Paulears,
I would prefer a separate new thread where people score their agent/agency out of 5 or 10 for various different attributes that includes some questions like:
Are you able to make contact with the agent successfully?
Are you comfortable making contact with the agent?
Do you feel the Agent is a good communicator by Email?
Do you feel the Agent is a good communicator by phone?
Do you find your Agent ever hostile? (or do you find your Agent always friendly?)
Are you happy with the Agent?
Do you feel they are working in your best interests?
and the best one of all: Would you recommend this Agent to others?
Etc etc. Obviously such questions are subjective to each person's experience but a pattern might emerge. Even better if its one of those online polls where you can be anonymous as I do think people are naturally afraid to speak out.
Dumped due to Spotlight enquiry?
Moderator: busybusybusy
Re: Dumped due to Spotlight enquiry?
Yes - nice questions but you also need to consider that despite being a nice pleasant community, like all things performing arts, it's a bit competitive. Whose scenario would be recommending your agent, and then discovering the new clients they pick up dilute your own work.
If I had to be very honest, I'd have to own up to not suggesting certain people to a production company, because I know they are willing to work cheaper than me. It's very difficult to share good systems that work for you. I doubt it's going to be that easy.
One of my old dancers had some pretty grotty headshot, and asked her friend where hers came from. She then had a new set produced, and got an increase in work which may have been down to the pictures, who knows. When she got the first job and the original girl didn't, they never spoke again. Very difficult to give away a gem to a competitor, even a nice friendly one.
If I had to be very honest, I'd have to own up to not suggesting certain people to a production company, because I know they are willing to work cheaper than me. It's very difficult to share good systems that work for you. I doubt it's going to be that easy.
One of my old dancers had some pretty grotty headshot, and asked her friend where hers came from. She then had a new set produced, and got an increase in work which may have been down to the pictures, who knows. When she got the first job and the original girl didn't, they never spoke again. Very difficult to give away a gem to a competitor, even a nice friendly one.
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Dodger'smum
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Re: Dumped due to Spotlight enquiry?
Hello Netty,
Thank you for your PM. Yep, it's the same agent!
I can only guess that, in the same way her webpages are rarely updated, so her various administrative obligations (e.g. replying to Spotlight's renewal alerts) are just left to ride. I'm not just angry about the appalling treatment we (and most likely others) have received, but because in a busy world it's an additional hassle having to fill in all the Spotlight forms / find showreel etc all over again. I also wince when I think about all the wonderful opportunities - like your DS's - which have just been ignored and lost.
As Spotlight said, moving forward can only be an improvement. Let's hope so
So glad you posted x
Thank you for your PM. Yep, it's the same agent!
I can only guess that, in the same way her webpages are rarely updated, so her various administrative obligations (e.g. replying to Spotlight's renewal alerts) are just left to ride. I'm not just angry about the appalling treatment we (and most likely others) have received, but because in a busy world it's an additional hassle having to fill in all the Spotlight forms / find showreel etc all over again. I also wince when I think about all the wonderful opportunities - like your DS's - which have just been ignored and lost.
As Spotlight said, moving forward can only be an improvement. Let's hope so
So glad you posted x
Re: Dumped due to Spotlight enquiry?
What a surprise. Not.Dodger'smum wrote:Hello Netty,
Thank you for your PM. Yep, it's the same agent!
I can only guess that, in the same way her webpages are rarely updated, so her various administrative obligations (e.g. replying to Spotlight's renewal alerts) are just left to ride. I'm not just angry about the appalling treatment we (and most likely others) have received, but because in a busy world it's an additional hassle having to fill in all the Spotlight forms / find showreel etc all over again. I also wince when I think about all the wonderful opportunities - like your DS's - which have just been ignored and lost.
As Spotlight said, moving forward can only be an improvement. Let's hope so
So glad you posted x
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
Sadly there are others popping out of the woodwork who are unhappy at the way they have been treated/spoken to too. First to extricate ourselves from this situation, then afterwards we will reflect on the outrage of it all. Cheers, Netty.
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Dodger'smum
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Re: Dumped due to Spotlight enquiry?
I cannot believe how many NAPMs have had /are having the same awful problems with this agent! Wow! 
It should not be allowed to happen... in fact, how is it allowed? I'm guessing things would be very different if we had to pay them for their services (non-existent in this case) or if we could name and shame without fear of being sued /struck off? Shame there isn't a 'TripAdvisor' for agents 
Thank you everyone for your PMs. As Paulears said, it's easy to find an agent but not easy to find an agent who will market you properly. I think the problem is that the latter only becomes evident some way down the line when opportunities have been lost etc.
Good luck to you all in your search for an agent who deserves your children x
It should not be allowed to happen... in fact, how is it allowed? I'm guessing things would be very different if we had to pay them for their services (non-existent in this case) or if we could name and shame without fear of being sued /struck off? Shame there isn't a 'TripAdvisor' for agents Thank you everyone for your PMs. As Paulears said, it's easy to find an agent but not easy to find an agent who will market you properly. I think the problem is that the latter only becomes evident some way down the line when opportunities have been lost etc.
Good luck to you all in your search for an agent who deserves your children x