NotaPushyMum.Com

Hi everyone, I have two questions to ask, both about agencies but different topics.

The first is, what on earth is the difference between a covering letter and a CV? I know I'm a grown woman and should probably know- but I don't! There are some days where I feel completely knew to this peforming world, like when you're the new parent who has a peforming child and know nothing about the business! My DD is more of a speaker, and has trouble with her writing, she has trouble with her grammar and making her sentences structure well and make sense, and as she's applying as an adult now she dosent want anythings she writes to sound unprofessional, immature or wrong.
So yes an explanation or what to put on a covering letter- or what it is would be very very helpful!

Secondly, we've looked at a few agencies where some have said "head shots" while others have said "send a small photo". We were wondering is it the way they have wrote it or do some agencies not mind you sending an unprofessional photo? We have two photos, and they are of her in a plain cream coloured top, against a navy blue background ( a cloth) and a white - ish/cream background (wallpaper).. So its not as if its her with her friends or holiday snaps! And this could be biast of me but they look really good for unprofessional photos and there just of her head and shoulders. We have a headshot appointment booked for about 3 weeks time, we couldn't get one earlier- the problem is around that time DD is very busy with workshops, training and our holiday so for the agencies she could apply to with "photos" she wanted to get out of the way so if she does get a audition it's not all stress an crammed around that time, as we would both quite like it sorted before mid September.

Thank you for whoever can help, I know I ramble on but it's a habit!

Haha thanks again

X

Hi there!

I do think that if she is applying for agency representation that you would be better to wait until you have a truly professional looking photo. It's a bit different for younger performers who change rapidly but for older/adult performers I think agents will be expecting a professional headshot. I don't think size is a big issue. The standard size is 10"x8" but many agencies are happy with email applications in any case so you wouldn't be sending a hard copy. If you are sending a hard copy, then I think a 10x8 is what many would expect, but if they state "small" - then send them that. They may be stating "small" for email applications so that you don't send a huge file size attached to the email! Make sure that the photo is a suitable file size so that you don't annoy them by clogging up their inbox.

A CV (Curriculum Vitae/course of life) is a list of your daughter's performance experience - a covering letter is an introduction explaining why you are writing and what you have to offer.

These things have been discussed a lot on the forum - though it might be tricky to search for as they are such common words. Have you tried a search?

I would recommend having a look at Casting Call Pro. You can click on performers' photos and have a look at the CVs there and you will also see the sorts of headshots actors use.
A performer's CV should normally cover no more than one page.

Also, your dd may need to be prepared for the fact that lots of adult actors' agencies do not audition actors. If her CV and photo are of interest then they may ask her to let them know when she is in something they can come and see - or they may accept a showreel. She will be in competition with a lot of drama school graduates looking for representation too. Is she going on to further/higher education? That might also be an issue for agents as they do like adult actors to be available at the drop of a hat.

Sorry to sound like a wet blanket, but the competition for agency representation amongst young women is pretty fierce!

@pg thank you so much!! Wet blanket? No! Really thank you or being honest- that's what we wanted and really needed to hear! Literally thank you with the photo section - it makes a lot more sense with the size now

And no I haven't looked on casting call pro so I shall do! DD is taking a gap year. Oh I completely forgot - I had heard lots of agents like to watch a possible client in their work so ... Ahh the audition thig might be tricky now. I guess we can only hope for the best.

But thankyou so much - really!

X

I really recommend Actors' Yearbook. You can either get the most up to date edition or you can get earlier years' editions quite cheaply second hand.

There are quite a number of agents' contact details there (not as many as in Contacts, but still a good number) and it gives advice on how to approach them. There is also a lot of advice about other aspects of the profession and contact details for theatres etc etc.

There are lots of interesting articles in it too.

Well worth a read for a decent overview of the profession I think.