Today I want to talk about getting an agent. It is perhaps foremost on the minds of artists. Yet for all the interest, it is perhaps the least understood area.
In my life, I have been through several of them. But the question should never be how do I get an agent; but more, “How do I get a GOOD agent?” Agents are a dime a dozen. Most are overwhelmed with customers. So if you sign with one of them, it will be another name in your client book. Even Spike Lee admitted that when he signed with William Morris he was never called to work.
So let’s rule out the idea of getting one for the sake of having one. Sometimes, believe it or not, a smaller agency that truly believes in you can do more for you than a major agency. And as with any agent, it takes time to build rapport and trust. Like I said, because they have so many clients, YOU have to stand out. Opening communication channels is the best place to start.
What bothers me is the fact that the actors walk around with the idea that if they get an agent, all their problems will be solved. The agent will send them for calls or get them study work, etc. It doesn’t work that way. Agents want actors and writers who go places. If you’re sitting around complaining, “If I only had one agent, things would be different,” then you need to get out of this industry. Why would an agent want someone who isn’t willing to put in the time and effort, at their expense, to advance their career? Think about it.
Who wants to work with a lazy person? If you want a good agent, then you have to get their attention. If you are looking for work on your own and making a name for yourself, then the agents will come to you. Trust me on that. After making my first feature film, one of the biggest agencies in Hollywood, International Creative Management (ICM), called me! The best part about that is, if you’ve proven yourself to be a hot product, you may have more than one agency behind you. Therefore, you will have options and you will not necessarily have to sign only with the first one that appears. But on the other hand, if you’re sitting at home eating French fries and watching “Family Guy,” then it’s going to be very difficult to get the attention of any agent, good or bad.
It’s your career. You have to treat it like a business. If you want a certain agency to represent you, then you need to bring something to the table. What is your body of work? What does your resume, reel, writing samples, and/or portfolio look like? Don’t just have this magical idea in your head that your agent will put it all together for you. Sure, there are agencies that will sign you just because you have a dynamic look. But don’t hold your breath on that!
You must also create a list of names of all the agents that exist. Get to know them as if they were your personal friends. In LA there are certain restaurants, department stores and events that they frequent. You should make sure to frequent them as well. Some time ago, I attended an event in New York where I met a very famous director. The next day I had to fly to Los Angeles to attend another event. Guess what? That same director was also there. He was so surprised to see me that we became friends. He called me Mr. Jet Setter because it seemed like I was bi-coastal. He even tried to help me get financing for my first movie!
So I want you to start thinking in terms of getting things moving on your own. Hit those auditions. Build your real. Take your acting classes. Write more than one script. Network with everyone in the business. Submit a press release. Get on the radar screen! If you’re really hard at work, I guarantee an agent will find you and figure you out! Opportunity meets preparation. Peace!