Agents / Casting Agencies

HOW TO GET AN AGENT:

Basic Tips for Actors.
by: Ronald K. Armstrong

It is not easy getting an agent but it is almost necessary if you want to work in this business. There are no easy methods to secure one; rather, it takes hard work and lot of tenacity. The irony of it all is that agents want established actors yet to really get established you may need the help of a talent agent. Although trade publications such as Backstage are a good source of job opportunities the real work comes through an agent. They usually keep a circle of clients to whom they channel out the work to first. If you are a part of that circle then it makes life a little easier for you.

Through the years I’ve seen young actors trying to achieve their goals make simple little errors which could have been avoided. Most don’t have a mentor to help them through the difficulties and thus have to feel around in the dark. Here are some basic tips to help you out.

Firstly, treat your career like your own personal business. Understand that you are in a highly competitive industry that requires a lot of personal investment on your part.

As such, the numbers game of sending out a ton of your headshots and resumes to talent agencies in hopes of landing one isn’t enough. Agents get hundreds of photos a day and your headshot is just one in a pile many. One of the things that a working actor must have in his or her arsenal is a good demo reel. You should have a number of copies that can be dispensed at will. A professional reel could cost anywhere from $50 to $250 to produce depending upon what you want. The duplication rate is somewhat modest. Next, you should be in some type of show or production. This gives you exposure and a chance to hone your skills.

Now with these things firmly in place begin the process of sending your photos and resumes out to talent agents. You can find a listing of them in The Ross Report or by going to www.rkacinemasociety.com. Make sure you understand the different unions and exactly which agent deals with a particular union. If you are not part of SAG and send your material to a SAG agent then you may have just wasted your money. As stated before since agents get a lot of headshots on a daily basis you’ll need to make follow-ups. Set aside some time each week specifically for this purpose. Some agents don’t like to receive phone calls but there are some that do. The key is to build a rapport with the agent. Most times you won’t get to speak with them directly only with their secretaries. Now listen up because this is important. Do not treat the secretary like a secretary! In fact make a conscious effort to get to know him or her while treating them with the utmost respect and courtesy. The reason for this is because that secretary is your immediate connection to the agent - a sort of gate keeper. Rest assured that if they do not like you, or consider you annoying, you may never get pass them. In soliciting representation you should invite the agent via phone call or by postcard to your show. If they are unwilling or unable to come send them a video copy of the performance highlighting your work. If possible, hand delivery it. Then make another follow-up call. Remember, the idea here is to make a lasting impression. Some actors have gone as far as to send an agent a headshot a week keeping them appraised of their progress. If you can afford this then by all means go for it.

Another important thing here is to be professional. Always seem enthusiastic and positive in the presence of an agent no matter if they are rude to you. If they are somewhat unpleasant don’t take it personal. There are more fish in the sea so there is no need to dwell on a bad meeting. Agents are not only looking for someone talented to work with but someone who has a great personality and is hungry. If you are lackluster in your approach to your craft then why should an agent take a chance with you. However, if you are highly motivated and good to work with then someone might take a chance. I’ve seen so many actors blow it because of an ego trip or lack of commitment. Agents can smell this a mile away. Unfortunately actors are notorious for being flaky and emotionally unstable. If this is you then, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE IN THIS INDUSTRY!

Keep in mind that not all agents deal with your particular type. Some deal strictly with young children, others specialize in ethnic actors and so forth. There are also agents who deal with commercials and/or feature films. Pay particular attention to this fact when sending out your material. And don’t feel bad if you are told you’re not the right type. Many of these agencies work with major studios that call for a particular look. Low and behold you may not have that look of the moment. This doesn’t mean that you should go out and get plastic surgery but rather find another agent who is handling your look. Trust me there are many that do.

Now that you know how to get yourself an agent you will need to meet with one. Here are a few tips on making your first impression a great one.

Meeting with an Agent

By:TonyMartinez/TalentAgent

Congratulations! You did it. You managed to get my attention and I’ve agreed to take a meeting.

That means you get one shot to convince me that my career as an agent cannot continue unless your name is on my list.

The process is simple. First, I always meet one on one with potential clients. This gives me a chance to really get to know the person. If that goes well, I ask the actor to come back and meet the other agents. It’s essential that everyone be in agreement. One agent should never try to convince the others to sign someone.

And that’s basically it. The only problem is actors tend to be their own worst enemy. Believe it or not, actors seeking representation are always convincing me NOT to sign them. Pretty depressing, right?

I’m always amazed by how much effort actors put into getting a meeting with me but none of you ever know how to behave once you’re actually in my office.

Before we tackle this subject, let’s make something clear. I want to like you. It’s my job to sign actors and if you’re sitting in my office, that means you did something right. Maybe I noticed your submission. Maybe someone referred you. Or maybe I saw your work in a showcase. Whatever it was, something positive happened to get your butt into that chair. So don’t turn a positive into a negative. You’ve got 15 minutes to make an impression. That’s 900 seconds. You have to use that time wisely.

So how should you behave in my office? Well, think of it this way. Meeting with an agent is like a first date. You’ve got two people in a room. They’re sizing each other up. And they’re both wondering if it’s going to go any further.

Now ask yourself this: what’s the worst thing you can do on a first date?

Answer: Talk about yourself.

There’s nothing worse than being stuck on a date with someone who spends the whole night going on and on about themselves. It’s the same thing in a meeting. I tend to tune out actors who waste their time by doing a non-stop monologue about who they are and what they want.

So don’t play into the stereotype of the narcissistic, self-involved actor. It’s dull. It’s boring. And worst of all, it doesn’t give me a chance to really get to know you.

Instead, walk into that office and create an atmosphere where you can both get to know each other as people. I have to forget that you’re an actor seeking representation. That’s boring. Instead, I need to see you as an individual. I have to get a sense of who you really are outside the world of show business.

How do you do this? Easy. Try to have a normal conversation. Maybe there’s something in my office that catches your eye. Or maybe you just saw a great movie. Whatever. The idea is to get into a give and take situation where you’re talking about anything but acting. This will give me a chance to get to know the real you.

I once met with a young lady who had “tarot card reader” listed on her resume under Special Skills. It just so happens that I love anything having to do with the occult. So we started talking about it and the next thing you know, we’re both sitting on the floor and she’s giving me a reading. As a result, we really got to know each other and I ended up representing her for many years.

Now that’s what I call a good meeting.

Remember – it’s easy for an agent to pass on an actor seeking representation. We do it every day. But saying no becomes just a little bit harder when we’ve spent 15 minutes getting to know you as a human being. And that might just be enough to get you signed as a client.

So now that you've gotten a good idea on what you are up against, go out and get yourself an agent. Good Luck!

Louisiana Entertainment Association

Founded by: Your Own Production, Inc.