05.23.07
How To Get An Acting Agent
What Is An Acting Agent?
An acting agent in the carries out activities on behalf of you, the performer in return for payment, usually a percentage of what they make for you. The main role of an acting agent is to negotiate with employers about possible acting jobs on your behalf. An acting agent is responsible for getting acting auditions and jobs and fixing the terms and conditions for those acting jobs.
How Do I Get An Acting Agent?
If you’ve graduated from a good acting school, then there should have been acting agents invited to see your performance in the final year production to showcase yourself and other graduates.
You should contact acting agents upon graduation at the latest, I would recommend being on the books of some lower tier agents well before that to get some additional experience and pay.
Your local Actors Union can provide a list of acting agents in your area, if you have completed a recognised course with a reputable school this should be enough to get membership, otherwise you’ll have to get some work by working the lower tiers (extras / TVC’s, etc)
When first contacting acting agents, you should send them a letter requesting an appointment with the acting agent. Include a resume and photo of yourself. Then follow up the letter with a telephone call about 5 - 7 days later to organise to Go See the Actor Agent.
How Do I Choose An Acting Agent?
In choosing an acting agent you need to think about a few things:
*the type of acting work you want to do
*the size of the acting agency
*the reputation of the acting agent
*the agents personality and yours - do you match?
What To Discuss With My Acting Agent?
It is vital that when you engage an acting agent you both clearly understand each othersroles in the relationship.
From the start you should discuss:
*what tasks they will do
*what path you want your career to take
*what types of characters and roles you will be audtioning for
*if they want you to be solely represented by them, and what the advantages are for you
*commissions if you bring in work for them to negotiate
*whether they expect commissions for work you find and negotiate yourself
*what areas is the acting agent is authorized to represent you eg. only in live theatre, in Australia or overseas, etc.)
*what areas they are specialised or known for
*how long the agency will represent you
*any obligations of the required of you