An agent is one who represents artists such as musicians and actors, dealing with things like public relations and contracts. If you're new to show business, an agent can help you find affordable contracts and advance your career while you can focus on your job. Getting an agent, however, is a delicate task that requires a certain amount of experience.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part One: Gaining Experience
Step 1. Work as hard as possible
The best way to kickstart your career and interest managers and agents is to get busy and start working. Agents are looking for talented and established artists to profit from and not just talented artists who have never worked before. If you need to get an agent to manage your acting career, you need to act first. If you want to be a singer, you have to perform.
Perform and take any job you can find. While this type of experience may not be exciting, remember that you have to get up to speed if you want to reach the top. If you're a musician, attend festivals that are open to all and grab a few nights out at local clubs. He also attends radio studios and tries in any way to get your music heard. Always give the impression of being a reliable worker
Step 2. Refine
Aside from gaining as much experience as you can, you must also attend master classes and study as much as you can in everything related to your art. Even if you want to be a comedian, you will need to take dedicated courses where you can learn and hone in things like timing and metrics, as well as receive constructive criticism from other peers. So, look for courses in your area and sign up.
If you don't like the job you do, there is no point in looking for an agent to start a career in this field
Step 3. Compare yourself to others
Build a network of trusted contacts that you can use as a starting point to improve and get advice from them. They will be able to give you great advice and also help you find an agent. If you have an actor friend who managed to get a part from a professional agency, it might be a good opportunity for your friend to introduce you to that agency.
Help your acquaintances in turn. If you find out they are looking for actors, tell your friends and colleagues as well instead of keeping it to yourself and hoping to get the job. When a friend of yours gets a part, celebrate together and be happy for him. Sharing your luck will do everyone good, and others will be more willing to help you too
Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Meet Agents
Step 1. Find out what agents work and what kind of people they are looking for
Some successful actors, like Bill Murray, have no agents and work alone. The agent is the one who sets auditions, contacts the director and gets the right contacts for you. Having you as a customer must mean big profits for him.
- Typically, agents are paid by the customer according to the number of contracts entered into, rather than through a monthly salary. In other words, if your agent organizes a concert, they will keep a percentage of the profits. Therefore, if you are unable to work, it will be very difficult to find an agency that wants to work with you, because you will not make a profit.
- To make a good impression on an agent, you need to be personable and personable, as well as have a lot of experience behind you.
Step 2. Build a social media presence
Advertise your artistic activity on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social networking platforms. Use these tools to forge relationships and stay updated on friends, colleagues and the industry in general, as well as search for agents and agencies.
Use the cocktail party rule: consider social media as a professional platform. Never tell a person you intend to have a business relationship with something you would not tell them at a cocktail party. Use social networks as a means to advertise your concerts, your shows and to congratulate the successes of others
Step 3. Create a resume and press kit
Typically, a press kit includes photographs, references from other actors and directors you have worked with, and other material you have, as well as a few brief examples of your work. A resume is a formal list of all your work experience in the field, so you won't need to mention summer jobs you did when you were fifteen on your acting resume.
Step 4. Ask for recommendations
Ask other actors to recommend you to their agency and try to get an interview with these agencies soon. Discuss your goals with the agency and talk about your prospects.
- Be realistic and avoid overdoing it. Nobody wants to have an aspiring, whining and childish star in their office. If you are a professional, behave like one.
- Avoid calls. Once upon a time, to arrange an interview, it was enough to send photographs and CVs to the various agencies on their own initiative, but this is no longer the case. Now, you need to get a recommendation from a representative of the agency or participate in competitions for young talents organized by the various agencies.
Step 5. Prepare for an audition
If you can arrange a meeting, you will have to study how to behave with the agent and also prepare some material to be performed on the spot, just like for an audition. Prepare a couple of monologues or scenes. You certainly don't want to be caught unprepared and waste such an important opportunity.
Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Choose an Agent
Step 1. Make sure your agency is trustworthy and licensed
Agencies are generally regulated by the state and must comply with applicable laws and taxation. Unfortunately, there are many people who pass themselves off as regular agencies even though they are not in order to circumvent young actors at their first experience.
Search the internet to find reliable information about the agency you contacted
Step 2. Find out how many clients your agency has
Universities often make public the number of teachers and students due to the fact that, theoretically, a good school has fewer students for each teacher, so that they can work better with children. For your agency you need to look for the same type of organization.
A good, honest agent with few clients from a small agency may be able to follow you better than an overworked agent from a large agency
Step 3. Make sure you get along with your agent
The relationship with your agent will be a real interpersonal relationship, not just a business relationship. You need to be able to find an agent you get along with, with whom you can openly discuss your ambitions and safe plans. An agent who intimidates you or doesn't believe in you is not the best choice for your career.
During the first few meetings, explain your plans. Ask your agent what he sees in you and where he thinks you can go. In fact, discussing your plans together and trying to find the solution to each problem together will be a good way to judge the plausibility of a working relationship between you
Step 4. Don't be afraid to say enough
If you are not satisfied with your agent and you believe you have made a wrong choice, perhaps because it does not represent you well or does not demonstrate enough professionalism, find another one. Be patient though and don't expect great results in no time, however if you find that your agent is deliberately cheating you or you find that he is taking advantage of you, break up any business relationship.
Many young actors are intimidated by looking for a better agent because they fear they will no longer be able to find an agent to represent them and give them stability. Some of them think that having an agent, but not a job, is always better than nothing. An agent who can't find you a part, however, is an agent who doesn't exist. If your working relationship is not working as it should, you are free to look for another one that is more suitable for you
Advice
- Study the type of contract to enter into with your agent. You certainly don't want to let him take all your sweat-earned money.
- Pay close attention in choosing the agent. Don't rely on the first agency you find on the Internet.
