<p>As Showcase season begins, I'm hoping some folks who are either going through this now, or have been through it in the past, might shed some light on how Agent meetings are set up, where they are held, and what happens during the meetings. Did Agents find you at a showcase, see you in a show, did you find them through a friend or cold call them? During the meetings, do you perform or just have a discussion? Do they ask you questions, and if so what types of questions? Do you have a chance to ask them questions, and if so what are important things to ask them?</p>
<p>I have zero knowledge of this process, and am particularly interested in how the uninitiated can tell the difference between a great agent and meh representation.</p>
<p>Thanks to those who have generously PM’d, FB’d and emailed me with information! I understand not wanting to publicly share some of these experiences but really appreciate learning more about what happens in initial agent interviews.</p>
<p>I also have a more generic question. What are the key traits you should seek in an agent? I assume they should be well connected. It seems you might like a large, well established agency, although I’ve heard there are tradeoffs to that (getting lost). Do you want someone with lots of working clients, but with none/few of your type? Does it matter if you like them on a personal level?</p>
<p>Is an agent the person who will tell you when to walk away from a project (ala RC in the Les Mis film), or is that what mom’s are for?</p>
<p>Thanks @amtc! I guess I do need to “graduate” to an after-college forum for most of my current questions, though I have gotten a LOT of helpful info from cc teachers and parents with kids further along on this journey. Can I assume that everyone who posts at Backstage is an actual actor, or are there lots of parents there as well?</p>
<p>Other than in the children actors section, the forum is all adult actors, but many are just starting out, with or without degrees. It will help you understand a lot of this business, often in an amusing manner.</p>
<p>@amtc - Thanks - I’ll definitely check it out!</p>
<p>And to those who have asked, I’ll post a generic summary of offline answers I’ve gotten to these questions when I have time to put it together.</p>
<p>@MomCares, you might also want to take a look at Audition Update at Backstage. Lots of info there on many of these questions and a look into the lives of young actors auditioning in NYC.</p>
<p>I’m guessing D may hear more from her classmates in the next couple weeks as they return from showcase, though she tends to stick to her own knitting and I suspect there aren’t many public announcements about personal career stuff. Plus she may already know the answers to all of my (lame) questions. ;)</p>
<p>I might suggest going onto the Delphi Forums, PARF thread. PARF is a forum for parents of child actors and they are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable on there, answering all sorts of questions. You might feel more comfortable being a parent on that forum and get more realistic answers, both factual and opinions.</p>
<p>Thanks, @amtc, I will check it out! I wonder if the same types of agents handle child actors and adults, and if so whether they conduct meetings similarly when no parents are present for young adults’ meetings.</p>
Can I assume that everyone who posts at Backstage is an actual actor, or are there lots of parents there as well?</p>