Getting an Agent to Represent Your Talent

Written by Mike Fenward

Thursday, 17 December 2009 15:11

by MikeFenward

In order to further your career as an actor, you must consider a Talent Agent. Having talent agency representation will benefit you no matter what your chosen field is. They will ensure you get noticed by industry professionals and will book work for you while you focus on other aspects of your career. Agents are perhaps the most valuable tool you can have, but they can be difficult to come by. Typically, an agent will only consider representing you if you're marketable and you have experience to prove yourself. There are some things to consider when looking for representation.

Perhaps the most important step in this process is ensuring you have current headshots. You will not get anywhere with old or outdated material, even if they're look better than your current photographs. You're selling yourself, not your photographer or make-up artist. If your headshots differ greatly from how you look, an agency will be less likely to take you on. A good timeframe to keep in mind would be a year to eighteen months before you update your photographs if you can afford them. You don't need to get new headshots every month! The same can be said for your reel. Make sure it's as up to date as it can be. You want as much material as you can to sell yourself.

Speaking of headshots, make sure yours are simple and to the point. Contrary to popular belief, loud or eye-popping headshots don't mean more work. If your photographer wants to experiment with focus, backgrounds, loud colors, or anything else unorthodox, walk away! You are the focus of your headshots. Do not let a photographer experiment with crazy angles or crazy costumes. You want agents to remember you, not what you're wearing or the exotic car in the background. These are not pictures you have on your mantle! These are often the only link you have with various agencies, so make sure they're simple and refined. If your photographer won't work with you, find one that will.

Unless you're trying to break into every field in the industry, make sure you select an agent that specializes in your chosen field. If you want to act in films, seek out a film agent. The same goes for television, commercials, modeling, et cetera. Branching out might net you more work but it will limit your growth as an actor. Keeping your focus on one field will enable faster development and make you better at your craft. That, in turn, leads to more work.

Keep in mind this one extremely important tip: never, ever pay up front for representation! In most all cases, agents will never ask for an upfront fee or payment. They take a percentage of what you earn as their pay. The more work you do, the more they get paid, so they will always actively seek work for you. If you pay up front, you run the risk of paying for nothing. If your agent doesn't find work for you, then you've wasted your money. While we're on the subject of pay, make sure you read the contract before you sign it. Take in the fine print, give it some serious thought, and don't take the first offer given to you. Negotiate, otherwise it might bite you in the end.

Do not take shortcuts and don't paint yourself into a corner. Being represented can make or break your career, so don't settle for anything you're uncomfortable with. TalentPostings.com can be a great way to get immediate exposure to talent agencies and talent industry representatives, which is great for people starting out. Best of luck!

About the Author:

If you already possess acting ability, try Casting Calls USA for a list of available jobs. To gain exposure to industry pros, you MUST create a Talent Profile on TalentPostings.com.