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Actors and Agents – How to have a successful relationship

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Photo Credit: Vancouver Film School via cc
It’s a big struggle sometimes to get an agent, and an even bigger struggle to find the right agent. One you feel comfortable with, one you know will work for and with you, one who you can talk to openly and frankly to, and one who you feel has your best interests at heart.
Every actor strives to have a great relationship with their agent, and likewise every agent wants to have a great relationship with their client.
I have a great relationship with my agent, but I know that it is a professional relationship. It is a mutual partnership with benefits and rewards for us both. My agent will arrange interviews and castings for me, and negotiate money on my behalf. My agent is always honest if he feels a job is not right for me, or if a company is not being fair with salary. My agent will believe in me when I am down and celebrate with me when I have success.
I know that it is not all a one way street, I can not expect him to put all of the energy into our relationship, nor should he have to do all of the work. I need to do my bit to keep our relationship healthy and to keep my career working for us both.
An actor agent relationship is a business relationship, you always need to remember that you are ‘the product’ which your agent will sell. You need to believe in yourself and in your agent. You need to offer them loyalty and commitment. You need patience in order to build a healthy actor agent relationship.
This is a business not a hobby and your agent will expect you to behave with professionalism at all times, you are not only selling yourself you are representing your agent and his reputation at any interview or casting.
Do’s and Don’ts for a successful actor/agent relationship
Keep your relationship with your agent professional and remember you are not only representing yourself out in the industry you also have a duty to represent your agent professionally when out on the job.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO check your email regularly and return calls promptly. Your agent might only get 24 hours notice for a casting so it is important you can find out about interviews as soon as possible so you can tell them if you need another time slot or you can confirm you have all the details. They don’t want to have to chase you.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T contact casting directors, directors, producers behind your agents back if you are discussing a business matter. Always go via your agent first and they can do the negotiating and business side of things for you.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO prepare for auditions. If your agent sends you some sides make sure you print them out and learn them. If your agent tells you how to dress then do your best to follow their brief. They are only telling you what the casting director has told them and it will reflect badly on you both if you don’t prepare appropriately.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T confirm an audition unless you are positive you can be there. Cancelling an audition reflects badly on both you and your agent, you should only ever cancel if you are sick or have a genuine emergency.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO keep your Spotlight page up to date. It is not your agents job to add credits to your page, it is yours. Don’t expect them to chase you. Add credits as soon as the job is finished, they might be selling you on the strength of your last job and if its not on your CV the casting director might not trust them.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T call your agent willy-nilly and ask ‘What’s happening?’. They are busy running a business, have a reason to call them, would you want them to just phone you and ask ‘What’s up?’. If it is not an emergency use email to contact them, then they can choose to get back in touch when they have free time.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO be realistic about your range and type. Trust in your agents judgement when they put you up for work, they understand the industry and they should know what you are right for either physically or in skill level. It is not the quantity of auditions your agent gets you the quality.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T expect your agent to get you the job. Your agent will get you the opportunity, it is up to you the actor to use your talent and professionalism to get the gig.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO contact your agent before signing anything. When you sign a release at a casting or on a job, it is a legal agreement, no changes can be made once anything is signed. If in doubt call your agent.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T be late. There is no excuse. This will reflect on your agent as much as on you. Be on time to all auditions, recalls, and interviews. Plan ahead regarding weather and traffic, it is always better to be half an hour early then ten minutes late.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO let your agent know if you change appearance. Be honest with them if you have put some weight on, or lost weight. If you change your hairstyle dramatically let them know, they may even request you get new headshots. Be honest and upfront, and they will treat you the same way.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T accept direct payments for any job. Make sure all payments go through your agent. If you don’t trust your agent to receive your money and pay you on time, then should you really be represented by them?
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO get a call sheet when you work, and send a copy of this to your agent. It has all the useful information both of you will need. It will have details of who to thank, who to contact if you need a copy of the job, who to credit on Spotlight. It also gives your agent all the job details they need such as call times and contractual details.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T market yourself unless it is professionally done. If you have a website make sure it is professionally made. Check out our sites at Actor Design we can build you a professional site quickly and to suit your budget. Make sure you get advice on headshots from your agent, they know how they sell you and what works for them, it might not be your favourite but they know what works for you.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO let your agent know when you will be unavailable, and give them as much notice as you can. Don’t be afraid to be honest with your availability, they would rather know you are not available than get you an audition and then have to cancel it because you are out of London or already working. If you do not let them know then they should consider you available 24/7.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T expect your agent to be your new best friend, don’t try and add them on Facebook. They probably don’t want you to be chipping in on their social life, just as you shouldn’t want them seeing all the mayhem and debauchery you get up with your Facebook pals!
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO add clips and showreels to your Spotlight page. It is vital that TV casting directors see you on screen, and it has never been easier to get material online. Use Actor Clip to make short clips of your work and get these up onto Spotlight straight away. Even if you only have one short clip get it edited and up. Make sure you are selling yourself as hard as your agent is doing, if not harder.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T contact your agent at home or on their mobile out of office hours unless it is a genuine emergency.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO have a valid passport. Your agent will expect you to be able to fly out of country if you land a commercial or film, sometimes with only a few days notice. It is your responsibility to be ready and able. If your passport is under a different name make sure your agent knows this before they book flights under your stage name.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T expect your agent to drop everything if you are passing by the office and decide to ‘drop in’. Give them a call and see if it is convenient, respect the fact that they are running a business. Be professional and set up an appointment.
  • TIP_DO
    DO
    DO remember it is your career. You are the one who controls your own destiny, stay on top of the business side and treat yourself, your relationships, your jobs and your career as seriously as you want to be treated.
  • TIP_DO_NOT
    DON’T
    DON’T be afraid of your agent. The relationship needs to be open and honest at all times. Tell them if you are unhappy about anything, approach them professionally and as you would like to be approached. They are there to work for you as much as you are there to work for them.
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