Interviewing with Your (Potential) Talent Agent – What to Prepare Before your Meeting
Securing representation during the interview process should be your goal. “Of course it is” you’d say to me, but I can’t tell you how many actors I’ve met, either interviewing with me or being coached by me, that have no idea if they have a rep by the time the meeting is over. So here are some more steps to consider before, during, and at the end of interview process to be sure. And to secure that YES!
FIRST BUSINESS, THEN SHOW
- Do extensive research on both the agent and the agency (or management co.) before the meeting. I often asked actors I met while working at 90210 Talent if they did any research on me before the meeting. 95% said no. The few that did had my immediate and full attention. Not because of ego, but because I was looking for someone who was business minded like me who would take their time to see if we were aligned.
- Treat the interview like finding a life partner. Ask the most important questions first. Ask questions about some of the things you found out about them in your research. Be more interested than you are interesting. Trust me, this works!
- Have basic knowledge of the shows and projects their current clients are in.
DISCUSS MUTUAL GOALS
- Know in advance the answer to “so where do you see yourself a year from now?” Be sure, clear and concise.
- Make sure you know the medium you’ll mostly likely make money in quickly (i.e. commercials, theater, independent film)
- Talk just as much about financial goals as artistic goals.
WHAT YOU OFFER VS WHAT YOU WANT
- Let your potential new rep know what you are doing on your own to make money acting. The thought that you can’t make money until you get a rep is backwards, especially in today’s open and internet driven marketplace.
- Have your speaking illustrate what your acting provides other people’s projects.
- Be confident in your value, artistically, financially and as a creator.
TEAM MENTALITY
- Realize they need you as much as you need them. You’ll be working together. A rep doesn’t work for you and you don’t work for them. There is no “I” in team. So cliché but so true.
- Let them know that will be continuing to do your own work for audition opportunities. This is more than simply taking classes in your craft. They want to know what you’ll be doing to continue to market yourself via networking and meetings.
- Relate to them as your equal and ASK them to be your representative.
This last part is the missing link – the ASK. There’s a lot of fear around this and I want to alleviate it by saying that if you think and feel it was a great meeting and that you are mutually aligned on most if not all aspects, the rep will feel it too! If they haven’t already offered to represent you, do NOT walk out of the door without asking this question. Instant respect, whether it’s a yes or a no.
If during the interview process you know in your gut that something isn’t aligned and that you have missing pieces to fill in or that you and the potential rep don’t have the same perception of what you offer or what’s possible for your career to mutual benefit, you’ll know this too. TRUST your GUT!
In my next post I’ll offer even more things to consider while working with your NEW REP to keep you top of mind, in step with your rep, all the while keeping inspired enthusiasm for your new partnership, even though they will have moved on to find their next great client.
Comments? Care to share? Please do!
Thanks, great article.
You’re welcome. I aim to please…and educate!
Thank you for the article I found it very informing and interesting.
Clear, concise, easy and honest advice. Thank you, Lisa. I have learned so much the past 2 years thanks to mentors in the business and feel that I now have a lot of the tools that were missing – I have great headshots, website, reel and clips – a digital presence. Now, I need the “time.” That is, I have a day job and feel it VERY difficult to create a paradigm shift to get myself out there while holding down a 9-5 J-O-B. Any advice on that? Start with one a week at lunchtime and go from there, maybe?
Hi Annette, you ask one of an actor’s universal questions. How to have a flexible schedule that includes an income producing job that covers your bills while you pursue your passion. While I can’t give you all the answers here, I can say that it starts by shifting to an entrepreneurial mindset. Escaping the “time for money” way of being that was taught in school starts with education. I could never go back to a job now that I’ve had the taste of freedom of creating my own day, every day. You have to start small. What product or service could you provide that you could sell and make money? Do you have a skill that others would pay you for as a sideline to your day job? The marketing I’m teaching you here is simply “traditional” layered on an artistic community. Check out my “How to Create a Flexible Day Job” video or audio course for more info on that…hope that helps!
Hi Lisa,
I just got around to reading this, thank you. I’m doing a play right now (yippy). I actually love doing research before a meeting. But one thing I didn’t think about that much is the point you make to “make sure you know the medium you’ll mostly likely make money in quickly (i.e. commercials, theater, independent film).” I’m not sure how to determine that really since there seems to be a balance in casting for these mediums. Or are you thinking it’s based mostly on experience and connections in these areas? For example, it has been a while since I have done a commercial and need to reconnect with agents so maybe that would not happen as quickly? Thanks. Mary
Hi Mary, great questions. The “low hanging fruit” is actually for the agent. Meaning, in that interview, trust me, the agent/rep is wondering where to put their efforts first so that dollars will flow. Remember to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Yes, I know what you want, but what can you do to help them get what they want. There’s an old saying in networking “first you, then me” which serves most business people very well. So quick money is meant for them…