Agencies in the south yet again!!!!
Moderator: busybusybusy
Agencies in the south yet again!!!!
I know there have been so many posts about agencies put on here, but I find it such a minefield. Do the agencies recruit throughout the year ? Do I need a CV for my DD before approaching them? If anyone knows which tend to be the better ones & receptive to new enquiries, I would appreciate your help.Many thanks. I know this must be a very boring subject to a lot of you
Re: Agencies in the south yet again!!!!
It's so hard to answer this with anything very definite! Agencies do sometimes have specific times when they "open their books" (this seems particularly common for extras agencies). The times vary - sometimes it's annual, sometimes it's twice a year or more. The only way to find out about it is to contact the agency (often the information is on a website).
I do think that the vast majority of acting agents (not extras agencies) always have their books open in reality - they just won't advertise that fact. Lots of agencies will say "please note that we are not taking on clients at present", but you can bet your bottom dollar that if they came across someone exceptional then they would not turn down the opportunity to sign them up. I can imagine, for example, that an unsigned actor might really impress an important director who might then recommend them to an agent. That doesn't mean that I think you should ignore "closed books" - you're just likely to irritate agents if you blatantly ignore what they are saying. I just think that the industry is not at all transparent - nor is it particularly fair. Contacts/"who you know" mean that you can sometimes by-pass the normal ways of doing things. I do know of a recent example where a director has helped an actor to get a more prestigious agent (he was already represented). I also know of casting directors who have been happy to suggest agencies for actors to approach - and have been happy for the actor to use their name. If an agent knows that a CD is "backing" an actor then they are obviously going to view that particular submission with more interest than a random one that has come unsolicited - though it doesn't mean they will definitely take them on. I suspect this sort of thing goes on more often than is obvious.
As to the "better" ones, well that's really tricky because an agent that works brilliantly for one may not work at all for another. Here's a useful post from Golightly viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14145
and here's my take on it (from another thread)
I still maintain that you should never pay to be on an agent's books. I know that there is a difference of opinion about this for children's agencies and that not everyone agrees with my view. There are some children's agencies that don't charge (apart from the Spotlight fee, and this doesn't go the agent anyway, it goes to Spotlight). I'd definitely make those that don't charge top of a list. The reasons are obvious to me: 1. If you get no work/auditions through them - it will be disappointing, but at least you have lost no money 2. If you get no work through them, they MAKE no money - so it is obviously in their best interests to promote you!
I think the best agents are those that:
a) have been around for more than a year or so
b) don't have any conflict of interest by being both agent and casting director (can't understand how this can possibly work!)
c) don't insist that you have to attend workshops that cost you money
d) don't charge any fees for representation (and don't try to hide the fact that they charge by calling the fee something else)
e) are approachable and easy to communicate with
f) don't have hundreds and hundreds of clients (unless they have several agents)
g) have a policy of never taking someone on unless they have met them and seen what they are capable of
h) are prepared to tell you a bit about their experience
i) want to know about your career aspirations and interests
That might seem like a long list, but actually I think they are all pretty vital!
I think it's a case of doing as much research as you can and trusting your gut instincts.
I do think that the vast majority of acting agents (not extras agencies) always have their books open in reality - they just won't advertise that fact. Lots of agencies will say "please note that we are not taking on clients at present", but you can bet your bottom dollar that if they came across someone exceptional then they would not turn down the opportunity to sign them up. I can imagine, for example, that an unsigned actor might really impress an important director who might then recommend them to an agent. That doesn't mean that I think you should ignore "closed books" - you're just likely to irritate agents if you blatantly ignore what they are saying. I just think that the industry is not at all transparent - nor is it particularly fair. Contacts/"who you know" mean that you can sometimes by-pass the normal ways of doing things. I do know of a recent example where a director has helped an actor to get a more prestigious agent (he was already represented). I also know of casting directors who have been happy to suggest agencies for actors to approach - and have been happy for the actor to use their name. If an agent knows that a CD is "backing" an actor then they are obviously going to view that particular submission with more interest than a random one that has come unsolicited - though it doesn't mean they will definitely take them on. I suspect this sort of thing goes on more often than is obvious.
As to the "better" ones, well that's really tricky because an agent that works brilliantly for one may not work at all for another. Here's a useful post from Golightly viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14145
and here's my take on it (from another thread)
I still maintain that you should never pay to be on an agent's books. I know that there is a difference of opinion about this for children's agencies and that not everyone agrees with my view. There are some children's agencies that don't charge (apart from the Spotlight fee, and this doesn't go the agent anyway, it goes to Spotlight). I'd definitely make those that don't charge top of a list. The reasons are obvious to me: 1. If you get no work/auditions through them - it will be disappointing, but at least you have lost no money 2. If you get no work through them, they MAKE no money - so it is obviously in their best interests to promote you!
I think the best agents are those that:
a) have been around for more than a year or so
b) don't have any conflict of interest by being both agent and casting director (can't understand how this can possibly work!)
c) don't insist that you have to attend workshops that cost you money
d) don't charge any fees for representation (and don't try to hide the fact that they charge by calling the fee something else)
e) are approachable and easy to communicate with
f) don't have hundreds and hundreds of clients (unless they have several agents)
g) have a policy of never taking someone on unless they have met them and seen what they are capable of
h) are prepared to tell you a bit about their experience
i) want to know about your career aspirations and interests
That might seem like a long list, but actually I think they are all pretty vital!
I think it's a case of doing as much research as you can and trusting your gut instincts.
Re: Agencies in the south yet again!!!!
Many, many thanks for your helpful post pg. You obviously have a lot of experience in this field.