The first action you should take when deciding to be an actor or performer as a career is to consider how you can introduce yourself or make yourself known through a talent agency. Talent agencies will expect you to be prepared to do a lot of groundwork. Any talent agency you sign up with will ask you to invest in your professional development by attending workshops and producing portraits. There are many actors who are happy to take some time off to audition, but they won’t take the day off to take part in a workshop that could be of great help to their audition technique.
The rewards and opportunities you can enjoy by taking these professional development opportunities and this is greatly enhanced by audition preparations. Work in the talent agency industry can often be sporadic. You have to look forward to auditions and casting calls and be prepared for rejection, but every time you audition you’ll learn something new that will help you next time. Unless you already have a relationship with a talent agency, to be in front of a lead casting director, it’s hard to know what opportunities are coming your way.
The other benefits of having a talent agent is that they can help you weed out projects you’re not fit for and they make sure you get paid for the work you do on your projects. Choosing a talent agent to represent you is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you get quality acting opportunities. Talent agents can negotiate their rates and working conditions above the minimum for all the productions that you will be hired for. For this reason, your relationship with your Agent is crucial and choosing a talent agency to represent you can save you a lot of hassle before and after you book a job. Most talent agency fees are based on a “registration” or “administrative fee,” which means the agency makes money without having to find work for the artists.
A good talent agent will trade a nominal upfront fee and then charge a commission for work that is procured for you in the film and television industry.
A good agent should help you with your resume and give headshot tips without requiring you to use a specific photographer/makeup artist etc. Be on the lookout for agencies that charge an exorbitant amount for photography and portfolio preparation.
Ask your prospective agency what they offer in terms of making sure you get paid and how you pay them. In other words, they get paid only when you do it for a job. Make sure you commit to attending workshops and auditions and sign up with the right talent agency, and you’ll have the best chance of getting hired and starting your path in the acting and entertainment industry.
