Just over a month ago I successfully auditioned for an agent that had a small selection of clients but hadn't worked as an agent for very long.
Since then I only heard from her to sign up to an american casting site which I did. She also applied for a couple of things for me on castingcallpro (which I would have done myself anyway).
In fairness I had not called her myself but as someone who is new to the business I thought these things took time to get going and didn't want to be a pest.
Now this evening I receive an email from castingcallpro to tell me that my agent had removed me off her castingcallpro account. She has said nothing to me.
Is this usual for agents to behave like this? To just dump you without any mention as to what may be wrong? I am just left very confused.
You're obviously feeling really hurt at the moment that's why you felt you needed the comfort of the forum to spill out your pain - Don't blame yourself, don't give up, treat this as a learning experience.
What that agent did to you is extremely un-professional, cruel and unfair and you would do well to let us know their name - reputation is everything and Agents like this need to be shot down.
I found out my last agent was running a letting agency - and he also fluffed up a negotiation with an important employer - I got rid of that piece of .... - by the look of it, you've had a lucky escape! :)
I don't have an agent out of choice because in reality there are only a few very good ones that can 'Manage' a career not just get you jobs.
I don't think the litigation route is something to be considered lightly in this Industry unless something seriously bad happens - I think forget it and move on.
Not very professional at all!
You obviously placed a lot of faith in this Person/Agency, and they have done this to you.
Disgusting I say! especially as you heard about in the manner that you did. but take heart, there is a well worn phrase, "what goes around, comes around"
You'll get over it. . . (you're an actor), the best thing that you can do is go on to be great at what you do, and who knows one day the same person might get in touch with for a role, and you'll be able to take great delight and say. . . " You know what! "NO THANKS"!!
plj
There's a great story about Brendan Gleeson being told by a Hollywood agent that he was .."too fat and too old.." Mr Gleeson promptly replied "I'll see you at the Oscars pal".
Sure enough, a few years later Mr Gleeson, now an established star, was at the Oscars, when who stepped into the lift he was in? Said agent of course. A long silence ensued..
Don't be down. Forget it and move on.
Hi Rob.
I sort of know where your coming from. I'm not suggesting call in the layers as such. But I have to say that along with maybe, death by excessive makeup or being accidently stabbed to death by an over zealous Macbeth, breach of contract is a serious matter.
I'm not sure you can ignore these things.
Agreed, very rude and very unprofessional! You're better off without someone like that. I hope you get a good one very soon, meanwhil, chin up and carry on. x
Never forget your agent should be working with and for you, if you are not working they are not getting paid so it is in both your interests to build a good relationship and understanding of what you expect from each other. Never be afraid of calling your agent or meeting face to face to make sure they are representing you in the way you want to be represented.
Only hearing one side of the story it sounds as though this agent is bad news but you deserve an explanation.
I meet very few actors who are happy with their agent, but then again if you don't talk to each other how do you know you are working to the same end
Good luck x
Sounds like you had a lucky escape! Don't dwell on it, move forward with the knowledge that if you never heard from them then they probably weren't doing much for you and possibly holding you back too!*
*based on a bad experience (let's not forget that sometimes our luck's just not in..)
My first agent after leaving drama school was a bad 'un. Never heard from them and when I got in touch to ask about what I'd be put up for I got a very rude, badly written and shocking email in return. Imagine if that was the way they spoke to CDs or employers!
I realised at that point that I had wasted 6 months, potentially been associated with someone vile, and got a new one. Nothing wrong with the new one but I wasn't having much luck with castings and they weren't near enough to London for me.
I'm now very happy where I am, and before that was very happy with my previous agent.
Good luck with finding an agent that's right for you and don't worry about what's passed. Get out there as a confident gal and you'll soon bag a new one.
Thankyou all for your support and advice. I did get in contact with my agent and she said it had been an accident afterall. I feel like I was a bit quick to jump to conclusions and write it about on here but I think I was just a bit shocked! However all your advice has actually been very helpful for how I should continue with the working relationship and what I should look out for.
Well personally I'm thinking my agent has dumped me! I have emailed jobs, Heard nothing back, they never call me. I did one job which was a hovis ad and after that nothing. I have emailed, tried to call but they dont answer but they have not removed me. I have yet to see my picture on their website which they assured me was going to happen. I went out to work over weekend and what did i see down the street? A filming crew filming a new drama. I was gutted as it was bad snow and with the trains being as they are I may have had a good job there! I get only Silence. I am a member on facebook maybe i should just confront them on there? I don't know what to think?!?
This does seem odd, as your agency appear (from the website etc.) to be reputable enough not to be simply scamming you, but I cannot understand why they would not tell you that they have dispensed with your representation if that was, indeed, the case. What concerns me more is the idea that you cannot actually get any sort of access to them - this is never the sign of a good agent/client relationship, and I would have hoped that even if, say, your agent is out of the office, there is a secretary employed who can take the message and promise to pass information on. But, frankly, you should not have to be begging on your hands and knees to get an audience with your own agent in the first place. If the offices are centrally located, David is right: there is no reason why you cannot journey there in person, although without a prior arrangement having been made for a meeting that may be a chancy solution.
I have noticed that there seem to be plenty of other clients represented by the agency who are listed here on CCP - do you happen to know any of them, even in passing? If so, you could do worse than to private mail them, and ask if they have experienced the same problems with representation recently, or whether or not there is something anomalous going on in your case?
Some agents *are* very loath to actually keep in touch with you unless there is 'news to report', and I have no idea what sort of emails, messages you have actually been leaving - sometimes there is no meaningful way for the agent *to* respond - but I agree with you that simple matters like ensuring your headshot is posted to the website should not be arduous, and the very fact that you can get no easy response from the agency as to what's going on in order to set your mind at rest is not a good sign in itself! Good luck with finding out more!
Erm, I think that issue has been dealt with, Kevin, several months ago, if I recall, and it turned out that Claire was correct in a guess, and the whole situation with Victoria had been a miscommunication, rather than an attempt to deliberately take an actor off the books. This is all clearly stated if you read the mails through in detail. It is simply that the old thread has been revived in recent days for the sake of more discussion on other experiences with similar situations. Asking Keziah to name and shame is fairly redundant, anyway, as I can (and have) accessed her CCP profile and looked up who she's represented by, just as you can.
I am of the belief that when anyone signs with any agent they should negotiate the commission for any work you do.
For example:for work sourced and obtained by the agent then their own set rate of commission applies. However if you find the work yourself with no input from the agent either no commission or a very reduced rate should apply. Or when you source work yourself but include your agent in contract negotiations then a different rate should apply once again.
In commercials/adverts for tv or film there is in general a 20% add on for the agent anyway. So they should be pushing hard for those.
I think we are often so desperate to find ANY agent that we jump in with no thought of the 'business' side of the work we are involved in.
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