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Published: Oct/Nov 2009 - Vol.1, Iss.1 of IAE Magazine
Copyright © 2009, N'Fluential Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
PAGE 3 of 4
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continued.....
agents, the best time to look for representation is during the summer hiatus, when
television casting is extremely slow because shows are in reruns. The worst time of
year to look for an agent is during pilot season, when TV casting is the busiest. Pilot
season begins in early January and could last for a period of 5 months before all the
dust from settles and theatrical agents are looking for new talent again.
Another way to meet agents is to do paid agent or industry showcases/workshops.
These usually involve preparing a scene or monologue and paying a company to let
you perform it for agents that they bring in. Many companies only charge in the
neighborhood of $40 per workshop, for the opportunity to audition and be seen by
reputable Casting Directors and agents. While many will argue that it's unethical a
SMALL percentage of actors have found success with launching their careers as a
result of these workshops. With workshops...CHOOSE WISELY!!
5. NETWORK
Finally, the most effective way to get an agency interview is to get a personal
referral. This is often through your acting coach. But it may also be through your
half-aunt’s brother-in-law’s college roommate’s daughter. You should explore all
possible leads and industry contacts. If a connection is tenuous, ask your potential
contact to take a brief informational interview with you. Take that person to coffee or
lunch, or ask them to take a short phone meeting so that you might pick their mind
about the biz. This is a lot more polite than calling someone whom you do not know,
or barely know, and asking them to pull strings for you. And this informational
interview, if played right, will lead to the sort of help that you need.
As you go about your networking, you must start a file of industry contacts. This is
so you can keep track of who you talked to and what you talked to them about, so
you don’t make a fool of yourself in case you meet them again. Also subscribe to
Dramalogue/Backstage, and buy the actors’ bible, The Working Actors’ Guide.
Keeping track of what’s going on in the industry will be key. It also couldn’t hurt to
read Variety or Hollywood Reporter every once in a while.
6. KNOCK’EM DEAD IN YOUR INTERVIEW
This part is pretty self-explanatory. When an agency calls you for an interview, it is
up to you to be on time, be delightfully charismatic, and to look like a million bucks.
Look like your photo, by the way, so they don’t say “who the hell is this joker?” when
you walk in the door. You will usually be asked to prepare a monologue. Get help on
your monologue from an acting coach to make sure you don’t suck. You will also be
asked to do a cold-reading, (which means that you will be asked to read a scene
that they give you “cold,” or unprepared). Finally, be prepared with some interesting,
funny stories about your background so you can charm their pants off and appear
to be extemporaneously witty.
Don’t forget that the interview is your chance to interview the agent, as well. Ask
them how many clients they have, and what jobs those clients are doing. How many
actors of your type do they represent? What do they see as your type, and how will
they be submitting you? What do they expect you to do at your end of the
relationship? When and how should you contact them with questions and concerns?
What do they think of your current photo? (By the way, they won’t like it — every
agent makes you get new photos, but beware the agent who only wants you to use a
specific photographer as this is a red flag of the shady, unethical kickback situation.
Union franchised agents should give you a choice of recommended photographers.)
Does the agency have any other recommendations for you in terms of image and
career development?
Copyright © 2009, N'Fluential Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
PAGE 3 of 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
continued.....
agents, the best time to look for representation is during the summer hiatus, when
television casting is extremely slow because shows are in reruns. The worst time of
year to look for an agent is during pilot season, when TV casting is the busiest. Pilot
season begins in early January and could last for a period of 5 months before all the
dust from settles and theatrical agents are looking for new talent again.
Another way to meet agents is to do paid agent or industry showcases/workshops.
These usually involve preparing a scene or monologue and paying a company to let
you perform it for agents that they bring in. Many companies only charge in the
neighborhood of $40 per workshop, for the opportunity to audition and be seen by
reputable Casting Directors and agents. While many will argue that it's unethical a
SMALL percentage of actors have found success with launching their careers as a
result of these workshops. With workshops...CHOOSE WISELY!!
5. NETWORK
Finally, the most effective way to get an agency interview is to get a personal
referral. This is often through your acting coach. But it may also be through your
half-aunt’s brother-in-law’s college roommate’s daughter. You should explore all
possible leads and industry contacts. If a connection is tenuous, ask your potential
contact to take a brief informational interview with you. Take that person to coffee or
lunch, or ask them to take a short phone meeting so that you might pick their mind
about the biz. This is a lot more polite than calling someone whom you do not know,
or barely know, and asking them to pull strings for you. And this informational
interview, if played right, will lead to the sort of help that you need.
As you go about your networking, you must start a file of industry contacts. This is
so you can keep track of who you talked to and what you talked to them about, so
you don’t make a fool of yourself in case you meet them again. Also subscribe to
Dramalogue/Backstage, and buy the actors’ bible, The Working Actors’ Guide.
Keeping track of what’s going on in the industry will be key. It also couldn’t hurt to
read Variety or Hollywood Reporter every once in a while.
6. KNOCK’EM DEAD IN YOUR INTERVIEW
This part is pretty self-explanatory. When an agency calls you for an interview, it is
up to you to be on time, be delightfully charismatic, and to look like a million bucks.
Look like your photo, by the way, so they don’t say “who the hell is this joker?” when
you walk in the door. You will usually be asked to prepare a monologue. Get help on
your monologue from an acting coach to make sure you don’t suck. You will also be
asked to do a cold-reading, (which means that you will be asked to read a scene
that they give you “cold,” or unprepared). Finally, be prepared with some interesting,
funny stories about your background so you can charm their pants off and appear
to be extemporaneously witty.
Don’t forget that the interview is your chance to interview the agent, as well. Ask
them how many clients they have, and what jobs those clients are doing. How many
actors of your type do they represent? What do they see as your type, and how will
they be submitting you? What do they expect you to do at your end of the
relationship? When and how should you contact them with questions and concerns?
What do they think of your current photo? (By the way, they won’t like it — every
agent makes you get new photos, but beware the agent who only wants you to use a
specific photographer as this is a red flag of the shady, unethical kickback situation.
Union franchised agents should give you a choice of recommended photographers.)
Does the agency have any other recommendations for you in terms of image and
career development?
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