Getting an agent

Hi Grace, you really need to be in a showcase or production and invite agents to see you perform. Hope this helps. Julia

• 10 years ago
• 1

Hi Grace,

I had the same problem. I wrote to about 50 agents repeatedly and invited them to several productions in London and also at the Edinburgh Fringe and had no luck. I got mine because a girl was in a play with had her agent coming and she saw me took me on too (I emailed her after i got her details from her current client). The best thing to do is keep writing to agents each time you are in a decent role in a central London location and also work on a showreel. The age category we are in is especially tough (there are a lot of people in your bracket), you just have to keep building your cv and not give up. Also, don't worry about it too much as you can still act without an agent if you are proactive. If you keep at it someone will notice you eventually if you have the talent.

I hope this helps

Abi Blears

• 10 years ago
• 2

Hello again Grace

This link may help.
http://www.castingdays.com/www.castingdays.com/Welcome.html
Best wishes
Julia

• 10 years ago
• 3

Have you got a showreel?Even if its not top grade or even if it is just scenes you have set up yourself it is imperative nowadays.Agents are busy and this is the best tool you can use to get their attention.I hope you believe me and make this investment.Good Luck :)

• 10 years ago
• 4

1. Talent 2. Self belief 3. An excellent show reel 4.A fringe play you can excell in.
Network continuously and keep you ear very close to the ground.
Then an agent will magically appear, remember there is a hierarchy of agents, aim for the top.There are a lot of average ones towards the bottom, who have very little clout.Don't take the first one that appears. Desperation is not a good word in our business.
Bon chance Brian

• 10 years ago
• 5

And my tuppence worth is this:
I agree with ALL of the above, very helpful advice.

However, when it comes to your letter / email, it should be friendly, brief and to the point. Time is a MASSIVE factor for an agent. They want to know what you realistically want of them.

Research the agent you are writing to. Avoid generic letters wherever possible. And don't give up!


The best of luck!

• 10 years ago
• 6

My advice would be to be more specific. There can't honestly be 50 agents that you want to be signed with. Do not fall in to the trap of thinking that any agent is better than none. I have a small, specific list of less than half a dozen agents that I know would be right for me (and me right for them!) and I write to them as and when I have a reason to. If you send out in bulk I think it's pretty obvious to agents, so they'll know that you're not interested in them personally but just interested in having an agent! Also, I agree with Jack - a showreel is vital if you want them to consider you. Hope that helps x

• 10 years ago
• 7

I didn't take the 'any agent is better than none' approach nor did I write blanket letters. I have messaged you a response Katy to clear it up xxx

• 10 years ago
• 8

I didn't suggest anything of the sort.

• 10 years ago
• 9

Thanks Adam. It was genuinely meant to be friendly advice for Grace from my own experiences but it seems I have been misread by someone else. I think it's important that we all support each other and offer advice especially if people are specifically asking for it. Al the best Grace, hope you get success for your efforts x

• 10 years ago
• 10

You can continue to build up your CV without an agent. This will give you more ammunition.

I never met any of my agents in person. I emailed them with showreels, CV and cover letter.

Definitely recommend you start doing some home made stuff. Other actors may share a different view, by my homemade material really helped.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Farahsardar

I don't recommend you put extra credits on your CV.

Just keep building up your CV. You may even find an agent approaches you. :)

• 10 years ago
• 11

Hi Farah,

Im battling with a showreel. I keep getting parts more for theatre than short films and the short films that I do get, I never get the footage. Im not sure what to do. At a loss with this.

xx

• 10 years ago
• 12

Hi Lemice,

I wouldn't wait for the parts to put one togther. Do some of your own stuff. Even with the acting parts I got, I didn't feel I was putting across the kind of actress & performer I really wanted to be.

The least you need is a good webcam and Windows Movie Maker for editing. Make you sure you get the light right so you look at your best.

Do check out some of the homemade shorts on my You Tube Channel if you wish. I'm no expert - just giving it my best shot like everyone else. But I have got audtions/roles from my homemade stuff.

My former agent said even an introduction to camera is helpful.

• 10 years ago
• 13

Yeah its all about being seen and hustling. I got myself on a showcase which had two shows in Leicester Sq and invited agents. Agents are busy, and dont like travelling far from the office, so anything thats on their door step will be better. I was lucky enough to get signed after my performance. Look up "Reduced Circumstances Theatre" there are a lot of these kinds of things about but as I said, this one was in Leicester Sq so it was about as central as you can get. Break a leg!

• 10 years ago
• 14

I think Simon Wan is a top chap and gives sound advice

• 10 years ago
• 15

Hi everyone from this discussion, I am currently applying for an agent. I have recently got a new showreel and voicereel done and applying. Can anyone give me some advice in regards to cover letters/emails please? Thankyou in advance also some feedback on my showreel would be greatly appreciated too :)

• 9 years ago
• 16

I'm not a fan of your photos Lauren the ones by Sam are very murky as if the contrast is way off but I'm assuming these were a favour by a student photographer https://www.flickr.com/people/samwalkerpk/ and the leejay ones your head is strangely crushed up into the top right of frame with a white v neck that leads even my eyes down to your "cough" whisper "cleavage" rather than looking into your eyes. Without good pics you won't get past first base whatever you put in your cover letter.

• 9 years ago
• 17

Thankyou for your advice Nigel, This photo I have on my profile was taken by the person who did my showreel just temporary. I have got headshots booked but due to the photographers popularity I havent got a date until July. But I will see if I can get some done before then. In terms of my showreel what did you think?

• 9 years ago
• 18

I think that they are pretty good clips for student films that show you up well. Usual comment though, the montage does nothing even if it is only a very few seconds long so I think the general advice would be to drop straight into the clips.
The fact that the clips then duplicate themselves with similar scenes would probably mean most people would turn off thinking "we've seen that before", but you can add more clips as you get them.
Good luck.

• 9 years ago
• 19

Thanks Nigel, I am filming 2 more scenes at Pinewood over the next 2 weeks to add to final showreel :)

• 9 years ago
• 20