Having an agent, how things work?

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fudge97
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Having an agent, how things work?

Post by fudge97 »

Hi

Just got a couple of questions if anybody can advise? DD is in the process of being taken on by an agency. I'm just wondering what the implications will be in terms of what the expectations are for availablilty for castings/auditions etc? Are you expected to be available pretty much all the time? What about holidays etc? How do you go about planning things when you don't know if/when you will be called or have work? For example, there is a good amateur summer scheme for two weeks in the holiday that she would definitley benefit from if she isn't already doing work through the agency. She would have to apply by the end of the month and audition in May but am I right in thinking this would be a problem because she needs to be available during those two week for auditions and work through them?

Hope this makes some sort of sense, can't seem to express myself very clearly this morning!

Thanks
janine

Re: Having an agent, how things work?

Post by janine »

Hi Fudge, You can notify, your agent that your daughter is unavailable at certain times, for example when you have a holiday booked, if they are busy filming, or performing, doing summer schools ect ect. You should have already told L when you are available in April, it wasnt just for the photographs , but also so that they know your daughters availability for castings, as Easter is a time when many people take holidays. Feel free to book your daughter on the scheme(mine is doing a few) & just let them know in advance, then if castings are available they know not to submit your daughter... If you have not notified you would be expected to be available (unless ill of course). Hope this helps. :D
fudge97
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Re: Having an agent, how things work?

Post by fudge97 »

Thanks Janine, that's good, I don't want her to miss an opportunity when there's no guarantee that she would have anything through the agency at that time so I will go ahead and put her application form in. It's all helpful experience anyway!
pollypickles
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Re: Having an agent, how things work?

Post by pollypickles »

My DDs are both with an agent and also do easter and summer workshops with a local company. If either of them have a main role then I inform our agent of the dates that they will be unavailable. If they do not have a main role then I will pull them out of rehearsals to go to auditions as they generally pick up what they have missed pretty easily. Most local companies I think would be fine with this. It has only happened to us twice as things can go quite quiet in the summer months, good luck with it all :D :D
fudge97
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Re: Having an agent, how things work?

Post by fudge97 »

Thanks Pollypickles, I think we'll go ahead with it. It says on the form that you have to be able to commit for 2 weeks but as I'm pretty sure it won't be a main part as she is in the youngest age bracket able to audition and the main characters in the show (West Side Story) are older, I will just have to let them know that if an casting comes up through the agency she will have to have time off for it. 8)
fudge97
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Re: Having an agent, how things work?

Post by fudge97 »

Just wondering now, as we are obliged to let the agency know when DD is going to be unavailable, does this included Sundays? Are castings/auditions ever held on a Sunday? Just querying as I know she has one or two things such as festivals coming up that will be on Sundays.
pg
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Re: Having an agent, how things work?

Post by pg »

I think that if you know that your dd is not available on any date, even if it's a Sunday, it is worth mentioning. Although it is rare (in my experience) for work or auditions to take place on Sundays, it's not completely unknown. Certainly "travel days" for commercials sometimes include Sundays.

I tend to send periodic emails to my agent detailing all the dates when I know I won't be available. I also include dates where I have things set up that I could change if required, but would need some notice - so that my agent knows to check with me if something clashes.
fudge97
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Re: Having an agent, how things work?

Post by fudge97 »

Thanks pg, I will give them all the dates then.
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