My talent agency isn't getting me any acting auditions! what do i do?
This may end up being a little bit long, but I would really really appreciate your input... I am 16 years old and i live in ohio. Exactly one year ago I signed with a talent agency in my area. It wasn't a scam, i know a couple of other people with them, i didnt have to pay, i got recommended there..yadayada. so this agency has a lot of connections and i've heard from many that it's the best in my area. however, i have gotten verrrry little work. there have been 3 actual auditions in the past year (i got a callback for one, but nothing for the other ones). There was one other audition for an independent film that they didn't find, they just posted it on the "news" section for the director and i emailed him. i got 2 callbacks but didn't end up getting because it was for the part of a 10 yr old and wasn't going to work..haha. Lastly, I got booked by chance for a commercial with no speaking or anything but i was the lead. ...that's it. in the past year, 4 things have been through the agency. i also find it strange because most people talk about how "their agent" looks for auditions for them and i don't have a personal relationship with my agent at all and they certainly havent found many auditions. i am aware that especially in ohio, its a tough market and specifically my age. i looked it up on the website, and there are 140 girls ages 15-16, and i have an even broader age range. i've been seriously considering joining with another agency and having 2: that way i'll get more work and the agency i join with will probably be smaller so that may help. but i also thought that maybe because they're not the best agency in my area, i'd have just as hard of time getting work because they have less connections. i realllly want to act (and model), and based on my past audition experience, i think i have a shot at getting a few gigs! i just want the opportunities!!! so for those of you who skipped here, my agency hasn't gotten me really any work or auditions in the past year and i really want to join with a 2nd but i dont know if its the right thing to do. your opinions would really help, but please dont answer if you don't feel that you're knowledgeable about this industry. THANK YOU!!!
Do you have to pay to audition?
I'm sure if you dove a little deeper into the disney channel web page you could get your answer reg pay or no pay audition answered. Perhaps you could try not using a mirror and just do it in the yard or in another room or a park this way you could add a natural touch/ rhythm to your speaking voice. Learning to memorize is a plus I am sure. Repetition is key. Don't limit your auditions to just one of the biggest channels in the world go out and live a little get into a local theatre company or just go to random auditions for local theatre companies who are activly looking for a variety of actresses to fill parts for plays around your area. Who nows you may land a part that suits you and well and start to build your resume. Believing in your talents is a very positive approach.
Do talent agencies pay for transportation?
If you emailed a talent agency your photos, and they are interested in representing you, and you live in San Jose, Ca, and you need to go down to Los Angeles, do they pay for your transportation and sheltering, or do you have to do that on your own? also, what fees do you have to pay the talent agency, or anything to be an actor?
How do casting agents find talent?
This really depend on what type of talent you’re talking about.Scripted talents: Through agents and managers who browse through and submit their clients via breakdown services/Actors Access, LA casting, casting frontier and other casting websites. (kidscasting.com for kids) These days, lot of talents self submit on sites as well.Reality or Documentary: A lot is done through Facebook these days. Truly. Lots of cold messaging and adding people as we see fit, so if you’re interested in being cast for reality or game shows or documentaries, check your other inbox often! Craig’s list and other smaller casting websites are great resources as well. Look in your spam emails inbox for messages saying NOW CASTING, sometimes it gets filtered out.IMPORTANT tho: Legitimate castings will NEVER ask you to pay money or deposits in ANY circumstances. Anyone ask you to pay money upfront is a scam.
How do you know if a talent agency is fake?
that's how you know. Good for you for trusting your gut. The creepy thing is, though, is that they *might* be wavering on the line between legit and fake/scam. If they are a low end agency, and don't have a lot of work coming in, they might be listed with a few legitmate sources and be trying to sneak some extra bucks on the side, by signing a lot more people than they need to and then making a hard sell/push with those people for pictures with a certain photographer. It's not uncommon for C or D level agencies to try this for a while, until someone finally "reports" them. Then they apologize profusely, pretend they didn't really "make" anyone take pictures with a specific photographer, and wait until the fuss dies down, and then they do it again. (sad, I know.) I had a franchised agency in the midwest that tried that; I just blew them off, but I saw them getting a lot of young and new talent pulled in for their $800 headshot session with their special guy. I live in LA now and I know of several agencies that you can find listed in all the reputable books that are known for the ol' pictures scam. You do need pictures to get started, but your instincts were right on the money with these people. Especially now that internet casting has gotten so huge, get some really good digital photos taken that look like you and start getting them out. Agents DO like to fuss that your pictures aren't "right" and encourage you to get new ones. You can tell the difference because the legit agent says "I really want a pix of you that looks more edgy, here's some numbers of photographers our clients use that we like, why don't you meet with some of them and when you meet someone you like we'll talk to them before the session about what we're looking for" and the agent that's trying to scam you says "these pictures won't work, you MUST get new ones, we use Mr. Expensive guy, here's his number." be guaranteed in this circumstance that Mr. Expensive guy is giving the agency a kickback (either that or Mr. Expensive is the agent's son/boyfriend/husband/best friend, etc.) trust your instincts and keep looking.
How do I audition for major films without having an agent if I don't live in LA?
As others have said… you don’t.Simply put, there are thousands more actors with agents and training and credits already living in LA than there are roles for them. It’s a matter of supply and demand. There is very little reason for casting directors to look beyond that pool, especially at actors without those qualifications.There are two exceptions I can think of:If the film is shooting in another city and casting locally, though that typically only applies to smaller supporting roles and you probably still need a local agent to be considered.If the role calls for a very unusual kind of actor; a specific ethnicity with an unusual talent, someone with a rare or highly specific disability, a “real person” not seasoned by the business, something that would drastically limit the pool of potential actors, casting may look in smaller markets, hold open calls, etc.It’s important to understand that the economics of movies are such that, even more than in television, casting is looking for actors with a proven track record of successful projects, even in small roles. I’ve been building television credits for many years and am just now being seen for major films.Having an agent is about more than someone negotiating deals for you; it means someone believes in you, is willing to take a chance on you. The casting director may not know the actor, but if they know and trust the agent, they may be willing to give an unknown actor a shot. A major film has far too much at stake to take a chance on someone completely new without an agent to ‘vouch’ for them.
When a talent agency tells you to pay for headshots...?
If an agency wants you to pay up front for them to represent you, that's a scam. Legitimate agents make their money by taking a percentage of your pay from the jobs they help you find. But expecting you to pay for your own headshots is not a scam. Professional actors always pay for their own headshots. Now, there may be some sort of sweetheart deal between this agency and the photographer they recommended to you. The photographer may work for them, or he may pay them something for steering clients his way. But I have no way of knowing if that's what's really going on. You might want to look up other headshot photographers in the L.A. Yellow Pages or in the ads in "Back Stage." See how other people's prices compare with the prices of the guy the agency recommended. Before you choose a photographer, be sure to look at samples of his or her work. And you might not want to go with the absolute cheapest photographer you find. A high price isn't a guarantee of good work, but quality is worth paying for.