The Agent Thing

Last night I was chatting with a dear friend who was talking about her struggles to find representation. It seems to be a common theme with many of my fellow new graduate actors; agents and managers are hard to meet and harder to sign.

I’ve had representation for a year and a half now, but I remember my struggles to get my first agent. I remember being envious and in awe of those friends who did have agents. I remember making a list of 6 agencies and creating those mailings. I remember putting all of my hopes and dreams into those envelopes and mailing them off with a kiss and a prayer. I remember waiting anxiously by my phone, hoping they would call for a meeting soon. Then I remember getting them all back a week later, sent back by the post office because I didn’t put on enough postage (FYI it costs $1.05 to mail a headshot, resume and cover letter!). Major fail. I didn’t do another mailing after that.

Instead I put my energy into getting my own jobs. I signed up for LA Casting and Actors Access and submitted like crazy. After booking a couple of jobs, I researched agencies again and I emailed just one youth agent my headshot and resume. She happened to call me in and a week later I had across the board representation (across the board meaning theatrical and commercial representation).

And that’s how it happened for me. So for all of you actors who are still on the hunt for agents, don’t forget to put most of your energy into working. Learn a skill, get set experience, take classes. Submit yourself for jobs (which I continued to do even after I got my first agent). Have fun and enjoy the process!

For those who have agents, how did you get your first agent?