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Changing Agents - Advice?

Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 12:45 am
by AlexHL
Hello, everyone I was just wondering if you could give me some advice about changing agents!

I am an 17 year old actress, and for the last year I have been with the Jackie Palmer Agency. I have found them brilliant as an agent - they are always helpful and quick to reply to emails etc. However I have not got any auditions since I have been with them. I know it is sometimes normal to not get auditions for a while, but I never have not had one for this long! I am 18 but look about 14/15 - so thought I would be an ideal sort of age!

A few weeks ago I had an audition for A&J management - and have just been offered representation by them - however I now feel slightly unsure about what to do.
A&J definitely have less clients than Jackie Palmer, which I know is sometimes a good thing. Also, A&J represent adult actors whereas Jackie Palmer generally only represent people up until the age of about 22.

However I realise the fact that I have not got any auditions in so long may not be the fault of my agent, it may simply just be I'm not suitable for anything. However before I joined Jackie Palmer I would usually get one audition every couple of months. I know Jackie Palmer do submit me for things (I happened to ask about something advertised on Screenterrier and they said they had already submitted me), but I do not know how much, and of course would feel extremely rude to ask exactly what I have been submitted for.

Any suggestions would be welcome!

Re: Changing Agents - Advice?

Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 7:34 am
by Flosmom
AlexHL wrote:...would feel extremely rude to ask exactly what I have been submitted for.
Why? That's not rude at all! Flo's agent provides a report of everything she has been put forward for as a matter of course.

You both want the same thing - to get work for you - so I would advise you to approach them with your concerns and ask why they think you haven't had any castings for so long and what you could do to improve your castability (is that a word? :lol: )

I remember a NAPM who had this problem did just this and found that the agent had noted that her DC was not available for auditions at all when they had only been unavailable for a short time. Once they corrected their error, the auditions came through again. I'm not defending their error, but we all make mistakes so it could be easily solved.

In any case, its your career, so information that affects it should be made available to you. Just ask nicely with a 'please' and a 'thank you' and I'm sure they'll be happy to help you. After all, it helps them too.

If you don't get a helpful response, move somewhere else.

Hope this helps - good luck

Deb x

Re: Changing Agents - Advice?

Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 11:57 am
by Caroline A-C
Alex, you have probably been submitted for many jobs as I know JP are good at that. However, it is then down to the casting director to request someone audition. If you ask JP's what they have submitted you for they will not have any problem letting you know. It would be good to have a chat with then anyway as they are working for you effectively. May also help you decide whether changing agents is the best option. A smaller agency has more time to concentrate on individuals but it won't necessarily bring more castings.