How to Get an Agent

First off, the harshest truth:

If you need to ask, you’re probably not ready for one.

Most professional actors graduate drama school and pick up their agent at their showcase. They pick the obvious and the blatant, it’s a meat market and the good looking are easiest to sell to television and commercials. In my experience they are not often the best, but they are shiny.

So if you aren’t shiny or you didn’t pick up an agent in drama school, what can you do?

An agent doesn’t need you until you can make them some money. Don’t expect them to take you on hope of future success.

What you need to do is demonstrate that you can make them money, that you have ability, professionalism and common sense.

If you can do this, write them a letter, specifically to them, targeted, none of your dear sir/to whom it may concern fishing letters.

Or invite them to something impressive you are doing, preferably on a week night. Don’t invite them to shite.

Send them a targeted letter with a link to a short, professional showreel with impressive material. Don’t send them a link to your crappy YouTube monologues.

You can work without an agent, get a couple of jobs and then write a targeted letter saying exactly that and that you feel you may need representation.

Get cast in a massive tv show or movie and then ask them.

Sleep with an agent’s assistant, I’m only partially joking.

Have an actor with an agent as a best friend, spouse or parent.

Rescue an agent from drowning. Okay that is a joke.

Don’t doorstep them. Don’t be cute or quirky to get their attention (although cute and quirky is adorable). Don’t be weird, oh never mind, if you are weird you won’t listen to a lick of my common sense advice.

Follow my advice and good luck.

-COACH-