The lovely Jessica Pettyjohn has written another piece for our blog. This time, she tackles the ever-elusive subject of agents. Read, enjoy, and learn.

HOW DO I GET AN AGENT?

This is the age-old question that I receive on a nearly daily basis, being a headshot photographer as well as a mother to a successful child actress. Here is the formula for getting an agent.

1. Get a list of all agents in your area. Those in Los Angeles can go to Samuel French bookstore and buy a directory which is often updated.

2. Many people will tell you to just mail in a headshot and resume. NO!!! This is a colossal waste of money for those of you just getting started! Good directories will have email address. Good directories will have phone numbers. Good directories will have non-PO box addresses. Take advantage of those. Even if they say DO NOT CALL or DO NOT WALK IN. Those warnings are to prevent the crazies from walking in tap dancing or singing or dressed like Marlyn Monroe. If you call and ask when their next open call for new talent is, that is not a crime.

Emailing a headshot and resume with a SHORT note is always best. Start at A and go all the way through Z. By the time you reach the end, you will have at least one appointment set. It’s the actors curse to be in fear of an agent or in fear of reaching out. Just be professional and keep it short and simple.

Thats it. Those two steps. But if you email all and still do not have an agent, start calling. If you call them all and still don’t have an agent, dress professionally that are actors, ASK THEM TO REFER YOU TO THEIR AGENTS. But do not be offended if they say no. Tons of people covet their agents and for whatever their logic is they do not want to risk their reputation on referrals. But it never hurts to ask.

BUT WHAT IF THEY AREN’T A GOOD AGENT?

If you have no resume and no union status, who cares? You need someone sending you out. And an agent’s job is to submit you. Once you build up a resume and have a union status you can start worrying if they are getting you out to the higher calibur gigs. You can start thinking of how to navigate up their priority (which is simply by booking and getting major callback-audition ratios). You are never stuck with an agent. If they aren’t working for you and you signed a contract you can start searching for a new agent and then drop the non-working agent. If you haven’t booked work in a 3 month period then you can drop them without issues. But remember… when you get residuals that you still need to pay them their commissions.

HOW MUCH DOES AN AGENT TAKE?

The standard rate for agents is 10% for union gigs and 20% for non-union gigs and print. NEVER EVER WILL A VALID AGENT WITH AN AGENT LICENSE TAKE MONEY FROM YOU OTHERWISE. Anyone calling himself or herself an agent has a license. Beware of “Talent Reps” and those that alter the word “agent.” They are not licensed and ususally have you spend a gobsmacking amount of money on headshots through “their” guys and have you do needless demo reels or do acting classes from “their” guys.

QUESTION: I HAVE AN AGENT BUT HAVEN’T GONE OUT ON AN AUDITION IN MONTHS… WHAT GIVES?

Well when is the last time you dropped by their office and gave them headshots? Or emailed them? Or asked how the headshots are working? Or if they need anything from you? Most of the time I hear this, it’s when an actor has fully sat back and not communicated to their agent. COMMUNICATE to them. Preferably after lunch because their mornings are crazy.

But call them. Email them. Don’t yell or use a weird tone implying you’re desperate for work or wondering if they are working. That will make it worse. But swing by with Starbucks and headshots and see how they are and what they may need. Don’t be out of sight out of mind. Be in site. Be in mind.