Conventional Wisdom Suggests that you Need an Agent, but Do You?
My brand for well over a decade, “How to Get and Keep an Agent”, has been my “hook” to get actors to pay attention to what I teach. It’s because I know the prevailing thought process of every actor out there, ready for representation or not, is that you need an agent and/or manager to make your acting dreams come true.
Agents and managers validate you by saying “yes” to representing you, and when they do, what goes through the average actor’s mind is something like this:
The doors of casting offices you’ve never been in before will suddenly be flung open and you’ll have awesome audition opportunities.
You’ll then be able to get in front of the real decision-makers, get hired on jobs in a major film or TV show, book a National Network commercial or Broadway show and the result is a big paycheck, champagne and red carpets. You begin rehearsing your Oscar/Emmy/Tony speech.
Conventional wisdom, and this thought process, is all kinds of wrong. I came to find that agents and managers are human beings with human limitations (like me) who require a LOT of understanding (like me!)
The first thing to really understand is that representatives are in a BUSINESS. Our business is to RE-present what you offer the marketplace to our contacts and MAKE MONEY. Yep, that’s why we do it. It’s not the only reason of course, but it is the primary one. We choose the best options for that particular outcome…money in our pocket to pay the rent, put kids through school and enjoy a desired lifestyle. We don’t choose to represent you because we like you and want to grab lunch or even because we think you’re awesomely talented. We choose you because we think we can make money with you.
Your job as part of this TEAM, and even before you’re a member of a rep/talent team, is to make yourself easy to sell (both craft wise and with complete and amazing marketing materials) and realize that to be a working actor today, you need to consider yourself as more than simply a talented artist. Gaining opportunities to show that stellar talent is a full time job, and it’s YOUR job. A representative is an extension of your marketing efforts.
But you’re an artist who’s in it for the art. Great. But every other artist before and since has had to balance art with finance. It’s a completely necessary consideration. Hearing actors say things like “I have an agent but got in the door on that audition by myself…why didn’t she get me in?” Or, “my agent isn’t getting me any (enough) auditions.” Or “I’m the one writing to Casting Directors, marketing my butt off going to networking events and casting director workshops, so why should I have to give her 10%?”
I’m actually going to answer those questions and hopefully give you a different perspective in my next several blog posts. For now I just want you to accept the fact that your rep is trying to make money. And if you’re not a commodity that’s ready to be sold, it’s not personal, it’s business.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Feel free to comment and share!
Fantastic, looking forward to it all, every post since your return has been a relief to the current stage of the journey.
I agree! I’m always seeking the path of least resistance, or if you will, the path of most allowance! Thanks.
Just wanted to say that it’s 20% from my pay AND 20 from the business producing the gig.
Hi Bill, unless you’re non-union and with a manager and not a fully franchised SAG-AFTRA agent, the most an agency can take is 10% and that comes from the production and NEVER the client’s check. There’s always a PLUS 10 or more above the actor’s fee for union. Non-union folks have to negotiate on their own behalf, but that isn’t necessarily a bad place to be!
Point Well Made. Trust ME I am willing to do ALL tat I can to be a SUCCESS!! Thanks for HEADS UP!!
Love your spirit Antoine!
That’s mostly what I got out of your seminar which I attended more than once!! And bought the video. I remember when you said ” if your still here Blank many years later… you commended us. That has stuck w me. Hope your well. Rob
Good on you Bob! And thanks for “reviewing”, which is a big part of staying up on the knowledge you learned in the first place. Keep on keepin’ on!
Very timely post and affirmation for me. As I have a representative meeting this week and need to have the right perspective of each of our responsibilities. I’m looking forward to additional posts, to be better prepared for my representation meeting.
Break a leg, as the saying goes. Do your research and impress the person you’re interviewing with. I can’t tell you how disappointing it was when I asked folks who were seeking representation when meeting them if they’d done any research on me. Not because of my ego, but because it felt so desperate to “just get ANY rep” without knowing their history and background.
Hi Lisa,
I totally agree with what you are expressing. This is all so very true.It takes much effort,work to become a successful actor.
I have a related question,if I may here: I submitted to you for representation,however did not hear from you?
I guess now it is a moot point?
Any recommendations here?
Thank You,
Rosie
Hi Rosie,
Yes, it was a hard position to be in when I was at 90210. I would receive at least 30 to 40 submissions a day, via both my agency email and my Act Outside the Box email, and to respond even kindly with a thanks for submitting but no, opened up not only a can of worms but was simply too time consuming. Literally impossible. Since I knew you personally and also knew you lived in Canada, yes it was a moot point…and of course now that I’m gone, ditto. You simply must work in the market you live…it can’t be done any other way as the biz moves too quickly.