EMMA
As a new actor who has just signed with an agent, what is the best way to build a good relationship with, and stand out to them? Especially when your agent represents a lot of actors?
SEAN
The best way to stand out to your agent, especially when you've just signed with them, is to make their job as easy as possible.
You've got to remember that agents are not only sourcing work for you, but they're sourcing work for their whole books. This can be from a boutique agency with 30 - 40 people up to a major agency with upwards of 100+ collectively, with up to 10 agents in the agency, each with their own clientele.
So you need to stay at the forefront of their mind and this is what you want to know.
MATERIALS
Ensure ALL of your materials are current and industry standard. Does your showreel show your best and more recent work? Showcase your accents and genres and "brands"? Do you look like your headshots? Do your headshots reflect the roles and emotions you can play? Does your CV list all your training, directors, production companies, etc accurately and in an easy to read format?
Having all your materials current and up to date will have you VERY easy to pitch to CD's and we'll remember you for that because you've made our job easier.
CASTING PROFILES
Are all your casting profiles on brand across all platforms - and this is speaking from a marketing perspective. All your casting profiles should have the same information, contact details, photos, etc unless some casting websites require information that others don't. If it is complete across all profiles and everything is the same, then we know what information lies in them without having to go through each profile to make sure that it's all the same, thus again, we'll remember you for making it easy for us.
NETWORKING
Over in the US, there are plenty of networking opportunities such as networking events and industry socials so do your job as an actor and meet industry professionals. Have your business cards ready. Have (human) topics of conversation at the ready so you can CONNECT with people (on a human level). The more contacts you can make that can then contact your agent for work, the better for you as your agent will again remember you for making their job easier.
AVAILABILITY
Being available is a big one. We as actors get caught up in our survival jobs, however you never want to sacrifice opportunities for your day jobs. Day jobs will ALWAYS be there but auditions and gigs WON'T. If you get an audition, call back or gig, do everything in your power to get out of your day job and book that opportunity and BE AVAILABLE. You don't want to start a pattern of being unreliable because your agent will NOT remember you. However if you're always available and always saying yes, this is a sure fire way for your agent to remember you. You become their "go to" actor for that type or role. Again, you are making their job easier.
This is not to say your agent is lazy or isn't working - you've got to remember that as an actor, you get paid 90%. That 90% not only includes your auditions, training and your work on set; but also all of the above. Materials, casting profiles, networking, marketing, etc.
REPUTATION
All of the above will earn you a great reputation amongst your agency and the agents talk. Believe me. Your agent will talk about how easy their job is because their client has everything in order, is always saying yes to opportunities, even getting industry professionals to contact them (as opposed to the agent contacting the industry professional), so you can bet your agent will be talking about you because you're doing your job as an actor and helping them help you.
APPRECIATION
Lastly, show your agent (& the rest of your team) some love, some appreciation for the work that they do. Your team spends hours of their day looking for work for you, negotiating terms and conditions and your pay. They spend their personal time, some even spend their money on their clients. Some miss holidays, family time, important events just to ensure that their clients are being taken care of. This doesn't mean go out and buy them gifts (although we won't say no), but most of us just want a simple "Thank you".
If your agent can spend less time worrying about your stuff and can spend more time pitching you, then you'll have a happy agent, meaning you'll have an easier time standing out!
CHECKLIST:
All materials in order?
All casting profiles on brand and completed?
Attending networking and connecting with industry professionals?
Availability is priority?
Show your appreciation to your team.
You can connect with Emma on Twitter at @LondonsBluebird.
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