NotaPushyMum.Com

Just a quick question (or asking for thoughts) on applying for castings/auditions yourself even if you already have an agent?

One would obviously assume that your agent puts you forward for everything you are suitable for, however, if you see something that is advertised somewhere, do you think its okay to email details/pictures yourself without asking agent first, as obviously that is how they are asking for submissions?

I have asked about amateur things as I assumed this would be seen as being 'procactive', gaining some experience and valuable understanding of how sets and such works...but general impression from agent is that it isn't a very good idea...better to be available at all times than off doing own amateur stuff of a low standard which will not add very much to resume. But what about paid work?
I ask because I saw a tweet by a known casting director for photos for a lead role (no dialogue) for a tv commercial. I emailed, but then realised afterwards perhaps it should go through agent/ask agent first/already been submitted i included my spotlight pin which obviously details agent anyway...but I just wondered if people think this is okay/do it themselves? and what everybodys thoughts were? I am a young performer rather than a child, but it would be interesting to hear thoughts on both and perhaps differences in how people view this sort of thing the older you get?

I always run everything past my agent.

I think it's the sort of thing you just need to chat to your agent about. If it's a commercial it's very likely to be widely circulated so you may well have already been submitted. There's no harm in asking your agent whether or not he/she has seen it and submitted you.

It's great to be proactive and to research opportunities. It's quite right to be making contacts and chasing down opportunities. Sometimes it will be appropriate for a submission to come directly from the actor but I think your agent should always know what you are applying for - and I think it's wisest to check with your agent before making the application/approach. Apart from anything else, you could be applying for something that might clash with something (better) the agent is trying to get you seen for. Also, in my experience CDs will take submissions from agents more seriously than submissions from actors (this is because good agents are more particular about only submitting actors who are absolutely right for the brief I think whereas quite a lot of actors "chance it" even when they're not right for the role). The exception to leaving it to the agent would be where you have a direct connection to the casting team - in which case you should let your agent know.

I also tend to think that my agent knows which jobs to avoid. Some opportunities that don't get cast via the usual routes are paid vastly under the going industry rate. I know that there is at least one CD my agent never deals with because of this. Applying direct for something like this would put my agent in a difficult position when it came to the contract.

What an actor can and should do is network. That doesn't mean ask for work or stalk people and hound them to take your CV it means going to see things and talking to people and keeping in touch with people you have worked with before. Actors will hear things on the grapevine that their agent has not heard about - in which case they can alert the agent and work with them to try to get in through the door.

Commercials are absolutely brilliant for the bank balance (when they are properly paid). Agents will love them for this reason (especially as they don't take you out of the marketplace for long). They may be quite good for a snippet of showreel material and they may sometimes be quite good exposure. I don't think they are otherwise seen as particularly significant credit - mainly because they are such a lottery and could go to anyone. For this reason I don't think they need chasing as a CV credit but they are certainly not to be sneezed at as a worthwhile job.

As always pg, your knowledge and advice is invaluable, thankyou.

I don't know if it's a combination of tracking down opportunities and applying for them myself for so long before I had an agent that has made me prone to thinking that I should just apply myself, or the fact that i'm inexperienced and would hate to seem pushy and/or ignorant by contacting agent or seeming unprofessional, but as you have said, that's clearly the wisest thing to do. Although it seems like i'm just sitting around and not doing very much to help myself really! I guess it's a constant learning experience and I know not to make the same mistake again!