how to get an acting agent 101
It's time to rethink how you feel about the busy work surrounding agency submissions, CD relationships, and using social media as a weapon in your career pursuits.
For the last several years, perhaps even decades, there have been tried and true methods for seeking agency representation, as well as getting on the radar of casting directors. Each requires a different sweat equity investment and/or financial investment.
Those methods include, but aren't limited to:
Agency submissions: With a referral or without, an actor's agency submission is still the most common method to get your materials seen. The downside is that without a referral, you're in a sea of potentially thousands of submissions, and with a referral, there's still no guarantee of signing, or even getting a meeting.
Actor showcases: If you graduated from drama school, you probably had an industry showcase. Many acting studios offer them for advanced students every so often. Most improv studios have 'grad shows' when finishing a particular level. The upside is you will be seen by industry. The downside is that you have almost no control over which agencies of casting offices will be in attendance, which means they may not be right for representing you, or may not cast projects that you're right for.
Workshops: Pay for access workshops allow actor to get in front of industry professionals in a more intimate environment than the mass amount of submissions agencies see, and also allow actors to tailor their approach to casting directors, too. This can be helpful when actor's target their approach, but it's cost prohibitive and has no guarantee of an ROI.
All of the above methods are tried and true, but that doesn't mean that they are effective. Agency submissions can take months, if not years, to generate interest, especially if your materials aren't in tip-top shape. Showcases and workshops often have a limited amount of industry available to be seen by, and in some cases, can cost actors a lot of money.
So, what other methods exist that could potentially yield better results?
Self-submissions: On Actors Access, the primary platform for film/tv, casting directors release a limited amount of opportunities on this platform for principal roles in fully budgeted SAG-AFTRA productions. Actors should be checking daily to ensure they don't miss out on a breakdown that fits them.
Agency submission follow ups - the way in: Because actors can book work through self-submissions without an agent, these bookings can be leveraged into opening the door to an agency relationship. If you find yourself with a booking and no agency, reach out to your preferred agency list and let them know you've booked a project and would love them to have the commission if they're willing to negotiate the contract and discuss representation.
Talent Link (NY/LA): If you're in one of these markets seeking representation, for $35/month (per market), this offering from Breakdown Services will include your AA link in a daily blast to agents seeking actors. Interested reps will reach out directly through your AA account.
Clubhouse: The success of this new app is undeniable. While it's currently only for iPhone users, this audio only app allows you to be both a fly on the wall and an active participant in rooms. Actors on Clubhouse who fill out their profile with relevant information (hint: have a LinkTree link via your IG link) and ask astute questions can garner interest from reps, casting, and production people. Success stories include agency meetings and signing, auditions, and bookings, all in the middle of a global pandemic.
TMFA Representation Sunday: Another way to seek agency representation, regardless of what market you're in, is to take advantage of an offering in one of the largest Facebook groups for actors, Talent Managers For Actors, or TMFA. On the first Sunday of every month, actors are allowed to post by including a required set of information. Interested reps will reach out directly and have signed many actors from the group. The trick to standing out is to follow directions exactly and check back frequently to see if reps have commented. If they comment, or if they DM, have your follow up materials, and your availability to schedule a meeting, readily available as you don't want to sleep on an opportunity that presents itself.
Social media engagement: No, I'm not talking about your follower account, your blue check verification, or being an influencer, I am talking about how you engage people online. Are you professional, pleasant, and purposeful? Industry professionals consistently say they want to work with people they consider peers (professionals) and because the hours are long, they want to work with nice people (pleasant). The last element is being purposeful. Identify the show runners and directors of your top 5-10 TV shows and follow them. Over time, engage them organically, thank them for their content, and genuinely be appreciative of their efforts on social media. It may or may not pay off, but if you ever end up working together, you'll already have something to talk about, and you may be pleasantly surprised to know they've seen your comments over the years.
The traditional methods of connecting with agents and casting directors isn't going away, but as technology evolves and our industry continues to experience disruption, actors who lean into the opportunities afforded by thinking a little bit outside of the box, by taking advantage of technological innovation, and by showing up organically and authentically online may find themselves jumping the long, long line of actors in a similar position.
