How much Does it Really cost to get a Talent Agent, and how do you find a good one?

Question

I'm an asprining actress and I want to take my career to another level by getting more involved in my work, before I graduate high school. What is the most effective way to finding a talent agent in the Columbia, SC area and at what price? Also how do you weed so called good agents from bad agents and what exactly should I look for in an agent since I've been finding auditions and doing this on my own for the past few years?

Answer 1

In the United States it is illegal for a talent agent to take a commission for work obtained for talent they represent and charge a fee for their services of representing the talent.

Franchised agents (the ones you should use) charge 10% commission. Period. No other fees.

Answer 2

Agents don't cost you anything up front. If an agent takes you on as a client they are agreeing to front their time, effort and money to promote you until you book a job at which time they take 10% which is all an agent is allowed to take on any SAG contract, period. Any agent who takes more for an acting job is not legit. Managers tend to take 15%, Print agents take 20% or whatever is negotiated, etc.

Do a search on Sag.org or get a copy of Ross Reports. They (RR) are also available online through backstage.com

Any so called agent that asks for money up front or a percentage bigger than 10% (for a talent agent to an actor) is a scam and you should stay away from them.

Keep in mind this is a very competitive business. You need to be well trained, take lots of acting classes and have lots of experience before most agents will give you the time of day. Things may very well be different in your area so it's always worth a shot. Mail them your headshot and resume and a cover letter and see if you hear back within 6-8 weeks. If not, wait until you have more experience to put on your resume and try again.

good luck

Answer 3

Hi,

If you do a search here on answers you will see other answers to this question, as it comes up usually a couple of times each day. I answer this question a lot and so instead of writing the same or similar answers over and over again, I have created a 36-page ebooklet that, even though you are not a beginner, it will give you some clues as to what you could be doing to help you get the recognition you most certainly deserve. 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.

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 in New York. Using the same process, I also got casting directors to actually start calling me in directly for auditions. Listen to what the others say and DO NOT EVER pay for an agent. The agent gets paid ONLY after he/she gets you a job and is paid for it. Then you get your cut. You don't have to fork up any money to be represented.

The third resource I can offer you is to go and take the Actor Quiz. It might give you some clues as to what more you could be doing to further your career as an actor. You’ll find it at: http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/actor_quiz.html .


I would love to be able to help you more, but I think that if you take the time and read through and watch and listen to the resources I have given you here, that you will find something that will help you. So go get yourself your favorite drink and get started! J

Hope this helps!

Tony
ceo
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com

Answer 4

We have posted this many, many times.
Legitimate Talent Agents, are not permitted, by law, to charge actors for representation. Agents are ONLY entitled to a 10%-15% commission on the money you, the actor earns.

If an Agent asks you for money, immediately leave the office, as you found a SCAM agent, or a fake agent taking advantage of you.

The best way to find a Talent Agent is to ASK YOUR ACTOR FRIENDS.

If you do NOT have actor friends, I recommend that you find acting classes, enroll and network with the actors in the class so you can get the in's-and-out's of how the industry works in the city where you live.