One of the free services the good people at Backstage provide for their readers is a message board that allows you to interact with other actors. Due to my busy schedule as a giant of the industry, I don’t get to post there as often as I’d like, so I’m going to answer one of your questions right here in my column. It’s a topic that comes up all the time and needs to be addressed.
“Hello, SAM! I am thinking about moving on from my agent. I very much appreciate the hard work he has done, but I feel he has taken me as far as I can go. I want to submit to some more prestigious agents that book a lot more TV and film. My question is, how do I let the companies I approach know I am moving on from my agent when I submit? Should I leave my current agent first before submitting, or can I put in my cover letter that I am currently represented but am moving on? I would rather wait to see if any of the other agencies take an interest before leaving my current agent, but I want to do what is right. Thank you for any advice!”
It’s a sad thing. You work hard to find an agency that will sign you and after a certain amount of time, you realize it’s not a good fit. Maybe they’re not getting you out enough or maybe they don’t have access to the kind of projects you’d like to do. Whatever the reason, you come to the realization that it’s time to make a change. And just like the reader who posted this question, you start thinking about how to do it correctly.
Imagine this: You’re alone on a ship in the middle of the ocean. You’ve decided to leave because the sails are ruined, you’re out of food, and the ship is dead in the water. So what’s the smart move? Do you jump into the shark-infested ocean and hope another ship comes along to save you? Or do you wait until another ship is in sight before you jump?
Never leave an agency until you have another one in place. It’s just common sense. And you don’t know what kind of audition might come along while you’re searching for new representation. In a perfect world, the switch should be seamless. You’re with Company A on Monday and then you’re with Company B on Tuesday.
READ: How to Get an Agent
Also, it’s perfectly fine to tell the agents you approach that you already have representation. If anything, that might make you more attractive to them! No established rep is going to get excited about signing an actor who’s never had an agent. We prefer to take what belongs to another. So be honest, because this is one of those times where honesty really is the best policy.
Once you’ve made the switch, you should consider what went wrong with your old agents so history doesn’t repeat itself. Maybe there needs to be more communication on your part. Or maybe you need to have lunch with them so they can get to know you better. Do whatever it takes to course correct.
Knowing when to walk away is a good thing. Just ask my ex-wife. She’ll tell you all about it.
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