Find A Talent Agent
Looking for more work as an actor or model? The single best way to increase your chances of being hired is to get signed by a talent agency.
What’s a talent agent? A talent agent is a professional who represents you for your acting & modeling work. They find work for you and negotiate the booking terms on your behalf. When you’re hired, they get a percentage of your pay as a commission.
Why do you need one? Most of the available talent gigs aren’t posted as public casting calls or open to direct submissions. For the huge majority of projects, the client or filmmaker works directly with talent agents to find who they need. This means that if you don’t have an agent, there’s no way for you to be considered for most gigs. Signing with an agent means you’ll gain access to the widest range of opportunities. Agencies are very selective, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get signed. But if you’re serious about acting & modeling work, you should definitely focus your efforts on finding an agent.
Step 1: Researching Agencies
Before you start, you should have an idea of what your goals are. Do you want to be an actor, a model, or both? Are you more interested in commercial or theatrical (film & television) work? Different agencies have different specialties, which will affect the opportunities you’ll get. You’ll want to sign with an agency that’s a good fit for your skills and interests.
How to research: We recommend finding a trusted industry source to start building your list of agencies. Googling might return an overwhelming list of options or include some illegitimate or closed agencies. New agencies come and go pretty regularly, and it can be overwhelming to sift through the options without some guidance.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, the OMPA directory is a great resource for finding trusted agents. Please also see below for a list of some of our favorite Oregon and Washington agencies!
Note that agents in Oregon and Washington typically book talent for gigs in both states, so you don’t need to limit yourself to local agencies if you’re willing to travel for shoots as needed.
Another great resource is to ask other actors & models you know who their agents are and how their experience with them has been. To start, you should ask them how many times they’ve been sent an audition or been booked for a job, and how their agent’s communication style has been.
How to choose which agencies to submit to: Don’t be too picky! We recommend submitting yourself to all the agencies who might be a good fit, then narrowing it down later. You’ll have the opportunity to ask the agency about their process and what kind of projects they work on if they’re interested in you.
Don’t overlook small agencies! Small operations can give you more attention, and it can be a great place to start. In most cases, being signed with any legitimate agent is better than representing yourself.
You should make a list of your ideal agencies, then work on understanding their submission requirements so you can gather your materials.
Step 2: SUBMITTING TO AGENCIES
In order for an agency to consider you, you need to submit.
Please note that some agencies don’t accept submissions, you’ll need to be referred directly. This usually happens when you already have an agency and have been out there working consistently! If an agency doesn’t accept submissions, move on to look for those that do!
How to submit: The process differs for each agency. You’ll find instructions on how to submit on each agency’s website. Usually that process means filling out an online form or emailing the agency your headshot, resume, and/or reel.
Be sure to follow the specific directions for each agency. Following directions is a core skill in acting & modeling, and you’ll want to demonstrate your abilities in this area. If measurements are requested, bust out that measuring tape so you can send accurate details.
BEWARE OF SCAMMERS:
Please be careful and do your research. Talent are eager to be signed, and sadly there are people out there taking advantage of that.
Your agent makes money when you make money. When you book a job, they receive a cut of your pay, usually 10 to 20% depending on the terms of your contract. They might also assess some small fees, like the costs of listing your profile on various casting sites.
If potential agents mention other required or up-front costs, you should be wary. Especially if they ask for hundreds of dollars. Scam agencies will take your money and never work to find you gigs.
Here’s a basic list of red flags to keep in mind as you research agencies:
They ask for money upfront but can’t break down the costs for you
They require you to pay to take special acting classes
The fees required are large sums of money
They don’t provide a contract for you to look over before signing. You should always read contracts carefully before signing, and ask a lawyer to consult if you’re unsure of anything. This is your career and your income is at stake.
No other models or actors you know have heard of them
They advertise their services on Craigslist or approach you at the Mall
They have no professional website or social media account. You should look for agencies whose web presence goes back at least one year.
They ask to meet in shady locations, like the agent’s home.
They make promises that sound too good to be true, especially about the kind of work they can get you. Real agents know it’s a difficult industry and don’t guarantee specific results.
We’re always on your side! If you’re worried about the legitimacy of an agency you’re talking to, don’t be afraid to email us. We’ll let you know if we’ve worked with them before.
Step 3: Taking Meetings / Getting Signed
When an agency is interested in you, they’ll reach out to you for a meeting. This is the time where both sides can ask questions to determine whether it’s a good fit.
The agency will get to know your personality, which is just as important as other areas of your skillset. They’ll also want to know about your availability, as working as talent requires a lot of flexibility and you should be able to adapt to last-minute schedule changes. They’ll have other questions, but no matter what, be honest and make sure to present yourself professionally.
Don’t forget this is also your time to interview them. You should ask questions about their process, their fees, and their specialties. Ask them what kinds of clients they work with and what type of talent (actors, models, etc) are on their roster.
If you both agree that the relationship is a good fit, they’ll ask you to sign a contract so they can begin representing you. Take your time to read the contract and consider the terms before signing. Make sure you understand how to terminate the contract if needed.
What If It’s Not Working?
If you’ve submitted to every agency on your list and you’re not having any luck, don’t give up!
Agencies have limited space on their talent rosters, and they can only sign a small percentage of talent who submit. But there are always new spots opening up as the agency grows or their talent move on.
After a round of submitting to agencies, focus on improving your skills and gaining more experience. Then, re-submit to agencies when you have new materials to show them. New photos, work experience, and/or classes will show the agents you’re serious about improving your candidacy.
If you’re primarily focused on modeling, work on your posing and get in front of the camera as much as possible. If you’re an actor, sign up for acting classes designed for film acting or auditioning. There is always more to learn and agents will notice when you’ve improved.
If you’ve never been on a professional set before, sign up to work as an extra. Although extras work won’t have much impact on your candidacy, it’s important for you to know the basics of set life and understand how to conduct yourself professionally. Take as many extras gigs as you can and spend your downtime observing the work of the actors and the mechanics of the operation. You can also check filmmaking and modeling groups on social media to try to get some gigs on your own.
There is no guarantee that you’ll ever get an agent. But that doesn’t mean you should stop trying. As long as you’re trying to get work as an actor or model, you should also be trying to get signed.
Good luck out there!