SEEKING AN AGENT

By James Bradley

For those seeking a career in the entertainment business let them be warned! To have the ability to create and perform is an awesome opportunity, but if you are unprepared and unprotected, dreams can quickly turn to nightmares. To aid you in your quest for success and to avoid potential disaster, it is advisable for anyone getting into the business to first seek out an experienced Agent.

When starting out, everyone has questions that are compounded by tons of random information that may or may not be pertinent to their needs. Then there are rare moments when unsuspecting well intentioned first-timers find themselves set upon by occasional industry ‘sharks’. A good Agent can sort out and tailor fit the information you need while protecting you from the ‘du-dum, du-dum’s’ of lurking predators.

When seeking an Agent, take your time. Don’t be afraid to shop around or ask plenty of questions. Remember that you’re looking for someone who can represent your best to the industry. You want them to be someone personable, who you can feel comfortable with, yet be reliable where the business of representing you counts.

An Agent often begins representation with some common first steps. In most cases, these would be headshots and a working résumé for an affordable or no cost option to you, starting out. These are the most common tools of the trade and are important for you to acquire. Without them you cannot be represented to industry professionals.

What is NOT common, is asking for substantial fees or costs from your own pocket to get things started. Nor should an Agent ask you to perform any ‘personal’ acts to gain work or representation. These types of agencies should be avoided if at all possible. Also, avoid ‘up front’ expenses or money offers. Such offers are usually billed to you at a later date. Avoid this pitfall by remembering that if you aren’t earning it - you don’t need it.

When you sign on with an Agent it does not necessarily mean you will soon appear in the next film starring Tom Cruise or a GQ magazine spread. Every project takes time. During that time, an Agent can empower your future success by representing you to the industry via their networking and professional experience, teaching you how to present yourself properly, and encouraging opportunities for you to acquire the tools you need to succeed.

What an Agent should never do is everything you should be doing. It will take a lot of work on your part to make it to the top. An Agent can’t pull your headshots from thin air or magically bestow you with the necessary training. These are your responsibility. An Agent can help direct you to workshops that offer quality classes, non-paid/paid production opportunities for résumé experience, and a lot more. But your determination and ability to follow through will play a key role in any future success.

In closing, good representation comes from both sides. It’s like a relationship between an athlete and their coach. The coach is there to teach, encourage, and offer up the play. In the end, it is up to the player to learn, be fit, and run with the ball when it lands in their court.

Good luck, and remember that you never work with what you have, but rather what you get.

James Bradley is a resident staff writer for Www.ScriptFOLIO.Net