We live in a world without patience. Everyone wants everything now. There’s no reason to wait when digital technology and a fast Internet connection can present you with every fact known to man in mere seconds.
Waiting is for suckers.
Well, I don’t agree with that. Yes, I like living in a society where I can stream any film ever made at a moment’s notice, but I still believe there are times when slow and steady wins the race.
To prove my point, allow me to present you with the typical young actor, fresh out of school and hungry for success. He has just arrived in L.A. or New York with enough money to pay the rent for three months. And what’s his first move? He starts looking for an agent.
This is a mistake.
Look at it this way. An obese man without a job decides to change his life so he can meet the right woman and get married. I love it. That’s a great plan. But the guy sabotages himself by setting up a profile on Match.com before getting in shape and finding employment. In other words, he skipped a few steps and by doing so, doomed himself to failure.
As an actor, you have to give someone like me a reason to take you on as a client. There’s no point in sending out submissions and signing up for every agent workshop in town if you’re not ready. So to help you get off to a good start, here are five questions you need to address before you start looking for an agent.
1) Is your life in order?
Signing with an agent means you’re going to be auditioning for mainstream film and television projects. That requires focus, and it’s hard to focus if you’re worried about paying the rent, buying a car, ending a relationship, or any of the other issues that are constantly on
your mind.
2) Do you have at least two amazing headshots I can start using right now?
Thanks to the Internet, eye-catching pictures are more important than ever. It’s not like the old days, when casting directors would search through hard-copy, 8-by-10 submissions; now they just stare at screens crammed with tiny thumbnails. That’s why your pictures have to pop!
3) Are you in the union?
If we’re working together and you’re not in SAG-AFTRA, my hands are tied because I have to limit my submissions. So why should I waste time with you when there are thousands of other actors out there who are already in the union and ready to go?
4) Have you studied with someone I know?
The training section on your résumé needs to have names I recognize. There are plenty of teachers in both L.A. and New York who are known to the industry. Studying with these people doesn’t guarantee anything, but it does let me know you’re serious about your career.
5) Is there anyone who will vouch for your talent?
No, I’m not talking about your parents. I’m talking about people in the industry who will call and tell me I’d be a fool not to sign you. It’s called a referral, and referrals are everything in this business.
I could easily add another five questions to this list, but maybe you should come up with a few of your own. Just put yourself in my shoes, think of more reasons I wouldn’t sign you, and then do the exact opposite.
Like this advice? Check out more from Secret Agent Man!
