an agent or have any audtions or whateva
2007-06-07 05:26:35 · 3 answers · asked by ♦τΗίЅ girι♦ 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
I'm not sure where you're located, but if you want to find a legitimate agent to represent you for commercials, TV & film go to Sag.org. Use the dropdown menu on the right labeled 'resources' and choose 'agent information'. On the next screen, on the left choose 'Find a SAG franchised agent' and follow the directions. You can look up agents all over the US, but there are higher concentrations where the work is (Los Angeles, NY, IL, FL, GA etc.)
Then you can send them your headshot, resume, and a cover letter stating that you are seeking representation and wait to see if they call you in for an interview.
Once you have an agent, they will get you the auditions, but until then you can check out actorsaccess.com. You can also see if your state has a film alliance. Sometimes they post audition information for projects filming locally. For theatre, you can go to backstage.com or http://www.actorsequity.org/castingcall/... If you find the audition on the Equity site, you still may be able to go, as long as their not taking appointments from equity actor's only :-) On backstage.com you have to pay to get all of the info, but the initial search is free and you may be able to see enough info to find out the rest on your own without paying OR you can go to your local bookstore or newsstand in some areas and look at their print publication (new every Thursday) for free.
Good luck!
2007-06-07 08:07:47 · answer #1 · answered by Marianne D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a copy of the Ross Reports. It's a complete listing of agents who are casting things and what they are casting. Write a nice cover letter and mail them your headshot and resueme. That's about all you can do to get in contact with them. If you are in a show or a play send them an invitation to come see it and follow up on your mailings. I'm not saying mail something every week but anytime you are in a show or even if you get new headshots send one their way. It's the most professional way to do it.
2007-06-07 05:52:57 · answer #2 · answered by fixing_uh_hole 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How To Get An Agent?
Well...?
There are several different resources you could use to get in touch with agents. Rather than talking about how to get in touch, you might want to start thinking about what your strategy could be. ...another time!
Consider the following when it comes to getting an agent:
What kind of acting are you interested in primarily? (Film, televison, industrials, commercials, voice-over, commercial print) You can find agents that specialize in many different areas, but big agencies will have different people within their agencies handle different areas.
Do you know your type? If you don't, find out. And then find out which agents cater to your type.
To find out who are the agents that cater to your type, get a copy of the Ross Reports, Show Business weekly, New York or LA Agencies or something similar in your area (that last one is a resource by Sue Porter Henderson and her website address is www.hendersonenterprises.com). I don’t know what city you are in, but even if these publications don’t have addresses of agents in your city, it will give you some ideas as to the kinds of publications and information that exists.
Sue’s agencies booklet which is updated quarterly shows what kind of actors agencies are looking for (what kind of talent in that particular period).
It goes without say that you need a headshot and résumé. But find out first how to put together your résumé. There is a standard industry format with three columns and usually the eyes go immediately to the third column, because that’s where the credibility lies. It’s not only about what you’ve done, but also about with whom you’ve done it! Also besides your acting experience, agents and casting directors will also look at your training, where you train, the frequency and consistency with which you train and with whom you train. There are many professional services that can help you if you need help.
Carefully select the agents you want to target, and do a mass mailing that is TARGETED to specific agents that cater to your type. Send out a headshot and résumé and don't forget a cover letter, which must be very brief and to the point and state why you are looking for that agency to represent you. Remember that there are thousands of actors who are sending mail to that agent so anything you can do and say that will make you stand out from the rest is a good thing. Just keep it within the realm of what’s “acceptable”. You might want to think of using envelopes with a big window, so that the agents’ offices that receive your packet see your picture even before they open it. From what I gather, still the majority of actors still don’t use those kinds of envelopes. It could provide you with a slight advantage. Maybe. Every little thing you can do differently than the rest could be of help.
You will need to find out how to write a good cover letter. Like I said, short, sweet and to the point. There are lots of books about it. One good one is by a guy named Brian O’Neil and it’s called Acting As A Business: Strategies For Success. I think it’s a must read for any new actor. He also has examples of résumés depending on what kind of credits you have. And he also tells you how to build the résumé, which is very important.
It’s a numbers game, so send out a lot of packages, but expect to get back a low number of responses: anywhere from 5 – 10%. It really depends on a lot of things; how good your headshot is, how good your cover letter is, whether you targeted the right agent, whether your agent is looking for your type in that moment, etc. If you don’t hear anything back, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re not interested. It could just mean that they’re not interested in that moment.
So once you have made initial contact, you will need to follow up. Timing is important as is the way you follow up. One way is to use post cards with your headshot on it. Use the postcards about once every three months to report what you’re doing and to keep in touch or even more often if you have something to report, like a show you’ve been in, movie and industrial, commercial or whatever. Don’t send them to say hi or have a good summer. Report what you are doing. Even report close calls, meaning call backs or on-holds even if you didn’t get the job. It means that you got close and agents and casting directors like to hear that as well.
Once you get that far, you should start getting some responses and some meetings. Like I said, it’s a numbers game though, but be focused and don't think that if you just send out mass mailings that you will be successful. Target your mailings and you will have greater success.
This is just part of your strategy though. There’s got to be more…
There are also schools like Actors Connection in NY where you can go and meet casting directors, agents and personal managers. It will cost you a small fee to audtion, but if you have no connections at all, haven't had any for a long time and don't know how you would get any, then it could be a good move. I've gotten representation in this way and consequently jobs too.
It is also a place to go and take classes with casting directors and agents, which gives you the chance to not only meet them, but also to work together with them for anywhere from a few hours to an entire day or more. That in itself can be very valuable. More on that on another page.
Lastly, you can submit yourself for jobs online: Here is a list of websites through which you can submit yourself. It's not as good as having an agent, but I have gotten some audtions and jobs this way. I use nycastings and actorsaccess mostly. I have found that with two or three of these sites, I'm pretty much covered with regard to the important auditions that are out there. Once you start checking too many different sites, you find that there is a lot of repetition.
www.actingdepot.com
www.exploretalent.com
www.actorsaccess.com
www.backtoholding.com
www.bigbreakny.com
www.castingnewyork.com
www.easycasting.com
www.actormarketing.biz
www.nycastings.com
Hope that helps,
Tony
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/start_acting_career.html
2007-06-07 06:45:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋