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How to Find a Talent Agent
by Cathy McKim
First, decide what you want in an agent. Consider how strong your
resume is, what kind of experience you have, whether you are a
union member, whether you have had an agent before, and what kind
of work you want to do. You must look realistically at yourself,
your ambitions, your talents, and decide what kind of agent you
need at this stage in your career. Few actors spend their entire
professional life with one agent.
Agencies can be categorized in many ways: do they represent clients
for extra work, or for actor and principal roles; do they promote
clients for union or non-union work; are there many agents, or only
one or two; does the agency maintain a large or a small roster;
does the agent pay close attention to each client's career, or act
as a booking agent; do they represent established, experienced
actors, or develop new talent. Some of this can be found in the
listings in this book. The rest you must learn from the agent and
others in the industry.
Don't give in to desperation. While many kinds of work can only be
accessed through an agent, there are projects that are available to
the unrepresented actor who works at self-promotion. Signing with
an agent is a major step in the development of your career. Make
sure that the agent is right for you. Committing yourself to the
wrong agent out of panic may place you in a worse situation than
when you had no agent at all.
In order to get what you want in an agent, you must also be able to
offer an agent what they want in a client. Compromises may be
necessary, particularly in the early stages of your career.
However, once the negotiations are over and you have a mutually
satisfactory agreement with your agent, keep in mind that you are
the client; you have hired the agent to perform services on your
behalf.
Getting a good agent is not easy. There are many things you can do
to improve your chances. Take classes to improve your skills and
make contacts; do whatever you can to gain experience: community
theatre, fringe theatre, student films & videos, non-union work,
co-op productions; create your own projects; develop your craft at
every opportunity. Keep in contact with receptive agents; invite
them to see you in theatre projects you've developed.
Once you have an agent, don't expect your agent to make it happen
for you while you sit back and collect cheques. Keep in touch with
your agent, and continue to develop your skills. Your agent may be
able to suggest ways to do this that you have not yet considered.
Work with your agent to improve your chances and build your future.
From "An Actor's Guide to Agencies in Toronto,"
published by Moonlighters Publishing Inc. Copyright © Moonlighters Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
Used with permission of the author. Not to be reproduced or distributed by any means without this copyright notice.
email:moonpeg@inforamp.net
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