These degrees do not automatically qualify you for the career, but they will give you a lot of the knowledge you need to succeed as an agent. If you can pair any of these studies with minors such as theater, production, or acting, you’ll have a well-rounded starting place. If you know of a specific talent agency that you want to work for, find out what college requirements they have when they hire.
You may have to take an unpaid or part-time position to start with, but don’t let this deter you. It’s an industry where you usually start at the bottom and work your way up. If you call once and are turned down, wait a week or two and call again. You never know when a position is going to open up and you don’t want to miss it.
As an intern you will most likely not work with talent or clients. You’ll more likely answer phones, file paperwork, fetch coffee, and generally do whatever your superiors ask. Be willing to do whatever you are asked so you appear passionate. Showing that you can follow a task through to the end is what will impress the agency and afford you more opportunities. Many talent agents start out as interns at agencies. If you show you can do the work, you may be offered a permanent position after some time.
You want as many people as possible to know about you and your talent, so never think that you’ve made too many contact attempts. Make postcards with your talent’s photo and skill set listed, as well as your name and contact info. Send these postcards out to any casting agency or company that you think might be interested in hiring your talent. Call the places you sent postcards after a week or so and check in with them. Flyers could be placed around town promoting your agency and calling for new talent to contact you to see about a representation contract.
You have to constantly put your name and your talent out there if you want to secure gigs. Talent agents who put a few attempts out there and then rest won’t succeed. You will face rejection often as a talent agent, but you have to learn to shrug it off and move on to the next opportunity. Don’t let setbacks stall you.
Make sure your talent is available for potential gigs and make sure they get to the gig on time. Missing opportunities makes you look bad. Start using a calendar immediately and learn to schedule your life. If you don’t always know what you’ll be doing, at least write it down after it happens so you get used to recording events. Keep a detailed contact list or catalogue with any clients that you meet or hear about so that you have what you need to contact them as soon as you have the chance. Keep track of what you do for each of your clients. Then, study what you did that worked so you can learn how to apply that to other actors. [5] X Expert Source Martin BentsenActing Coach & Headshot Photographer Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
Go the extra mile to help someone out to show that you are a team player who wants everyone to succeed. Your success only comes from the success of your talent and your clients. Keep in regular contact with your clients. Talk to them about what they’re doing, as well as what you can do to help them. [6] X Expert Source Martin BentsenActing Coach & Headshot Photographer Expert Interview. 8 May 2020. You can also talk to your clients to find out if they have any talented friends who might be looking for representation. [7] X Expert Source Martin BentsenActing Coach & Headshot Photographer Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
Clients want to get your talent for as little possible, so you may need to push them to offer you more money. Find a balance between pushing too far and not getting enough for your talent. You also have to work out an appropriate commission with your talent. You may decide on a standard rate or you may have a flexible rate depending on how much work each person gets. Make sure to get a contract between you, the client, and the talent in writing for every job or gig you set up. You always want proof of the agreement that is reached.
You can start this practice before and during your education or training so that when you are ready to offer your services you will already know how to find people. If you work for an agency, they will appreciate you bringing in new talent. If you work alone, you will be fully responsible for finding your talent, so you will have to get good at scouting. You can find lots of people in big entertainment centers, but many stars are born in small towns far away from the hotspots. You can find people and gigs even in less busy places.
You probably won’t make this choice right at the start, but you may be able to. Rather, if you do the work for a little while, determine what comes most naturally or where you are most successful and stick with that. Remember that some talent have rules you’ll need to be familiar with. For example, child actors have restrictions on how many hours they can work in a day and week.
License requirements vary from state to state, so be aware of requirements where you practice. As you get fully into the career, keep current on changing compliance standards and regulations.
Your talent is a like a product you are selling, so make them as marketable as you possibly can. They may need to develop their appearance, moderate an accent they have, or find the niche of roles that are best for them. Your job is to book jobs for your talent, but it is also to make sure your talent is qualified and prepared for those jobs. Push them to always keep improving their skills. If you work in an agency, it may have specific protocol for grooming new talent. If you work alone, you’ll be fully responsible for figuring out the best way to help your talent improve.
