Agents - What to say?

[BoatThatRockedFan]

If you go to an audition and then judge either by looking at the other people there or by some new information you receive whilst at the audition that the chances of you getting the part are probably slim due to age, looks, height requirements should you contact the agent after the audition and tell them that you think this? Is it good for them to know that the reason you didn't get the part probably isn't because of your acting/ audition technique or will agents get irritated with this type of contact?

Also, on a different but still relevant note, if when your agent sends you the specification for a casting you think you don't fit the part is it better to not go to the audition or to go and not get the part?

[Genevieve]

if your agent sends you for an audition and on reading the brief it doesn't sound like you look at all what they're looking for and you feel you don't have a cat in hells chance....still go along, because it often happens they end up casting someone that doesn't match it anyway, and they could be casting other parts anyway, so theres a chance you could be considered for them - and your agent has sent you to be seen by the casting director, which is always a good thing.
However if the casting brief states that you will have to play the trombone or harp at the audition, and you can do neither, a call to the agent to mention your musical ability, or lack of it, would be a good idea !!
As for calling the agent after an audition, I'm not sure about that one, only that if everyone on their books did that they would always be on the phone! You could make a note of your experiences at each audition so if at some point you check in with your agent you could mention your thoughts on why you think you may not have been successful so far, at least then they will know how attentive you are and have always done your best to represent the agent.

[BoatThatRockedFan]

Thank you

[BoatThatRockedFan]

If anyone else has any other advice it would be very much appreciated.

[fairystarlet]

If my child really doesn't fit the brief I call the agent, who then informs me that they selected him for casting so want to see him!
Also I sometimes send a quick text / email about the casting if there is something important I want to mention otherwise I leave it.
Hope that helps.

[pg]

I don't think there's any harm in contacting your agent to let them know how an audition has gone, though I wouldn't phone if I were you, unless they've asked you to. Drop them an email if you want to. However, if it's a casting for a commercial then your agent will know quite well that these things are a complete lottery and certainly won't be blaming you in any way for not getting a recall or not getting cast. I think if you try to explain why you think you didn't get it, it will come across as rather insecure, which probably isn't good for your relationship with the agent. It's often impossible to know why you were not cast in any case.

It's worth remembering that if you have been called in for a casting, it is because the CD wants to see you.

The CD might give the agent feedback from the audition (it's rare, but it does happen) in which case the agent should pass this on to you. If you think that the agent is consistently sending you for things you are never going to get, I would suggest it's worth looking at your photo and seeing whether it gives an accurate image of you. CDs do call in people who don't fit the original brief sometimes, but they will definitely be put off if they have called you in because of your photo and then you turn up looking nothing like it. If you think your agent has no idea what you are really like, then you do need to tackle your agent about this as soon as possible.

Agents will be doing themselves no favours if they submit you for jobs for which you are unsuited, so probably your agent knows what they are doing. It's definitely better to go to auditions than not! How can you know whether you are right for the part if you don't go and try? The only exception to this is if it costs you lots of money to get to auditions - in this case, you may have to weigh up whether or not it is worth it for you. I sometimes say no to castings to commercials because of the cost of getting there. I know that my agent would prefer me to go but she does understand. At the moment, because of being a long way from London, I have asked not to be submitted for commercials (which are a bit of a lottery) except in exceptional circumstances (e.g. really brilliant money or where the brief is very specific and fits me to a T).

Don't worry about being unsuccessful in terms of your own reputation as an actor (if that is what's worrying you), being seen by a CD is very rarely a waste of time - though it may sometimes take more money than you can spare.

Hope that helps.

[Genevieve]

definitely true when it comes to meeting a brief...My dd went for a casting, read the brief, she fitted it, but the person they ended up casting looked absolutely nothing like the brief !!! happens all the time ! - so it really doesn't follow any specific pattern- but absolutely, always better to be seen than not !

[JTBmum]

Genevieve is right, better to go and be seen and do your best, you never know...