How to Get an Agent. And Do You Need One?

How to get an agent and do you need one?  A Facebook friend and aspiring actor messaged me back and forth about a role he wanted to audition for. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have an agent and I let him know that, for a higher profile role, his chances were slim. “How can I get a agent? How can I get them to represent me?” he asked.

In short, my answer was “WORK!” If you are unrepresented, you have to put in some long hours and hard work before an agent will look at you. You have to take meaningful, on-going classes, submit to indie film, audition your ass off, and work in indie and student films to gain experience and begin to acquire footage for your reel. Amazing professional headshots, that showcase the “real” you are an absolute must, too. Until you have done those things, you aren’t ready to have an agent (or submit to one).

Agents are incredibly busy people and they get TONS of submissions. The last time I was at my agent’s office, she had a stack about a foot high sitting on her desk! The best way to get an agent to take the time to look at you is through a referral from a respected friend who is represented by the agency. But don’t ask if you are not completely prepared to be represented. And by “prepared” I mean that you have put in some work in class and indie film and have something to show off your talent (and have talent in the first place). Finally, avoid submitting to an agent during “pilot season,” (which typically runs between January and April) because agents are just too busy to look at your stuff.
A common theme I am seeing with a lot of people these days (myself included, before I took some hits and learned a few lessons) is that everybody seems to want success NOW NOW NOW. But, it just won’t happen unless you put in the WORK. There are NO shortcuts in the acting business, or anything else in life worth achieving for that matter.