You need an agent if you want to get work as an actor. That’s the simple truth. A good agent represents you by putting you up for work and suggests you for various auditions to meet casting directors. Let’s break it down.
What Is An Agent?
A talent agent (not to be confused with a manager) represents you as an actor. They receive breakdowns from casting directors and submit you to be seen for auditions for commercials, film, TV, shorts and corporates. If you get the job, a certain percentage (around 10% or whatever is negotiated in your contract) is taken from your earnings. Therefore it should be in their interest to find you auditions as they make money only when you book a job. You do not have to pay an agent upfront. The only thing you should have to pay for is headshots and acting classes that may be recommended by your agent.
When would an agent represent you? When they see potential in you and believe you are job ready. They earn their living through the jobs you book so they’ve no reason to have an actor who isn’t booking any jobs. From a casting director’s point of view, you are worth hiring if you are represented by talent agency because they believe you can actually get work! Agencies range from the very large, representing hundreds of actors, to the very small, looking after a handful. It’s up to you to research which ones need someone like you on their books and how well they can represent you.
Of course, you don’t have to get an agent when you are just starting out but agents are in the heart of the industry and will know what is currently casting. Your agent should have experience in the industry and be in touch with the film, TV and theatre world, finding out what’s new and where there could be a place for you to be involved. It’ll just be very tricky for yourself find out where and when any auditions are because that sort of information is kept private. Someone setting up your castings and auditions, managing money talk and booking your availability for you is a lot easier than you having to find out about auditions yourself!
This fantastic page ‘When You Don’t Need an Agent’ talks about what you can be doing when you don’t have an agent – some fantastic tips. Although the article is for singers it applies to actors breaking into the business too.
How To Get An Agent
Getting an agent is a long and tricky process. Agents look for talent, experience and whether you are job ready – be sure to tick all the boxes and make yourself aware of your ‘type’. This means your age, look, ethnicity etc. So if an agent already has an actor of your ‘type’ they would not be interested in taking on another of that type – what would be the point?
Spotlight’s Contacts lists all agents in the UK as well as casting directors and other industry professionals and is a MUST HAVE to simply familiarize yourself with names you might be meeting in the future. A new copy comes out each year and lists agents and children’s talent agencies. Have a flick through and research each one.
You may apply to an agent by submitting your CV and headshot in the hope that they will be in need of someone like you – if you have not met or spoken to that agent before it is called a cold or blind submission. Cold submissions have very little chance of being successful. Why? Although every submission will be looked at but if you are not what they are looking for at that time you have little chance of a response. Agencies receive hundreds of submissions a week and you shouldn’t expect to hear from an agent. Remember, a glance at your CV will tell them a lot – if you haven’t a good amount of experience, someone else your age and type will.
Getting an agent is about networking. You are more likely to get an agent through recommendation from a current client or casting director. Who knows you? Who will refer you to join that agent? Who will come see your showcase? Submitting your CV and headshot to a list of agents and then sitting back twiddling your thumbs until you hear back is totally unproductive! There are more productive ways to get networking.
The Secret Agent Man is a U.S. talent agent writing for the resource site BackStage.com and gives a brutally honest view on the industry that will open your eyes to how it works! He states;
“If you’re an actor looking for representation, there are a lot of ways to go about it. The best one is to find somebody who can give you a referral. Another is to get out there, do some stage work, and hope you attract an agent’s attention. But you can also go old-school and send out a ton of submissions, hoping that one lands on the right desk.” Secret Agent Man - Backstage
Be sure to read all his articles for the best insight into how it works – although he’s in the heart of the American industry it’s very much the same in the UK. This thread over at the Casting Call Pro forum will also give you an insight into the best ways to approach writing to agents.
Tips From An Actor
I’m now going to hand you over to Charlotte Hope, a young actor who is signed with one of London’s top agencies. She was kind enough to write about her experience and has even written some tips to give you advice about applying to agents. Take a look!
“I don’t pretend to be any expert but I spent a lot of time researching agencies when I was looking for representation. When I did it, I made a list of a lot of young actors and actresses that I admired and that were doing well and then used Spotlight to find out who they were represented by (IMDB Pro could be used for the same purpose, if you don’t have it already, it’s definitely worth getting as it has all the details of productions and shows you exactly who each actor is represented by). This is the list of agencies that I wrote to inviting them to come and watch a production I was in:
United Agents – represents Kate Winslet and Charlie Cox, to newcomer Lucy Boynton
Curtis Brown – represents Robert Pattinson to Kaya Scodelario
Ken McReddie – represents Lisa Backwell (Skins) and Emily Blunt
Troika – represents Juno Temple and Rachel Hurd-Wood
Hamilton Hoddell – represents Georgie Henley and Lucy Griffiths
BWH – represents a lot of young talent
Conway Van Gelder Grant – represents Jim Broadbent and Benedict Cumberbatch
Aswell as: Julian Belfrage Associates, Dalzell and Beresford, Independent, Markham and Froggatt, Waring and Mckenna, Cole Kitchenn, Lou Coulson, ARG, Tavistock Wood, Julian Belfrage Associates and CAM.
Tips For Finding An Agent
1. When you write to agents, include a CV with all the plays you’ve done, and any training, a headshot, and a cover letter telling the agent a bit about you. At this stage, you should invite them to an upcoming performance that you’re in.
2. If they’re interested in you, they’ll get in contact and either invite you to come for an interview, or ask to come and see your show.
a. N.B. In the case of Curtis Brown, they don’t interview before coming to see you perform, so don’t bother writing unless you can invite them to a performance.
3. Give plenty of notice about your show; I would advise writing at least 3 weeks in advance, but preferably more. You don’t want to miss out on an agent who is interested in you, just because you didn’t write early enough.
4. Make sure that you invite them to a performance that you’re proud of that show you at your best. When I first wrote to agents, I was in a show that I didn’t feel did me justice and so was reluctant when they expressed interest in coming to see me perform, which is one of my biggest regrets. It’s tough because your performance can change a lot (or, in my case, not turn out as you originally hoped) between the time you write to agents and when the performance actually is. But try and judge the best you can and make sure the agent is seeing you at your best, otherwise it’s a waste of their time and a potentially lost opportunity for you.
5. Get some professional headshots done. They don’t have to be expensive but they show you off at your best. Whilst I was waiting for an interview one of the agents was going through all the submissions sent in that day. I was shocked by how many applications there were and how professional they all looked. This is such a competitive industry and you have to give yourself the best shot possible.
6. If you get asked to come for an interview, remember that it is as much a chance for you to find out about the agency as it is for them to find out about you. The first interview I did, at the end, the agent asked me if I had any questions and I was so nervous that I went completely blank and couldn’t think of anything to ask. I was so cross with myself afterwards as I was so lucky to have met someone so important in the industry and had the chance to pick their brains, and I didn’t take advantage of it.
7. A great book called “An Actor’s Guide to Getting Work” is great for more info!”
What Charlotte has spoken about is spot on and I do hope you find what she has spoken about useful. When writing to an agent do write to them when you are performing something so that they might see you – lots of agencies don’t accept showreels and prefer to see you perform in person. Secret Agent Man discusses the best way to invite an agent to see you perform in his article ‘Ye Olde Mail Bag’;
“Would I attend an evening of Shakespearean monologues? My answer is no. I love classical theater as much as the next guy, but I would never in a million years go see this car wreck. Here are three reasons why … ” Secret Agent Man – Backstage
One More Thing
Congratulations if you sign up with an agent! It’s a very good sign that you have the potential to get jobs and audition successfully. However, having an agent is just part of it. Maintaining professional relationships, networking and not relying on your agent to stay on top of casting news is essential.
“A lot of actors think that once they find representation, they can just sit back and wait for the auditions to start pouring in. Nothing could be further from the truth. Signing with an agent is a major step forward that signals a new phase in your career, but it doesn’t mean you get to stop being an active participant. If anything, this is the time to double your efforts.” Secret Agent Man – Backstage
In the beginning you will be just a name on a list to your agent, which is why you should aim to build a professional relationship with your agent.
Further Links
Secret Agent Articles
Spotlight Book of Contacts
Casting Director Taylor’s tips – Videos
List of British Theatre agents
Find An Agent by The Stage
The Agents’ Association UK