I Want One ! ! !
Hello to the room.
I'm looking for an Agent who is likely to take on somebody with limited professional experience, and would appreciate any names you might have. I'm prepared to travel and, like most people of my generation, prepared to work hard to get on.
'There are no problems...Only solutions'
Cheers
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The more gaps an agent has on their books the more likely they are to take you on regardless of experience level.
The industry is flooded at the younger end of the age group so the competition for agents tends to be more fierce.
Just pull together as many contact details as you can find and send your stuff off.
Of course if you can find details of any showcases that people are putting together. preferrably somewhere in london, a lot easier to get agents to come that way since they tend to be busy and can fit things like that into their lunch hours. Thats probably the best way I imagine but it wont hurt to try both!
Good luck!
Thanks for that Che. Perhaps the other 300 people who viewed this thread were too shy to say anything!! Tee hee
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If all else fails just grab yourself a copy of Contacts from any half decent bookstore. That has all the addresses and numbers you need.
I have one of those but I just wanted to target the Agents who are more likely to take 'newbies' as opposed to 'stars' and who better to ask than the people who know!
The main concern i ahve is that most Uk agents will be looking for some form of formal training to qualify for representing you.
I knwo it seems harsh to say , but I suggest you think about taking a year at teh Actors temple etc to get bsome high expert training and then get the agents to come to that showcase. Most professional agents need to feel secure that what they are taking on is reliable and able to represent tjem in the best possible light. You will make industry contacts at teh Actors temple, or even consider the Poor School for trainging while you work. Its a really good way to sharpen yourself.
This is the best way if you want an agent who is taken seriously in the profession and who will be able to gte you seen for the good jobs- not just TIE etc- and there are many who are useless in Contacts.
PS.
The fact that you are not even on Spotlight will count against you in looking for an agent. You have to be a Spotlight member as the majority of castings take place online now.
Spotlight will only put you on if they are convinced your training is equal to that of other professional actors. I am simply trying to say that its not just about "getting an agent". If it was that simple, even people who have much more training than you would not be agentless.
Since you're based in North Yorkshire (like me) I recommend you contact N.E. Representation in Darlington who have a good 'Walk On' register. They cover the area. 'Colouring Book' in Leeds also have the same.
Believe me mate, you DON'T want one. They are all dodgy, they are all in it just to make money and couldn't care less about your actual career, and they are even sometimes the WORST thing you can do. An agent does not automatically mean work, but it does usually mean a big pain in the arse and a percentage of your money.
Dear, dear, Timo...that's not very constructive now, is it.
As with any profession, there are good agents and bad ones...the trick is finding out which is which.
Contacts is a really good place to start as the cowboys don't tend to list themselves in this directory.
I've viewed your reel and you shouldn't find it too difficult to get someone to take you on as you can certainly act.
Hang in there and things will fall into place, but be patient, these things don't happen overnight.
Regards,
ForbesKB
Hi Graham,
I'd just echo what the others have said about going through Contacts. Forgive me referring to your age, but you do have it on your side though - there will be a lot less competition for places so it could be worth your while looking at agencies with an online presence and targeting those who don't have anyone like you on their books. That way, there will be no conflict for submissions with another actor.
Good luck!
Forbes is right. Nothing happens overnight in this business!!!
Agents don't actively go out to find work for you, specifically. They are more likely to find castings on the doormat in a morning and think 'Oh, Yes. Let's see if so-and-so is available' rather than chase business! So in a way Timo is right too. An agent never guarantees you a living wage. So you have to put loads of effort into getting work for yourself.
That wy you COULD become an OVERNIGHT SUCCESS in about 25 years like most do!!!
Good luck.
Alan
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I wouldn't worry so much about this 'newbie' tag you're giving yourself. As echoed by other people, you have age on your side and any agent is keen to take on people with potential/talent and see where it goes. All of the big agents take on 'new' people. You just tend to find that internally, clients are partitioned off and represented by differing agents within the agency itself. I hope that makes sense.
Thanks for all your comments on this thread.
Fortunately I'm not a starry eyed youth and I realise that this industry is difficult for most of the people in it whatever their ages, and I know an Agent isn't going to make me fat, but it might help put a bit of jam on the bread now and then!!
Sorry Blake but that's that strictly true re: training. Yes it helps but it's not a prerequisite, if you have talent and are a quick learner that could get you just as far as if you'd trained. Of course it's always of benefit as an actor to fine tune your skill and we should always be looking to improve ourselves, but it's not absolutely essential. Learning on the job is often far more, or just as, effective.
Lx
Might I suggest co-ops? These are often inundated with young actors but are often missing mature ones...
Also, loads have websites now (or links on CCP) so you can easily see whether they have someone in your bracket. A great time-saver!
Thanks again for your comments.
I will try to carry forward all the positives and bear in mind the negatives!
Cheers
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Can I ditto Sally? Co-ops would be great for you to target as they do often have gaps for older (esp male) actors. And, as you say, if your professional experience is limited it would be a great place for you to increase your knowledge of the business side of the industry. Plus it's a great way to have that extra bit of control over your career and insure that you have at least one day a week doing something industry related! Good luck with your quest.
Ellie
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The other thing to bear in mind is, (and apologies if I'm making an obvious point here - don't mean to teach my grandmother to suck eggs), that agents often want to see you performing in something. Some audition, but you stand a much better chance if there's a professional show they can go and watch you in.
Of course, then you get to the Catch 22 - no agent so no work, but no work so no agent - which is where lovely casting sites such as this one come in!
Good luck!
I used to have an agent and he got me 2 auditions in the whole time I was with him.
In that same time I've been flown to the states to film for high profile rappers, got a part in a channel 4 series, basically all the things on my cv I got myself.
2 weeks ago I signed to a great agent, in that time I've auditioned for 2 bbc shows, a coke advert and a government ad campaign.
So the difference of an agent can be astounding. But it depends on the agent.
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Also, when I graduated school, many (7ish) people from my year were taken on by one particular agent (that is a quite good one, whatever that means). In short, at least half these people have been dropped 18 months later for not getting anything, a few have done some good quality little bits and one is in the RSC! And the guy that did really well (RSC) got all the jobs that led up to RSC himself! So even if you have the same agent, the outcome may vary wildly and there is a lot of responsibility on the individual actors to generate work still.
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