<p>You make a good point Soozievt. The caveat here would be that it is not always easy for a non-Equity performer to get an agent. My daughter told me a few weeks ago that some NYC agents have been cutting bak on the number of Equity actors they represent due to the economic downturn. Very talented actors/musicians like your daughter are highly sought after by agents, Equity or not, but not all graduates are fully ready to hit the market talent or experience-wise, so it could be difficlt to find representation. Another point about taking the card when offered is that one can never be sure when it will be offered again – read “by graduation”. More than a few have gotten Equity summer stock jobs, not taken the card, and never been rehired at that house or another one by graduation, so the temptation can be strong to “not look a gift horse in the mouth”, as one of my daughter’s professors (who works on Broadway and limited tours a lot) told her. JMHO. ;')</p>
<p>Can someone tell me (other than time) what is the expense involved for a NYC agent to represent someone? I must be missing something here. If an agent has 1 client and another has 10 clients it seems the 2nd agent has now 10 times the opportunity to make money off of someone. So it seems that the more people you can “send out” the better the odds of making a living especially true in an economy where there are less jobs. I understand that agents would only want to represent the very talented so as to promote their reputation and credibility in the business. But the concept of limiting rather than expanding representation I’m just not understanding at all.</p>
<p>HoosierMom,
First, it doesn’t cost the actor anything to have an agent. The agent is paid 10% of all work that the actor books. It also doesn’t cost the agent anything to represent someone (other than the fact that staying in business has overhead expenses, etc). They are working on commission for when their actors book jobs. Agents represent many clients. For example, they need many types on their roster. Then, some of their clients will not be available to audition because they will be working on a show. But the agent cannot take everyone as it would be way too many. They seek out clients who they believe have the talent to “compete” on the audition circuit. If a casting agency puts out a breakdown / casting call for a role, the agent (I think) gets a limited number of slots that he/she can submit from his/her agency. So, let’s say there are 100 audition slots for a particular role in a show that a casting agency is casting. They put out the breakdowns to all agents. One agent can’t claim all 100 audition appointment slots for his/her actors. The agent will submit a limited number of actors on their roster who fit that breakdown. Also, agents only want those who they think could book work as they don’t want to fill up their audition slots with those who may not be able to compete for the bookings. Let’s say the agent is given ten audition slots for a particular casting call…they want to put out the ten best people they can who fit the description with hopes that one may get cast. I hope I explained that correctly. </p>
<p>ttmom,
What you say is a good point and certainly not every college graduate or every actor moving to NYC will get an agent. Hopefully, if a program has a showcase, a student will secure an agent through that but I realize not every graduate will get one. My daughter never had the situation of deciding whether to be Equity or not during college. She did not audition for outside work while in college and only chose to do summer stock the summer after freshman year, which was at a small Equity theater but they had not put the Equity points for non-Equity actors in place that summer. Now, she is just starting to audition and again, her agent will only submit her for Equity jobs and also a casting agency also called her in for an audition (casting agents also attended the showcase). If she is ever so lucky to be cast, she’ll have to join Equity to accept the jobs. She can opt to audition for non-Equity shows on her own, not via the agent. I am just describing this for those who have students so they can see that even non-Equity actors, like my D, can audition for Equity jobs and not through open calls, if they have an agent when they graduate.</p>
<p>HoosierMom2012 - Most agents only want to represent a certain amount of people with a similar look/type/talent. Depending on the size of the agency, there are also only so many people an agent will be able to represent effectively.</p>
<p>A talent agent submits an actors name to the Casting Company. If the casting company approves, you go on the private audition. If you are thought of highly by the casting company, the casting company will request YOU through the agent.</p>
<p>In some cases talent agents work through talent managers.</p>
<p>This is for post #162. I looks like a lot of us jumped in at the same time</p>
<p>A talent agent submits an actors name to the Casting Company. If the casting company approves, you go on the private audition. If you are thought of highly by the casting company, the casting company will request YOU through the agent.</p>
<p>In some cases talent agents work through talent managers.</p>
<p>Thank you. I also received a private message that explained the situation. Agents currently have so many proven and experienced clients that are out of work they need to work for (because of the economy) that they are not taking on more clients.</p>
<p>I would not go so far as saying that the agents are not taking on more clients. Many recent college grads have secured agents from showcases. That doesn’t mean that all who are seeking representation will get an agent, but clearly some graduates are. I know my D has friends who graduated along with her who also got agents.</p>
<p>Sorry if that wasn’t clear by saying “agents” I didn’t mean ALL and every agent. What i meant based on the input of a very credible and insightful source was if you are an agency that currently has clients (and I am making this up as I currently don’t know who is out of work) for example Ashleigh Brown, Patti Lapone, Kelli O’Hara etc - a stable such as that - and are busy enough trying to find your current clients work than it explains what they passed on to me which was such agents although seeing some very gifted and talented people in showcases this year had to pass because they are not taking on new clients as the previous poster had related she had heard.</p>
<p>It certainly helps your cause if your school has a program that draws a lot of agents to its senior showcase. Agents are always looking for fresh blood and will take on anyone they feel can make them income. It’s still a business.</p>
<p>If the agent does not receive positive feedback from the casting people, they will drop you just as fast as they signed you. If they keep getting positive feedback it will only be a matter of time for the actor to be cast.</p>
<p>Hoosiermom,
I clearly don’t have a pulse on the collective group of NYC agents or the industry by far and my experience is anecdotal. But I do believe many agencies still are signing on new talent. Maybe they are not signing on hordes but they are signing on some. My daughter met with five. Her classmates signed with other agents that she did not meet. What I DO believe is that agents definitely pass on some very talented people in showcases as they can’t take on too many at one time and there is a lot of talent coming out of every college program at one time. If the agency just signed on a few actors similar to you, then they have no more slots for you (kinda like BFA admissions!). But they will always sign on new talent coming out of school. Even if they have big names like you mention (O’Hara, Lupone), they need young talent for certain roles. For instance, my D is 20 and she is just hitting the audition circuit (out of college only a few days) and the handful of auditions she has gone to or has appointments for have all been roles where they want an actress over age 18 to play younger than 18 (she can appear younger). So, even if an agent has a roster of talent over age 25, for example, they will still want to snag some new talent of very young adults that they can submit for roles requiring that age. It is not like my kid is competing for the roles that someone like O"Hara or Lupone are up for, LOL. Several of her classmates are recently cast and all secured an agent via showcase (different agents).</p>
<p>All these agents, as well as casting agencies, would not have bothered to attend the showcases if they were not seeking new talent.</p>
<p>Casting agencies are also attending showcases. One casting agency called my kid directly for an audition for a role last week having seen her in the showcase (did not go through her agent as they did not know she had an agent which she got after the showcase). </p>
<p>My daughter is going to be in Broadway Rising Stars this summer in NYC’s Town Hall Theater, which is a showcase of recent grads from various college MT programs. Talent Agents and Casting agencies will be in attendance. My D won’t be up for representation as she signed with an agent after her college showcase but will be seen by casting agencies, but others in the showcase in NYC who don’t yet have an agent may secure one through this event. Agents do attend these events for a reason. They cannot sign on all who are talented, that is for certain. But they do scout for new talent and many recent grads do get signed.</p>
<p>And if you’re not signed through your schools showcase there are plenty of ways to be seen by casting directors, agents, and managers and they are still bringing clients in. In NY agents often freelance with new talent rather than sign, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Just be careful, as there are many scams waiting to prey on the current influx of college grads. The key thing to always remember is NEVER pay for any agent, manager, or casting director to work with you. Never feel “forced” to use a photographer or take a particular class “suggested” by any agent, manager, or casting director. And, of course, trust your instincts, if it doesn’t feel quite right, it probably isn’t.</p>
<p>Soozievt is quite correct by saying that the biggest jobs waiting for current grads are the 18TPY. My daughter is dying to turn 18 to finally do unto others what has been done unto her. Since she was 16 she’s lost roles to 18TPY; before she turned 16 she could easily pass for middle school (12-14) so was hired for those roles. I personally can’t wait to stop needed Young Performers Working Permits and a Coogan Account!</p>
<p>I might suggest going to the Drama Bookstore and purchasing some “How To” books for helpful thoughts and information. Good luck to all who have graduated!</p>
<p>amtc - I remember vividly how happy I was when we no longer had to renew those work permits every six months :D, and that D driving herself to auditions, go see’s and jobs was very convenient, but I will admit that I did miss hanging out with her as well. </p>
<p>FWIW, I have found that actually talking to different people has helped me more than books, and I actually love to read and do my own research, but for every opinion, there is an argument, and it is nearly impossible to “cover it all”. </p>
<p>Also, finding CC definitely helped me feel way more prepared to be there for my D during her BFA college application process. There is just so much information about just about anything here. </p>
<p>I love this forum for all its different perspectives. It definitely is a great resource!</p>
<p>How do you go about finding an agent without graduating from an MT program or graduating from an MT program that does not have a showcase?</p>
<p>You don’t have to be in a showcase to get an agent. It is simply a little “benefit” in that a showcase exposes you to many agents and casting agencies at one time but it surely is not the only way to get representation. My D had a well known NYC agent as a kid, though we were not from NYC. But people can refer you to agents…they see your work and know the agent and put your name in with them. Or agents also can be invited to see your work (this is hard if you are not in NYC though). You can submit your resume and headshot to an agent though that is a bit of a long shot as they receive zillions of those by mail but you never know. But networking and word of mouth and getting yourself out there and being in performances in NYC and so on, may get you exposure to agents. Also, sometimes agents visit colleges to give workshops and things like that.</p>
<p>MTgrlsmom, I agree on CC being a great resource, particularly as people share personal experiences and perspectives that one would not find in a book. There are no right answers or one right path. But it helps to hear all the possibilities and angles and it is a learning process. I learn stuff all the time on CC and have been reading for seven years.</p>
<p>After my two daughters went through the college admissions process (I first came here as a parent when my oldest D was entering her junior year of HS), I stayed on to give back to those who came after me. What I really could use are people who have kids older than mine so I can learn from their experiences! AlwaysAMom is a great resource and ahead of this process with her acting daughter and there are others but not a lot who have stayed on that long beyond college graduation (now both my girls have graduated college too).</p>
<p>MTgrlsmom - I’m not speaking of the college process, I’m talking about when your child is ready for the professional world. Never underestimate so many of the great books out there as a resource. Of course conversation and forums help, but for basic business information by those who have been involved behind the scenes for years there are some very informative books - Bonnie Gillespie is the only name I can think of right off the top of my head but there are so many others in my library. (Michael Shurloff is another although I may be butchering his last name!)</p>
<p>It is Michael Shurtleff. He wrote Audition.</p>
<p>amtc - I have read the books, done the research, but what for me has been most valuable is actually speaking with people in the industry, and ‘getting their take on things’ so to speak. The input of these directors, actors, choreographers and agents, who know my D, her strengths & weaknesses and her competition has been invaluable to me as I don’t have a theatre background. </p>
<p>I don’t underestimate the value of any of the books I have read, but in my opinion there is nothing like getting a “tailor made opinion” based on someone’s unique characteristics.</p>
<p>One problem with books (and I have heard this from many CC parents besides me) is for example when I read books about auditioning for BFA MT programs they gave me NO where near the actual experience of them, the level of the competition or an accurate assessment of what financial aid the schools actually typically offered. </p>
<p>And I agree with Mtgrlsmom - a book is written with one opinion or experience or if they did research perhaps typical experience based on probably a small group sampling. Books also tend to be slanted with more positive or negative outlooks. Where circumstances and decisions and outcome can be vastly different depending on the individual (such as the above discussion of who may want to take an Equity card and who may want to wait).</p>