04.06.07
Where To Find A Good Acting Agent
This is one of the most difficult things for a beginning actor/actress - finding the right acting agent. Which agent can you trust? Which agent is the best? Which agent will work with you?
First point, if an agent want to charge you a fee to list you then listen to the details, decline and walk out. These ‘agencies’ live by the money young hopefuls pay them for ‘representation’, good agencies will make enough money finding you work to survive without charging you a joining fee.
Agencies that advertise in the Newspaper employment section fall into the catagory of the above charlatans and snake oil sellers, do not go there.
The best way is by word of mouth. Ask your friends who are acting who they recommend, if you do not have any acting friends then you need to step back and join an acting group and get some skills up first and meet some people.
If you are not very experienced as an actor / actress then you could list with Extras Agencies too. Extras are the people who work in the backgrounds of movies, they are the crowds, the people walking past, the people sitting drinking coffee behind the actors. Working as an extra can help you gain that initial experience, you get to work a lot more and you do not go to castings (also they do not pay so much) but there are many professional extras who make a reasonable living out of this chosen profession. The other benefit is the contacts you can make.
Once you have some agents when you go to auditions and castings always talk with the other aspiring actors there ask about their agent and get details.
Stick with the agents who took you on originally but always keep a look out for new ones. Overtime you will realise which agents are good for you and you can stop calling the others.
If an agent asks for an exclusive agreement to represent you this means one of two things. Either they are very good or they are bad. Average agencies do not ask for this. Obviously good agencies do this as they can negotiate a higher price if you are available only through them and they have a reputation for quality people. Bad agencies do this because they suck and no one would stay with them unless they tricked the talent into some sort of legal agreement. So be careful.
Jessica said,
April 30, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I wanted to know if you have a list of agents that are more suitable for begininng actors, but have a credible reputation.
CONAN SAYS:
Hi Jessica, you need to find Agents in your area, and make relationships with them, as per the article. I know agents in places I have worked previously but none outside those areas.