5 Things to Consider When Looking for an Acting Agency
Are you ready to take your acting career up a notch? The first thing that you will need to do is hook up with an acting agency. There are bound to be plenty in your area that you can consider. The key will be to find the one that fits best with your needs. Here are the top 5 things to consider when you go looking.
1. Make Sure You Have a Good Demo Reel
One of the first things that you will need to have in hand is a top-shelf demo reel. This item will be an absolute necessity to get your acting career off the ground. Your demo reel is the best way to instantly show the range of your abilities. It doesn’t need to be a million-dollar production but it does need to be effective.
2. Start in Your Local Area
It may be best for you to start at the purely local level. You may have been getting a lot of work in local theaters. You may even have been getting a fair degree of notice thanks to some purely DIY content. This may include shorts on YouTube and other online venues. In any case, you may now have a local buzz.
In this case, your best bet may be to do business with a local agency. You may find it wise to sharpen up your acting skills by taking on more gigs in your area. A purely local agency can help you do so. They can also help you make a bigger name for yourself by helping you to move on to bigger and better jobs.
3. Get Yourself Some First Class Head Shots
The next thing you will need to do when trying to attract notice from an acting agency will be to show them some top-of-the-line headshots. These shots need to be first class. This is all the more true because they are how you will create your very first impression.
This is crucial because you want to show off the range of your abilities right from the start. You want to look the part in as many situations as you can. The more easily you can adopt a classic look and pose, the more likely you will be to attract notice. Your headshot will give you the authority that you require.
4. Choose the Agent You Want to Deal With
It always helps to have a specific agent, or at least a definite type of agent, in mind. This will help you narrow down what you are looking for. If you want to work strictly on a local basis at first, choose an agent that focuses on your area. If you want to work nationally, choose an agent with a wider reference.
You want to choose an agent that you feel you have a personal affinity. This will involve doing a bit of research in advance. You can gain quite a bit by taking the time to study an agent’s CV and then scheduling a personal meet. This will give you better results than simply emailing 1,000 agents at random.
5. Don’t Neglect to Follow Up a Lead
Once you have submitted your headshot, demo reel, and CV to an agency, don’t let it grow cold. You can give them 2 or 3 weeks to respond on their own. This will be a respectable length of time. If you have not heard anything by then, it’s okay to send them an email.
You don’t need to sound desperate. Just let them know that you are still available for work. This can be a reminder that puts you back on their radar and gets an interview scheduled.
An Acting Agency Can Help Your Career
No question choosing the right agency will help your acting career take off. The key to success in this area will be to choose the one that best fits your personal needs. You may find it best to start local and work your way up. If you want to go broke, make sure your agency matches your drive.
