect your agent to do for you?
Once you have an agent, it's not time to sit back and relax. An agent will submit you for auditions and then negotiate your contracts, but you still have to keep taking classes and networking to help build your own career. Remember, agents only get a small percentage of what you make, so they should only be expected to do a small percentage of the work. The rest is up to you.
How often should you call your agent?
This varies with each agent, as I mentioned before. Usually if you give them a call every couple of weeks to see how things are going (it's best to have some sort of news or a question for them), that's plenty.
What is the difference between an agent and a manager? In a nutshell, an agent's main job is to get you into auditions. A manager's job is everything else. Managers should have no more than 15 clients. They devote their time to giving their clients instructions on things, they introduce you to important people and can find you opportunities, as well. Basically, they're there to help you out with your career. How do you find a manager? Managers - good ones - are very hard to find. Anyone can be a manager, since there are no regluations for them. A lot of children have their parents act as their manager. You could use a family friend who is knowledgeable about the business, or you may meet one through a showcase of some sort, or perhaps someone will see you in a production and approach you. You can also look for names - one good resource is the National Conference of Personal Managers. What should you look for in a manager? When you do find a manager, there are some things you should look for: 1) Does he have no more than 15 clients? 2) Does he take no more than 15-25% of your earnings? Good managers usually won't, nor will they ask for money up front. 3) Has he been in the business for a few years? You'll want someone who's established. 4)Does he have solid connections with people in the industry? 5) Does he have one relatively well-know client? You need to know that he's good at his job! 6) Is his judgment solid and well-informed? You need to be able to trust your manager's choices and advice! Really be careful when it comes to managers. You don't want to end up finding out that your so-called manager skipped town with your life's earnings. Is it better to have an agent or a manager? An agent will probably get you more auditions, and they're safer since the reputable ones will be franchised. Managers don't have to belong to any sort of union - basically anyone can say they're a manager, so you have to be extra careful when selecting one. But, managers will generally spend more time with you personally and will introduce you to important people. They also have access to breakdowns and audition notices, but generally not as many as agents. Agents are easier to find since you can get list of them for almost any area. Managers usually have to find you, unless you want to use a parent or a friend as your manager. That's just fine, as long as they know the business and have connections. As far as commission goes, most agents will charge you around 15%, but managers can charge anywhere from 10-25%. So, do your research and choose whichever one suits you better. Most people start out with an agent and look into getting a manager later in their careers.
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