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By the end of this guide, you'll know everything you need to know about how to get an acting agent, from how they work and what they charge, straight down to how to get one as quickly as possible.
How to Get an Acting Agent
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Step 2: Avoid Scam Artists and Unsuccessful Agents
There are two types of agents: Union Franchised and Non-Union.
Either one is fine to sign with, but generally speaking, if they're a Union-Franchised agent, the chance of them being an outright scam artist is extremely low because they're held accountable by the union. PLUS, they're allowed to submit you for union productions, which is very important.
There are plenty of non-union agents, but unless you do your homework and find out from actors they represent how good they are, I generally suggest staying away and instead focusing on the union-franchised agents. If you're not sure whether an agency is legit, you can try searching them using the Better Business Bureau search tool.
Can I sign with a union agent if I'm non-union? YES! It's challenging but definitely possible. There are tons of non-union actors out there with union-franchised agents, and it's the best way to go if you want to grow your career as quickly as possible.
To avoid scam artists and agents who won't submit you often, do not sign with agents who:
Either one is fine to sign with, but generally speaking, if they're a Union-Franchised agent, the chance of them being an outright scam artist is extremely low because they're held accountable by the union. PLUS, they're allowed to submit you for union productions, which is very important.
There are plenty of non-union agents, but unless you do your homework and find out from actors they represent how good they are, I generally suggest staying away and instead focusing on the union-franchised agents. If you're not sure whether an agency is legit, you can try searching them using the Better Business Bureau search tool.
Can I sign with a union agent if I'm non-union? YES! It's challenging but definitely possible. There are tons of non-union actors out there with union-franchised agents, and it's the best way to go if you want to grow your career as quickly as possible.
To avoid scam artists and agents who won't submit you often, do not sign with agents who:
- Require you to pay up front. Do actors pay agents? Not if they charge a flat fee. All agents should take a percentage of your earnings. They should never ask you for payment up front and should never require you to shoot your headshots with a particular photographer.
- Pressures you to sign a contract without allowing you to take it home for a few days to review. Never sign into something without reviewing it carefully, or asking a lawyer to look it over (maybe you have a family friend who can help you out to save costs?). You can also see a standard agent contract by clicking here.
- Work as acting coaches on the side. Great agents generally don't have the time to work as acting coaches, and if they promise to represent you AND offer you free coaching as a part of a package deal, don't get sucked in. You'll regret it months later when they're rarely ever getting you work.
- Takes more than 15% of your income. Most agents should not take more than 10%, but this number varies from region to region and country to country. Most good agents won't take more than 15%, and if they do they're either a scam artist or they just want to take your hard-earned money.
- Advertise with pay per click, on Craigslist, or on other websites. Great agents generally don't need to advertise. Scammers do. Avoid clicking Google ads or banner ads that offer representation because they are most likely scams.
- Don't have an easy-to-find and up-to-date roster on their website. Agents almost always list their client roster online so casting directors can find their actors easily. Agents who don't have their roster or attempt to hide it (look to see if you can find it easily on IMDB Pro) are most likely scam artists or very unsuccessful with their clients. Finally, when researching them, as you take a look at their roster, check to be sure that their actors have good-quality, modern headshots and their profiles look up to date.
Step 3: Find the Right Agent for You
How do I find a good talent agent? Agents have different specialities and are connected to different people in the industry based on that specialty. A good commercial agent is going to know tons of people in the commercial world. A good film/TV agent is going to know tons of people in the screen acting industry. A voiceover agent will know lots of people in the voice acting world. Related: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Voice Actor
You need to be specific because if you sign with the wrong agent, you'll constantly wonder why you're never getting any auditions!
You can reach out to friends in the industry, speak with your acting teachers, and use online tools like IMDB Pro and Google Search to find out who specializes in what.
You should make a list of acting agencies to target based on the following criteria:
Once you've decided on a few agencies, you need to look through their list of individual agents and see who specifically you'd like to represent you. Some boutique agencies might have just 3-4 agents working at the company. Larger companies might have hundreds of agents!
Read their bios and see who aligns with you most closely. You can also google their name to check out their social media accounts and see if they've been featured in any videos or articles. Looking through all this ahead of time will not only tell you whether they're a good fit, but can give you a great ice breaker for your cover letter.
Create a list of about 20 agents you want to target.
Related guide: The Top 15 Best Acting Agencies
You need to be specific because if you sign with the wrong agent, you'll constantly wonder why you're never getting any auditions!
You can reach out to friends in the industry, speak with your acting teachers, and use online tools like IMDB Pro and Google Search to find out who specializes in what.
You should make a list of acting agencies to target based on the following criteria:
- Where they are based. Don't sign with someone who doesn't represent clients in your area.
- Their client roster. Make sure they don't already represent numerous actors with your look. If they already have 2-3 other actors who look just like you, chances are slim that they'll want to bring you on too (and if they do, you'll find it hard to book work as you'll be competing with their other clients).
- Size of the agency. Most majors agencies will not sign an up-and-coming actor. Unless you have a lot of credits to your name and a fantastic reel, you should focus on small to mid-sized agencies unless you know someone who can personally connect you to a top-tier agent. Another benefit of smaller agencies is that they'll often have more attention to devote to you.
Once you've decided on a few agencies, you need to look through their list of individual agents and see who specifically you'd like to represent you. Some boutique agencies might have just 3-4 agents working at the company. Larger companies might have hundreds of agents!
Read their bios and see who aligns with you most closely. You can also google their name to check out their social media accounts and see if they've been featured in any videos or articles. Looking through all this ahead of time will not only tell you whether they're a good fit, but can give you a great ice breaker for your cover letter.
Create a list of about 20 agents you want to target.
Related guide: The Top 15 Best Acting Agencies
Step 4: Begin Submitting
You're only going to submit to the 20 agents you came up with in your list. Why? Because you want each person you contact to get a great, personalized cover letter from you. Your cover letter is critical and will determine whether they ever look past it to see your headshot and materials.
Here are the most important things to keep in mind when contacting agents:
Remember: You absolutely need a fantastic (and short) cover letter. Your cover letter should be personalized to the agent you are interested in (Dear Margaret – not Dear Agency) and it must explain why you want to work with THEM specifically. This is where research comes in. Think – what can you use to break the ice?
Be sure to include in your cover letter info about your Type & Brand so they see how you're different than the other actors they already represent (and see that you have a realistic idea of the kinds of roles you're right for). You can also mention names of well-known actors you've performed with or coaches you've trained with.
Here are the most important things to keep in mind when contacting agents:
- Follow their submissions instructions. Their website will tell you how best to get in touch, so be sure to follow those guidelines (unless you're getting an email introduction from someone directly to a particular agent). If they want you to use an online submissions form, do it. If they want you to email a particular address, do it. Avoid directly emailing an agent because if their website says not to because doing so will definitely annoy them and decrease your chances of getting a meeting.
- If you know someone who knows the agent, ask for an introduction or "preframe." They can either directly introduce you to the agent via email or they can send an email to the agent shortly before yours comes through saying, "Be on the lookout for so and so's email in the next few days." This way the agent is expecting you!
- If submitting via email, be sure to use a simple, straightforward subject line. "Actor seeking representation" is good, and "Referred to you by [someone they know]" is even better. Just make sure you have permission to use someone's name in your email.
- Don't submit more than two headshots and two reels. Sending too many links or attachments can land your email in their spam box, and can also confuse them.
- Spell their name correctly. The simplest spelling mistake or grammatical error can cause them to think you're unprofessional or don't care, and get your submission tossed.
- Follow up 5 days after submitting if you haven't heard back. Set a reminder so you don't forget to reach out a second time – you can just use their online submission form or the same email address you reached them at originally.
Remember: You absolutely need a fantastic (and short) cover letter. Your cover letter should be personalized to the agent you are interested in (Dear Margaret – not Dear Agency) and it must explain why you want to work with THEM specifically. This is where research comes in. Think – what can you use to break the ice?
Be sure to include in your cover letter info about your Type & Brand so they see how you're different than the other actors they already represent (and see that you have a realistic idea of the kinds of roles you're right for). You can also mention names of well-known actors you've performed with or coaches you've trained with.
Looking for an Agent?
Download My Free Cover Letter Templates
I frequently help actors get talent agents, and one of the most important steps is writing an effective cover letter! These templates typically get actors a 30% response rate.
Here's what you'll get:
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Downloaded by over 350 actors so far.
"Within a matter of 3 weeks of using your cover letter template, I signed with a brand new commercial agent! I am both surprised and not surprised. I knew that it would be effective, but I just didn't know how effective it would be, since I've tried to get agents in the past and they never responded to my messages."
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I recommend submitting to your 20 chosen agents at a rate of five per week so you can see how the responses are and make tweaks.
If you don't get any responses in your first round of submissions, go back to the drawing board and check your marketing materials again, make some tweaks to your cover letter, and see if there's anything else you want to adjust. Perhaps something isn't as good as you thought it was, and going back a week later with fresh eyes can help you improve it.
One reason you might not get invited to a meeting is that the agencies' rosters are simply full. Therefore, if you submit 3 months later, you might actually get a response because new slots are opening all the time!
Some agents might respond saying they're not looking for new actors. If they tell you this, it's an invitation to keep them up to date on your work in the industry. You can occasionally reach out letting them know about shows you're in or new things you're doing, and eventually they might bring you in for a meeting.
A long term but more surefire way to eventually get representation is to intern at an agent's office. You'll build a strong personal relationship with them and most likely eventually get signed (after a year or two) if you're a great actor and you ask them to consider you!
Step 5: Interview & Audition for Representation
So, you've been submitting for a while, and an agent emailed you back saying they're interested in setting up a meeting. Congratulations!
So what do you do to prepare?
Well first off, don't under-prepare. You need to do your homework on the agency and make sure you're completely ready for your meeting, otherwise you'll probably lose their trust right away and never make it past the meeting.
Here are some things to keep in mind for your agent meeting:
So what do you do to prepare?
Well first off, don't under-prepare. You need to do your homework on the agency and make sure you're completely ready for your meeting, otherwise you'll probably lose their trust right away and never make it past the meeting.
Here are some things to keep in mind for your agent meeting:
- Show up on time. This should go without saying, but if you're even 2 minutes late, no excuse in the world will save you. Aim to get there super early just in case something happens. Remember – getting an agent is a HUGE opportunity. It's what will get you TONS of auditions, so treat it as importantly as you would the audition of a lifetime. Aim to arrive an hour early and then hang out at the coffee shop across the street until your meeting time.
- Dress well. Don't wear something extremely specific, but do show up clean and with solid colors. Wearing professional clothing will help agents see you in a good light and assume you're responsible and easy to work with. Here's a great guide of clothing that works well (for both headshots AND auditions/agent meetings)
- Do not lie. If an agent asks you a questions about your training or experience during the interview, never lie. They'll eventually find out and it will come back to haunt you.
- Bring a folder with your headshots, resume, and even a DVD copy of your reel just in case. Chances are they won't need it, but you should have it handy if they do. You can also include a business card and a printed version of your cover letter.
- Prepare at least three monologues ahead of time. Most agents will require you to perform a monologue as part of the audition, so you should have three different types of monologues that you feel comfortable with. They MUST be fully memorized and should each represent a different side of you – funny, sad, and angry, for instance. Having three different monologues memorized will give you the opportunity to do something different if they want to see a different side of you.
- Be aware that they might hand you a script on the spot. If they ask you to do a cold reading, it's OK if you don't have it memorized. They just want to see how you perform and sound when reading the lines. Keep calm and carry on!
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Have questions prepared in advance. They'll inevitably give you the chance to ask questions during the meeting, and if you have none prepared, it will look like you didn't do your homework ahead of time. Some great questions to ask them include the following:
- I see myself as _______, but out of curiosity, how do you see me?
- How do you feel about me submitting myself to projects?
- How involved do you typically get with your clients and helping them move their careers forward?
- What can I do that will make your job easier if you decide to represent me? (agents love this question)
- How do you prefer your clients keep in touch with you? Text? Email? Phone?
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Do NOT ask stupid questions. Yes, there ARE stupid questions, regardless of what they tell you in school. You should NOT ask questions that you could have found out the answers to ahead of time by simply researching the agency. The following questions are big red flags for agents, so do NOT ask these:
- Who will represent me from your agency? You should already know who you're targeting. The only time this question is fair is if the agent you were interested in has a full roster and you might get connected with someone else.
- How many clients do you currently represent, and are any my type? You can easily find this information online. If anything, ask them a modified version of it to show them you did your research: I saw you currently represent 156 actors. A few of them look similar to me, so I was wondering, how do you submit actors who are similar, or do you see me as a different type?
- What kind of work have you gotten in the last six months for your clients? This is a borderline offensive question and might really annoy the agent – especially since you could have easily researched this as well. Who are you to ask what kind of work they've gotten their clients? A much better way to phrase this is, "I noticed you got some of your clients into amazing productions, including Production A, B, and C. What are some other great gigs you're in the process of getting for your clients?"
- Be absolutely clear on your Types. Almost all agents want to know what kinds of characters the actors they represent see themselves playing. This means they are very likely to ask you about your Types. Saying, "I'm not fully clear yet," or suggesting a Type that doesn't actually make sense could cause the agent to end the meeting and ask you to come back six months from now (this actually happened to a few actors I know).
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The clearer you are on your Types, the more likely an agent will sign you and the more auditions you'll get. This guide shows you how to shortcut the process of finding your Type from months to minutes.
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Once the meeting and audition is finished, it might take 3-4 days to hear back. If you haven't heard from them in that time, a brief followup email is recommended (note the word brief).
Don't be discouraged if you don't sign with the first agent you meet with. It can take numerous attempts before you find a good fit. Getting rejected is usually due to one of two things:
- You look too much like other actors they represent. As mentioned previously, agents don't like signing actors who look too similar to each other because they'll be competing for each other's roles, which creates a conflict of interest amongst their clients.
- You do not have enough training or experience for that agent to represent you. But this might not be the case for all agents, so keep submitting to others – someone will likely want to take you on even if someone else thinks you're not ready for representation.
Step 6: Create a Strong Relationship
Why do agents drop actors? There are many reasons. If you're not booking a lot of work or you don't do much to move your career forward (meaning you just leave all the work to them), they'll likely look for another actor to represent instead.
To avoid getting dropped, you need to maintain a strong relationship with your agent! Here are a few things you can do to ensure you don't get dropped:
How do I drop my agent? If you're unhappy with the work your agent has been doing, you should first review your contract to see if there are any outs. Most contracts will say that your agent has to do certain things, like submitting you and ensuring you get paid properly, etc.
If you can find any areas in your contract where your agent is dropping the ball, you can easily get out of the contract. However, if you signed a contract that doesn't clear outs written into it, you can try setting up a meeting with your agent to get them to start working harder for you. Ask them to send you a submissions log so you can see what you've been submitted to, and then ask your agent to meet with you to discuss how you can better work together.
If they completely ignore your request for a meeting, you can try speaking with a lawyer to see what your options are, because most agents are by law supposed to be in communication with their clients.
To avoid getting dropped, you need to maintain a strong relationship with your agent! Here are a few things you can do to ensure you don't get dropped:
- Be quick to respond. Your agent might text, call, or email you and nothing bothers an agent more than an actor who takes more than an hour to respond. Turn all your notifications on and respond within just a few minutes to make the best impression. The actors quickest to respond are going to be sent on the most auditions, so keep that in mind!
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Keep working on your audition and acting technique. If you get nervous before auditions, you gotta get more training (or read my Ultimate Guide to Preparing for Auditions). Agents drop actors who don't book a lot of work, so audition technique workshops are critical!
- Related: Acting for Film: The Ultimate Guide
- Be sure your agent has access to your latest marketing materials. If you shoot footage for your reel or update your headshots, be sure to let you agent know. And make sure to invest in those marketing materials when your agent tells you to. This means you should save up some money so it's there, ready to be spent at a moment's notice if your agent needs you to get new headshots. They hate having to wait months and months for you to finally get your marketing materials up to date.
- Be respectful of your agent's time. Agents hate getting calls or texts late at night or early in the morning. Keep your communication to normal business hours, and only update them with things they need to know. If you booked a role, great! But it's not a good idea to tell them about it at 2am.
- Listen to them... but make sure they also listen to you. If your agent makes a recommendation on taking a certain class or paying for new headshots, don't simply say "Yes." Instead, ask them what specifically they want and why so you can be sure to get them exactly what they need. And if you disagree, find out why they're asking you for that specific thing. If you still disagree with their recommendation, set up a phone call to discuss. Being on the same page as your agent is vital for a strong relationship.
How do I drop my agent? If you're unhappy with the work your agent has been doing, you should first review your contract to see if there are any outs. Most contracts will say that your agent has to do certain things, like submitting you and ensuring you get paid properly, etc.
If you can find any areas in your contract where your agent is dropping the ball, you can easily get out of the contract. However, if you signed a contract that doesn't clear outs written into it, you can try setting up a meeting with your agent to get them to start working harder for you. Ask them to send you a submissions log so you can see what you've been submitted to, and then ask your agent to meet with you to discuss how you can better work together.
If they completely ignore your request for a meeting, you can try speaking with a lawyer to see what your options are, because most agents are by law supposed to be in communication with their clients.
In Summary
Getting a great agent is all about being prepared and doing the hard work necessary to get one. You might get lucky where an agent finds you (instead of you finding them), but that's very rare and shouldn't be counted on.
If you really want an agent, YOU need to be the one who goes out there and submits, and you need to make EVERY submission personalized. If you don't put in the work required, the chance of getting a great agent is always going to be out of your reach.
Good luck!
If you really want an agent, YOU need to be the one who goes out there and submits, and you need to make EVERY submission personalized. If you don't put in the work required, the chance of getting a great agent is always going to be out of your reach.
Good luck!
Enjoyed this article?
Book more work by thinking "Outside the Industry."
The process of getting an agent is tough! That's why I want you to have all the information possible before going after one. Luckily, there are many ways to continue growing your career and getting auditions even if you don't yet have an agent.
As someone who has worked with people in thousands of industries (through my headshot business), I've been able to take growth strategies that work for businesses and apply them directly to actors – to help them grow their careers faster than most would think possible (examples: one of my clients landed his first-ever Broadway role in just 4 weeks of working with me, and a brand-new actress signed with a high-level agent in just six weeks of working with me).
I'd like to invite you to my free insider newsletter where I share my best material, including:
- How to network easily and authentically with casting directors – even if you hate self-promotion.
- How to find your Type and Brand in just 18 minutes (it doesn't require awkwardly asking lots of random people for feedback)
- How to find a hardworking and reliable agent – even if you don't have a strong resume or reel
- And much more...
Download my free Actor's Toolkit to get started and you'll hear from me a few times a week with unique "outside the industry" strategies. I promise they'll help you build a career you're truly proud of.
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Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues. Want to book more acting work by thinking different? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com. |
Some Additional Q&A
What is the Difference Between a Manager and a Booking Agent?
A manager is someone whose typical role is to guide an actor and help them get their day to day work done so they can be more efficient and make it to more auditions.
Managers help actors by:
The biggest difference between agents and managers is that agents are licensed by the state to help you find employment opportunities and are usually not allowed to take more than a certain percentage of their client's earnings (10-15%, depending on where you're based). Managers are not licensed and can therefore take whatever percentage they want (some go as high as 30%).
Go into much more depth on this here: Agent vs. Manager: Which is Right for You?
Managers help actors by:
- Connecting them to the right people. Many managers have great contacts in the industry and can connect you to other experts such as acting coaches or headshot photographers. Some even help their clients find talent agents.
- Offering career guidance and mentorship. This is one of the primary roles of a manager – in fact, most managers only work with 20-30 actors so they can spend a lot more time with them (agents typically have a roster of 200-300 actors).
- Some managers will submit you for productions or negotiate deals for you, but that's technically not a manager's job. Some managers actually have access to Breakdown Services, but it's not very common.
The biggest difference between agents and managers is that agents are licensed by the state to help you find employment opportunities and are usually not allowed to take more than a certain percentage of their client's earnings (10-15%, depending on where you're based). Managers are not licensed and can therefore take whatever percentage they want (some go as high as 30%).
Go into much more depth on this here: Agent vs. Manager: Which is Right for You?
How Much Does it Cost to Get an Acting Agent?
Do you have to pay for an acting agent? Yes. No one will work for free, but agents charge a percentage of the revenue they generate for their clients. This means that if you find a job on your own, you won't need to pay your agent – but if they find a job for you, you have to pay them a certain percentage of whatever you earned from it.
Do talent agencies charge a fee? No. Neither agencies or agents should charge you a flat fee – if they do, run the other way because it's a scam! They are only allowed to take a percentage of the work they generate for you, so their cost will constantly be changing depending on how many jobs they help you book each month.
How much do acting agents cost? The typical percentage they take is 10-12%, but there are some agents who charge as high as 25-30%. In my opinion that's just way too much. I know some actors who have an agent who charges 30% AND a manager who charges 30%, leaving only 60% of revenue for the actor! That's not very good.
Do talent agencies charge a fee? No. Neither agencies or agents should charge you a flat fee – if they do, run the other way because it's a scam! They are only allowed to take a percentage of the work they generate for you, so their cost will constantly be changing depending on how many jobs they help you book each month.
How much do acting agents cost? The typical percentage they take is 10-12%, but there are some agents who charge as high as 25-30%. In my opinion that's just way too much. I know some actors who have an agent who charges 30% AND a manager who charges 30%, leaving only 60% of revenue for the actor! That's not very good.
Should I Get an Agent for Acting?
There are actors out there who book tons of work and don't have agents, but that's somewhat uncommon. To do that, you need to be spending just as much time on your marketing and networking efforts as you do on your acting and training! This is why most actors get agents – so they can focus more of their time on acting and less of their time building relationships in the industry.
To know whether you're ready for an agent, you should ask yourself the following questions:
If you've answered yes to at least 4 of the questions above (including both ABSOLUTE MUSTS), you should start the hunt for a great agent as soon as possible, because you're not getting any younger. Chances are you'll be able to sign with someone in just a few months!
If you didn't answer yes to 4 questions above, you can try getting an agent, but chances are you'll have a very hard time and it might take you a year or two. But that's totally OK! You can use the time to continue improving your craft and networking (while still self-submitting). You might even be able to find a manager who can give you some personalized guidance to help you start booking more work.
To know whether you're ready for an agent, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- ABSOLUTE MUST: Do you have plenty of availability for last-minute auditions? If you've got a job that prevents you from making it to auditions, most agents won't want to bring you on because a lot of the work in this industry comes up last-minute and you need to be available at a moment's notice.
- ABSOLUTE MUST: Am I talented and good at auditioning? This is a critical question because no agent will hire an actor whose acting is unrealistic or who is no good at auditioning. If you have trouble memorizing lines, or your acting seems melodramatic, or you get way too nervous whenever you go to auditions, you should get more training and work through those issues first. A simple way to know whether you're talented and good at auditioning is to look at your booking rate. If you're booking about 1 out of every 7 auditions you attend (about 14% or more), it means you're talented enough for an agent (this number applies even if the auditions you've been going on are just for unpaid student projects).
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Are your basic marketing materials professional and up to date? Professional marketing materials are critical to being taken seriously in this industry. You definitely need a headshot, some footage showing your acting ability, and a professionally-formatted resume. A social media presence and website are not critical to getting an agent, but can help.
- Headshot: You should have a great, professional headshot that looks like you and was taken in the past two years. It should be in color and not be overly retouched.
- Footage: Having decent footage of yourself performing is important, but unless you're looking for a high-level agent, it's not critical to have high-budget footage of yourself. You can consider hiring a company like Actor Screener Shoot to shoot footage for your reel if you need to update it, otherwise simply recording some self-tape clips is often good enough.
- Resume: You need a professionally-formatted resume, and even if you don't have too many credits yet, it's OK, especially if you're young (more on that below).
- Are you still in school (this includes college)? Being young tells agents that you probably won't have much on your resume yet, meaning it will be easier to get an agent. There is a limited supply of young actors and agents are always looking for new ones to add to their roster. The younger you are, the better chance you have at getting a talent agent.
- Have you trained with any well-known names in the industry? If you're not sure, simply google your teachers' or coaches' names and see how many articles show up featuring them. If their name is all over the internet on lots of different websites, you can use their name recognition to improve an agent's interest in meeting with you by mentioning their name in your cover letter.
- Are you friends with anyone deeply established in the industry? If you know a casting director well or you have a manager with lots of connections, it becomes easier to get an agent because most agents are looking for actors who already know people (this means the agent's job of pitching you becomes easier).
- Are you in the union? Being in AEA or SAG-AFTRA can improve your chances of getting an agent because it shows them that you're established and take your work seriously. They'll be able to submit you for more productions as well, which is a big plus.
If you've answered yes to at least 4 of the questions above (including both ABSOLUTE MUSTS), you should start the hunt for a great agent as soon as possible, because you're not getting any younger. Chances are you'll be able to sign with someone in just a few months!
If you didn't answer yes to 4 questions above, you can try getting an agent, but chances are you'll have a very hard time and it might take you a year or two. But that's totally OK! You can use the time to continue improving your craft and networking (while still self-submitting). You might even be able to find a manager who can give you some personalized guidance to help you start booking more work.
Is it Hard to Get an Acting Agent?
It can feel very hard to get a talent agent when you're first starting out, especially if you're not strategic about it.
Most advice online tells you to mass mail your headshot, resume, and reel to 20-30 agents and hope to get a response, but there are a few simple strategies you can use to vastly improve your chances of getting called in for a meeting. We'll discuss these strategies further down in this article.
You should also be aware that there are different tier agents in the industry. Lower-tier agents can be much easier to sign with than top-tier agents because top-tier agents are so busy working with their current clients that they are very discerning about who to bring on. It can take years to get signed by a top-tier agent (even if you have a strong resume and lots of experience).
It's most difficult to get an agent when you're between the age of 22 and 30 because so many actors are around that age. If you don't have anything visually that sets you apart from other actors who look like you, most agents will likely already have someone just like you on their roster (meaning they won't be able to sign you without creating a conflict of interest).
Related: How to Find Your Brand as an Actor
Most advice online tells you to mass mail your headshot, resume, and reel to 20-30 agents and hope to get a response, but there are a few simple strategies you can use to vastly improve your chances of getting called in for a meeting. We'll discuss these strategies further down in this article.
You should also be aware that there are different tier agents in the industry. Lower-tier agents can be much easier to sign with than top-tier agents because top-tier agents are so busy working with their current clients that they are very discerning about who to bring on. It can take years to get signed by a top-tier agent (even if you have a strong resume and lots of experience).
It's most difficult to get an agent when you're between the age of 22 and 30 because so many actors are around that age. If you don't have anything visually that sets you apart from other actors who look like you, most agents will likely already have someone just like you on their roster (meaning they won't be able to sign you without creating a conflict of interest).
Related: How to Find Your Brand as an Actor
What is the Best Agency for Acting?
What is the biggest talent agency in Hollywood? As of 2021, William Morris Endeavor is widely considered to be the top acting agency. That being said, it's not necessarily the best agency for acting because A) it only signs well-known actors who have an extensive resume and B) even if you did get signed, they most likely wouldn't have the same time and attention to devote to you (an up-and-coming actor) as they would for their more established clients.
There are tons of acting agencies out there and you need to research their client roster (just search them using IMDB Pro) to find out whether you'd be a good fit. More on this soon.
What are the Big 4 talent agencies? The Big 4 are considered to be William Morris Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, United Talent Agency, and ICM Partners.
There are tons of acting agencies out there and you need to research their client roster (just search them using IMDB Pro) to find out whether you'd be a good fit. More on this soon.
What are the Big 4 talent agencies? The Big 4 are considered to be William Morris Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, United Talent Agency, and ICM Partners.
How Many Talent Agents Can You Have?
Technically you can have as many agents as you want, as long as they don't conflict with one another. Examples of non-conflicting agents are having a commercial agent and a legit agent, or have a Los Angeles agent and a New York agent (as long as neither represents the other region).
Most agents require you to sign a contract with them (unless you're freelancing) and the contract will stipulate whether you can have other agents in addition to the one you're signing with.
Freelancing means you can test-drive an agent and see how they are before actually signing a contract. They'll send you on auditions and you'll pay them their fee, but there is no written agreement. Signed, on the other hand means exactly that – you've signed a contract with them for a specified length of time.
Most agents require you to sign a contract with them (unless you're freelancing) and the contract will stipulate whether you can have other agents in addition to the one you're signing with.
Freelancing means you can test-drive an agent and see how they are before actually signing a contract. They'll send you on auditions and you'll pay them their fee, but there is no written agreement. Signed, on the other hand means exactly that – you've signed a contract with them for a specified length of time.
Should I Get a Manager or Agent First?
Most people will tell you to get a manager first, but the real answer depends on your personality.
A manager will help you get organized and do what you need to start booking more acting work. An agent will submit you for bigger auditions.
If you can manage yourself effectively, you might not need a manager. You can save your money and spend your time networking with people in the industry and organizing your own career. Many actors take courses like The Practical Performer to learn how to market themselves and save themselves money on a manager. They start with an agent first and then when they're eventually so busy with acting work that they can't manage their schedule, they eventually bring on a manager.
On the other hand, some actors hate dealing with the day to day work of networking and figuring out what to do next, and so are happy to get a manager first. Then their manager will eventually help them get an agent to start being submitted for bigger roles.
A manager will help you get organized and do what you need to start booking more acting work. An agent will submit you for bigger auditions.
If you can manage yourself effectively, you might not need a manager. You can save your money and spend your time networking with people in the industry and organizing your own career. Many actors take courses like The Practical Performer to learn how to market themselves and save themselves money on a manager. They start with an agent first and then when they're eventually so busy with acting work that they can't manage their schedule, they eventually bring on a manager.
On the other hand, some actors hate dealing with the day to day work of networking and figuring out what to do next, and so are happy to get a manager first. Then their manager will eventually help them get an agent to start being submitted for bigger roles.
What is a Legit Agent? What is a Commercial Agent?
A legit agent refers to an agent who submits you for professional film, TV, and theater productions. A commercial agent submits you for commercials – whether they're on TV, the internet, radio, etc.
Commercial agents are typically much easier to sign with because they're always looking for new talent. There are so many commercial agents looking for actors every month simply because of how many commercials shoot! Legit agents are much more discerning with who they sign because they need cream of the crop to submit for primetime television shows and major Hollywood films.
Commercial agents are typically much easier to sign with because they're always looking for new talent. There are so many commercial agents looking for actors every month simply because of how many commercials shoot! Legit agents are much more discerning with who they sign because they need cream of the crop to submit for primetime television shows and major Hollywood films.
How Do You Get an Agent for Acting With No Experience?
The best way to get a talent agent without any experience is by being young. As we discussed in a previous section called "Should I Get an Agent for Acting?" the younger you are, the more likely you are to get an agent without professional experience. However, the longer it's been since you've finished school, the more difficult it will be and the more an agent will wonder why your resume has no credits on it.
The only other way to get an acting agent with zero experience is to focus on getting a commercial agent first. There are many commercial agents looking for actors who are new to the industry, and having a thin resume won't hurt your chances with them. As long as you're good at acting and have availability for last-minute auditions, it should be fairly easy to get a commercial agent. You can then try asking your commercial agent for introductions to legit agents (only after you've worked together for a few months, and assuming you've booked work and done a good job).
The only other way to get an acting agent with zero experience is to focus on getting a commercial agent first. There are many commercial agents looking for actors who are new to the industry, and having a thin resume won't hurt your chances with them. As long as you're good at acting and have availability for last-minute auditions, it should be fairly easy to get a commercial agent. You can then try asking your commercial agent for introductions to legit agents (only after you've worked together for a few months, and assuming you've booked work and done a good job).
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