Choosing the right agent, help

[lyndahill]

Hi All, my dd's auditioned for Mark Jermin on Saturday, should hear today or tommorow if they were successful!! Lots of great advice from all of you since my original post on 'Choosing the right agent', still an ongoing search and work in progress My youngest dd has been offered a contract with Chilli Kids and Elizabeth Smith and both are seeing Mad Fish in June. Was hoping to have them both with the same agent, maybe that's a bit unrealistic as they have very different looks and talents?? Thoughts as ever, very welcome

I've sent you a PM

[Dodger'smum]

It is a minefield. My ds's now ex-agent was uncaring, harsh, bullying and never showed any evidence of valuing our ds's work and regularly stretched the truth.
My ds's list of credits on the website was not updated in the two years we were with the agent and it has put me off looking for another one completely. In the end we were paying out hundreds of pounds to get to auditions simply to keep the agent off our back - when we knew absolutely that the job was not suitable e.g. requiring a certain accent or talent our ds couldn't do/doesn't have. What a waste of time for everyone.
Are London agents all like that?!

[JTBmum]

I have noticed that certain agents can be a bit lax at updating stuff on their sites. I think you have to keep on top of it. They also sometimes put people up for things that might be slightly outside their comfort zone. With kids, this can be awkward as adults would presumably phone their agent to discuss the role.

[PoppyLily]

It is a minefield. My ds's now ex-agent was uncaring, harsh, bullying and never showed any evidence of valuing our ds's work and regularly stretched the truth.
My ds's list of credits on the website was not updated in the two years we were with the agent and it has put me off looking for another one completely. In the end we were paying out hundreds of pounds to get to auditions simply to keep the agent off our back - when we knew absolutely that the job was not suitable e.g. requiring a certain accent or talent our ds couldn't do/doesn't have. What a waste of time for everyone.
Are London agents all like that?!

I am sure not all agents are like this!! Out of interest was you're previous agent one of any I have been considering? It is a concern when, like me this is all very new and quite daunting. PM if preferable. Thank you.

[EmmaCV]

Has anyone actually heard back from Mark Jermin Management Agency about the workshop auditions on 27th April. The week after I was assured we'd hear. We didn't, they said they were busy and would definitely get back to us one way or the other, the following week. That was last week. Still nothing. I don't like to keep chasing but this appears to be totally incompetent. In the meantime, my daughter has been offered representation by a smaller agency elsewhere. But I would like to hear back about MJM. Just wondered if there are others in the same boat?

[riverdancefan]

Has anyone actually heard back from Mark Jermin Management Agency about the workshop auditions on 27th April. The week after I was assured we'd hear. We didn't, they said they were busy and would definitely get back to us one way or the other, the following week. That was last week. Still nothing. I don't like to keep chasing but this appears to be totally incompetent. In the meantime, my daughter has been offered representation by a smaller agency elsewhere. But I would like to hear back about MJM. Just wondered if there are others in the same boat?

I hope you hear back...unfortunately we never did, considering we a one-to-one with him ( ina coffee shop) and DS sung and acted his heart out I thought it was ignorant in the extreme!!!

[PoppyLily]

We auditioned too and have still not heard back!! My dd's are very disappointed as it was one of their first times auditioning for an agent and to not even send a quick email to everyone letting us know what is going on, says a lot about MJ

[EmmaCV]

I had a feeling it wasn't just us! I have just sent another E-mail (I've sent one per week, don't think that's extreme.) Just think it's very rude and, even if we were to get offered now, we are of the opinion that we will still go with the small, lesser known agency, as at least they know how to communicate. Extremely disappointed with MJM, and, as has been said on here, it doesn't take a lot to let people know what's going on. Doesn't instil much hope towards getting any advice about auditions etc.

[Dodger'smum]

I had a feeling it wasn't just us! I have just sent another E-mail (I've sent one per week, don't think that's extreme.) Just think it's very rude and, even if we were to get offered now, we are of the opinion that we will still go with the small, lesser known agency, as at least they know how to communicate. Extremely disappointed with MJM, and, as has been said on here, it doesn't take a lot to let people know what's going on. Doesn't instil much hope towards getting any advice about auditions etc.

Good for you, EmmaCV. Follow your gut instinct. I wish I had. Two years down the line we realised what we were dealing with after a two hour drive to the St Albans area for the annual photoshoot and catch up - we had our appointment, stuck to it and turned up only to be told our agent had gone to let the dog out . We waited for ages and then decided to get our tired and upset ds home. And that was really the straw that broke the camel's back for us.
I hope you find a kind, warm agent with a true sense of courtesy who values the children - and if you do, please forward their details!

[lyndahill]

Madfish management-not with them (yet), but they are very courteous and professional and value the children

[DQsMum]

I do wish that there was a LIKE button on this site, I could use it for every wonderfully educating, informing and encouraging post made by PG. Thanks again, I have a similar situation in the pipeline and its great to have your insight on that Dear John letter.

LIKE

[PoppyLily]

We are auditioning in June for Mad Fish Management, they seem very efficient and helpful plus there have been some great comments about them too on this forum. Very disappointed with MJ and even if my dd's are offered representation I think I will give them a very wide berth!! Just to add Urban Angels books are open for one week from today to apply for the South region Also Daisy and Dukes books are open again in July, you just have to send across an email and photographs and wait for an invitation to attend.

[PoppyLily]

Hi All, just checked my Twitter account!!! appears that MJM has time to tweet whilst many of our lovely dc's are still waiting to hear if they were successful at the agency auditions!!!!

[Dwafffamily]

Your gut instinct is there for a good reason and I always listen to it. You don't want to be going with any agent if you're already feelingn unsure or doubting.

[paulears]

I know I bang on about it - but getting an agent is a two way process. Little point in being the least marketable person on a really busy agents list - because they'll be working for the best people first. Being one of a small number of people on the books of a perhaps new but very keen agent can be great. I know plenty of friends who had what they thought was a good agent, but didn't know that they were spending their time promoting others to good clients, while just taking repeat business on them.

One told me that as he had a slightly unusual name, that he realised how little he meant to the agent when he called on the general office number rather than the agents direct line and the receptionist asked him to spell his name twice. He realised that meant she was not even aware who he was, so in the office he certainly wasn't being talked about! He changed agents shortly after that, and has suddenly discovered new opportunities, and the old repeating jobs have become less.

The new agent also introduced him to another way of working (money wise). In the past he'd been offered a fee, and accepted - then paid the agent's commission on this fee. Other times, he'd been offered a split of box office, again with the agents fee to pay. The new system was buy and sell. The agent offered him a set price for a job, then the agent would sell the show for a higher figure, keeping the difference as the 'commission'. His old agency didn't seem to do this. He's not convinced it's a better system, but just one that appeals to some clients.