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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 apart of
that circle then it makes
life a little easier for
you.
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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.
Whatever happens don’t give up.
Since agents are people too you
must also understand that there
are good and bad ones. I’ve
personally come across a couple
who are horrible and you’d be
better off going it alone. On
the other hand there are many
who can get you in the door if
you manage to get their
attention. Industry networking
events and parties are a great
way to come in contact with
them. If you have a talent for
networking then I would suggest
booking your schedule with as
many of these functions as
possible. The Internet has
really been a boom for actors
and you should find a wealth of
networking events in your local
area on line. If you apply just
these few tips and don’t become
discouraged I’m sure you’ll meet
with much success!
For the latest
industry information visit us at
http://www.rkacinemasociety.com
ww.TalentInternet.com
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