As an actor, you may be wondering how to take your career to the next level – that’s where an agent or manager comes in. These professionals help you find serious auditions for legitimate tv/film projects, negotiate contracts and secure better pay. But how exactly do you find an agent or manager?
Here are the top things you need to do to get on their radar:
- Work On Your Craft: Take scene study classes and perform in theater productions, student films, and any on-camera opportunities that may come your way. Always strive to improve your acting. This will help you stand out from the crowd and make you more attractive to agents and managers.
- Build relationships: Attend industry events, local theater productions, and showcase your talents at workshops and classes. Network with other actors, writers and directors can help you in more ways than one. Checkout local screenings and introduce yourself to the producers and directors.
- Research And Due Diligence: Take the time to research and identify agencies and managers that work with actors in your age range, type, ethnicity and skill level. This will help you find your perfect match.
- Make First Contact: Reach out to agents and managers via email or snail mail with your resume, headshots, and reel attached. Be sure to personalize your message by letting them know what projects you are working on at the moment. Reference any connections you may have in common in the industry. Use Seamless.ai to find ANYONE’S contact info, agents, managers etc. This tool is AMAZING!
- Be Patient: Finding the right agent or manager can take time, so be patient and stay persistent. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back right away; keep working on your craft, network, and build relationships in the industry. When you focus on your art, the reps will come to you.
Schedule a Free Consultation - Be Professional But Ballsy: Always be professional in your communication with agents and managers. Use proper grammar and spelling, and be respectful of their time and preferences. TBut you must think outside the box. Everyone writes the same bullshit email. Your job is to be special. Figure out what kind of approach matches your personality. If you’re not getting any bites it’s because your approach needs to be changed or you have nothing to say. You know best.
- Keep expanding your skills: Whether it’s taking dance classes, improv, stage combat, stand-up, voice production, learning new accents – always strive to improve. This will turn you into a more rounded artist and a more marketable product for agents and managers.
- Headshots: Invest in new headshots that will get you noticed and give you an edge in the industry so you can finally quit your survival job and work solely as an actor. If you’re based in New York City, where the competition is high, investing in the best professional actor headshots is the most important thing you can do for your acting career. Don’t try to save a few hundred dollars by getting crappy headshots. Go for the top photographers in NYC like Lev Gorn of www.gornphoto.com. He is a professional working actor with a career that spans over 50 films and tv series. He is also a top-notch NYC headshot photographer. Lev knows exactly what an actor needs to reach career goals. Tell him you read this blog and you’ll get 10% off your headshot session.
Finding an agent or manager can be a daunting process, but by following these tips, you will increase your chances of finding the perfect match for your career. Remember to stay positive, push yourself, think outside the box, be pushy, learn and grow from your mistakes, and never give up on your dream!
