This doesn’t mean that you need one when you first start. The vast majority of people start their acting careers without an agent. But although it is possible to land some roles without an agent, the chances of landing a high-paying primary role without an agent are slim. Also, having an agent reduces your chances of running into problems or scams. If you are a serious actor, not having an agent is like running a delivery service with a bike. But what about those people who get their “big break” because they were discovered walking in the mall? The chances that you will be “discovered” are also slim to none. If you are going to be a serious actor, you need to eventually get an agent. Now this raises the question of: “How do I get an agent?”
Getting an agent is no easy task. First and foremost, you have to seek out legitimate agencies. There are many scam artists out their preying on people like you, beginning actors who have big dreams and a small amount of knowledge about the industry. There are a few things about agencies that can help you determine whether or not they are legitimate. Read Child Actor LA Scam prevention tips to make yourself aware of all these.
Agents do not charge you money for representation. Agents get paid a certain percentage (a commission) of what you make when you book an acting job. Generally, agents usually take a commission of 10-20%.
This is not to say that you won’t spend any money at all when you get started. For example, the very first agency that decided to represent me charged a $65 orientation fee. They told me that the charge covers the cost of marketing my materials. It was only a one time fee, and since it was just a little bit of money, I decided to take a chance and pay it. The agency turned out to be very legitimate and I had a wonderful experience during my time of working with them.
Not all agencies charge an orientation fee. Some agencies may not charge anything at all. However, it is important to remember that if they say something like: “We’d love to represent you (your child). All it costs to register for our services is xxx amount of dollars…..” then they are not an agency. They are selling you a service. If they hold a huge open call, take a whole hour to tell you about their services, and then tell you that you have to have a one on one interview BEFORE they can tell you how much their services cost (like when they advertise those ads on the radio about meeting the agency at your local Holiday Inn), run out of the building as fast as you can. It’s a scam.
If a so-called agent promises you that they are going to make you a star, chances are that they are not a legitimate agent. Any good agent will tell you that there are no guarantees in the industry.
Agencies have several different ways of interviewing new talent. They may hold open calls, they may only take mail submissions, maybe they only schedule one on one appointments. But i can guarantee you that a legitimate agent will not require you to send in any nude photos, or to come into their “office” and pose nude or take nude photos. Also, if they tell you to meet them at their home or in some old, abandoned building, just remember all those crazy slasher movies that you’ve watched.
Although you will have to make an investment in acting classes and photos, a legitimate agency will never require you to use a specific photographer, spend a certain amount on headshots, or to take specific classes. If they tell you something like “We’d love to represent you! All you have to do is sign up for our classes……” chances are they are a school, not an agency. If they say “All you have to do is have your photos taken by (name of photographer or photography studio), chances are they are not an agency. Legitimate agencies may, however, recommend a good photographer, and they may also prefer certain headshots over others.
Make sure that you research the agencies that you are interested in. Check with the Better Business Bureau, check blogs and/or message boards, research their success stories. And most importantly, trust your instincts.