Agents...?

Question

I'm trying to get on ABC Family, or Disney Channel. I act in school plays and theatres, my teachers tell me to do this, to sign up for something big, at first I was iffy, the idea of being on a world wide channel, I didn't know, but they kept telling me my talent was really good, and now I need an agent?
Message me please.

Answer 1

You're definitely off to a great start :-) Having talent is great, but you need to do a lot of work before you get an agent and go forth into the depths of Hollywood which is where you need to be fod Disney so if you don't live here I hope your family is ready to make the move!

You need to start off with Training. You need to get into acting classes and expand your knowledge beyond school plays and classes.

Next you need to build your resume. Community, regional & profesional theatre... Student films, independent films, etc. Once you get some good credits on that resume, that when you look for an agent. If you happen to have landed a great role, also a great time to look because you can send an open invitation for the to come see you perform!

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.

Please remember that reputable agents take 10% of your pay AFTER they help you get a job, not one penny before. Anything different is a SCAM.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Not to try and burtst your bubble in anyway but rarely is the talent anywhere near the level that someone's teachers, parents, brother, sister, dog or cousin twice removed thinks they are. The difference in talent level going from school plays, even at the collegiate level, to professional level acting is inmeasurable.

That being said, you should still try to achieve your goals and dreams, but why limit yourself to ABC Family or Disney? Everytime we see this type of question (And the regulars around here see it EVERYDAY) I have to wonder, does this person really want to become and actor, or do they simply want to be on a show that they like? If you want to simply be on a show that you are a fan of, and if this is your primary reason for wanting to become a actor, stop right now. It's difficult enough to become a "working" actor on any project, but when you start targeting projects it will be almost impossible.

But, that being said, regarding agents... Everyone assumes that you get an agent and you're set. This is NOT the case. Any of the "big" agencies won't even see you without an indistry refferal, and with no major credits your odds of getting a refferal are about as good as showing up at the Disney lot and saying "Hey I'm here, put me on a show". Often times you need to target lower level agents to get your foot in the door, boutique agencies are great places for beginners to target as they have the time to work more closely with you to develop your career.

My best advice is that if you really want to go for this, you need to develop your craft to it's highest possible degree, build your resume with prime credits, and keep hammering away regardless if you get a disney show or not. In time the agents will come looking for you and then you'll be in a much better position to make a choice of who you want to represent you. It's a huge decision that shouldn't be taken lightly or given to the first person who comes along and promises you the world. Remember these are the people that are going to directing your future for the next two to three years. Whatever you decide, best of luck!

Answer 3

Hi,

Similar questions come up multiple times daily. If you do a search here on answers you will see other answers to this question. I answer this question a lot and so instead of writing the same or similar answers, I have created a 28-page ebooklet that answers pretty thoroughly your question.
Just go to http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acs-blog.html , sign in on the right side of the page and you can download it for free. It's called: What It Takes To Become An Actor.

Whatever your teachers and people around you tell you, keep on studying your craft! You are at the beginning so keep on trying to get better. The people you will go up against, your competition for Disney, will be good! You have to be good too.

The second resource you might want to have a look at is this page: http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/how_to_get_an_agent.html . It takes you through a process that I used to get two agents and a personal manager in a short period of time. Just make sure you keep your parents involved in what you're doing at all times.

Hope this helps!

Tony
ceo
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com

Answer 4

From the Disney website:

I would like to be an actor in a Disney film or television series. How do I get started?

As with any career, education and practice are important. A good first step would be to discuss your interests with a school counselor or drama teacher. If you are not currently enrolled in school, we recommend taking some drama courses at your local college. We suggest you familiarize yourself with a local theater group in your area, and read the entertainment industry trade papers, which are available at most libraries. In these you will find advertisements for upcoming auditions. Also, The Walt Disney Company employs thousands of performers for the various Theme Parks and Resorts. Auditions are held regularly to cast singers, dancers, actors, DJs and VJs, musicians, and bands. For information on these exciting opportunities, please visit our Disney Audition site. When you feel ready to do so, you might consider finding an agent. Their job is to locate work suitable for you. As most film and television organizations require agency representation, having an agent is almost essential for getting paid work. Please understand that we cannot recommend a particular agent or talent agency. For information on how to find an agent in your area, please consult your local entertainment trade papers or the career and entertainment sections of your local library.

Answer 5

the easiest way to find agencies in your area is to simply search the yellow pages...go to yellowpages.com and type in talent agents