Nathan, first thing I'd say is, when I started in UK 12 years ago, internet didn't exist (well it did but it wasn't the tool it is today!!!) so there was no option to be seen through it using portals etc - the only route was agents. But before putting yourself on the market through agents and portals, I'll say what I've already said in the thread I posted the link of: practice reading aloud, sightreading, different intenetions with the same copy, etc... Ask for constructive criticism from people you know won't be kind with you for the sake of it, take those on board.
Then, have a showreel made by professionals - it needs to be not only professionally produced, recorded on professional gear, in a professionally set up recording studio, but also HAS TO look professional if you want to stand a chance for your showreel to be listened to - any handwritten thing and it's straight to the bin.
For your showreel pick what you're going to put on your demo according to your strengths. A good idea is to go to this page
http://www.voicefinder.biz/?page=casting_room&subpage=search_by_criteria
and do a search for a voice similar to yours - listen to the showreels of your competition, how they've done it, the material used etc...
I'd also advise you to read this page
http://www.voicefinder.biz/?page=voices_join_here&subpage=your_demo
loads of info about demos - and while you're there why not browse the rest of the help pages, a gold mine for anyone in the VO biz.
And then the game begins! You'll send your CD to all the agents (there's a VO agents directory on the same website)... and chances are you'll hear nothing. You'll call them, and they'll say they haven't had the time to listen to your demo, or that their books are full. How can you persuade them they should take you on? Do some work and show them you are a 'viable product'. How to get some work without being represented? This is the luck you have compared to when I started: you have voiceover portals. Having said that, there's no garanty they'll accept you: good ones will only pick people with good showreels. Other websites will be happy to take anyone's money even if their demo is recorded in their loos! Some are cheaper than other, then again they may be just a website, they don't market it, nobody in the industry knows they exist... they're ghosts! So all I'm saying is, do your research before you apply - it's an investment. See how the website feel? Does it look professional? What's the content? How is it helping people who use it (the producers) and the artists?
See it that way: would you rather pay £10 to be in an obscure directory never distributed, or £100 to be in the yellow pages?
Having said that, being on the free ones can't hurt, but don't expect the moon!
Then you might discover that you work enough through it and don't want a VO agent, or you'll still want a VO agent. If you do, having done VO work will help to convince them that they'd be quids in with you.
Hannah, if you go to the page I've posted the link of above, they have a list of reputable people who do demos.
Best of luck!
