Getting an Agent

Do you have an agent? If not, are you considering being represented by one? If you want acting to be a career and not a hobby, the answer should be yes. Representation is essential for an actor to be taken seriously in the industry. Having an agent or manager shows that you care about acting, and are putting in an effort to get more jobs.

In smaller markets like Oklahoma, it’s not that hard to get an agent. Most of the time you just need a headshot, on-camera acting experience, and an interview.

Why should I have an agent?

Agents can work wonders for your career. They see far many more breakdowns than unrepresented actors will find on their own, they add credibility when being submitted for an audition, and they can even negotiate payment on bigger film sets.

But don’t I have to give them money?

Of course you do, but that is only if you are hired for the audition they got you. If an “agency” is requiring you to pay for an audition or representation, then they are a scam. A lot of projects even have an added 15% pay, specifically designated for the agent.

How do I know if an agency is a scam or not?

If this agency requires an initial start up fee, a required paid consultation, or required acting courses at their “studio” only, they are a scam. Agencies are only required to ask for 10% commission in union projects, but in Oklahoma where most projects are non-union, agents charge about 15%

How do I find an agent?

Use Google to search for talent agents in your area. Also ask actor friends for their recommendations on an agency, or check with the Oklahoma Film and Music Office for agencies. Once you have a list of agencies you’re interested in, give them a call. Schedule multiple interviews and don’t have your heart set on just one place. You may think you are in love with one agency, but then realize you have better chemistry with another agent. Don’t settle. This is who you are choosing to be on your team. Choose wisely.

Hate Auditioning? Read This:

You’re driving to an audition frantically repeating the lines. You have all the words down perfectly, and then you get in the audition room and blank. You’re shaking, sweating, and can feel your heart throbbing through your throat. You tell yourself that if you could just get the job, you wouldn’t be nervous on set. You blow it, and go home wishing auditions didn’t make you want to vomit.

Guess what? Auditions don’t have to be torturous.

Actors get nervous and intimidated by the casting process when they tell themselves that they aren’t good enough and don’t deserve to be there. Yes, auditioning for a feature film that pays really well would be a great opportunity for any actor. However, chances are that you won’t get the job.

Out of all the auditions you attend, you won’t get 90% of them.

I’m not saying that most people are bad actors. I’m saying there are a lot of amazing actors out there, but only one role for the job. There are so many more factors that go into getting the job other than talent. You may be great for the role, but look too much like the director’s ex wife; or maybe you’re taller than the actor playing the lead role in the film. Endless factors go into deciding who gets the part.

Does that make you feel hopeless?

It shouldn’t! Relax, and know that when you walk into an audition room, you are an equal to everyone in the room. The casting director, casting associate, director, and producers are all routing for you to do great. If you don’t get picked for a role, it’s probably not because you sucked; it might have been the color of your hair. If you can’t get through auditions, you can’t be an actor. That’s just the way the world works.

Go forth and conquer auditions by remembering these key tips:

• Be yourself!
  • Don’t go in trying to act like someone else you’ve seen. Be yourself. No one can play “you” better than you.
• Everyone wants you to succeed: believe in yourself
  • If you feel like you don’t deserve the opportunity, everyone else will see it. Be confident. You got the audition because someone is routing for you.
• Walk in the room as an equal
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the character. Come in with strong choices and as a creative partner
• Have fun
  • That’s why people act right? Have a good time and see the audition as an opportunity to do what you love

Who are your friends?

Actors are truly their own worst enemy. They are incredibly hard on themselves and always compare themselves to other actors. As I mentioned in my last blog, it is important for your own success and happiness to not critically compare yourself to other actors.

Actors can be your biggest support system. You learn with them, connect with them, you may even carpool to auditions with them, but they can get very competitive in this business. I can’t tell you how many waiting rooms I’ve seen where actors will try to dominate and intimidate others before the audition. They might ask subtle questions like, “How much have you worked lately?”, or “Kenzie over there, she’s been working a lot. I’m nervous to be auditioning with her.” That, my friends, is manipulation at it’s finest. Don’t buy into it. There’s a chance actors may just be nervous, and don’t intend to manipulate, but most of the time, that’s not the case. Despite what some may think, actors are smart. They know how to get a leg up.

My advice? Don’t be a part of the waiting room game. Find a spot in the back, put headphones on, or just politely say you need to focus on your audition. I can guarantee people will leave you alone (and they just might figure out their game isn’t working). Don’t look at auditions how those actors see it. Don’t make it a competition. Be yourself and come in as an equal, not some lower life-form begging for a job.

On the other side of things, find good actor friends and create a community for yourself. You need to have support to thrive in this business. You need people there to help you better your craft and go through the same struggles you are experiencing. The trick is finding the right people to surround yourself with. Find people that you think are better than you; people you know are going places. They are the one’s that will make you go places.

The Switch: Believing in Yourself

Everyone actor starts out thinking that they suck. You go to different classes, workshops, and auditions second guessing yourself. You know you love acting, but you also think that you’re not good enough to get an actual role. Everyone else believes in your talent, but you just don’t see it yet; and then it happens.

You might be sitting in class about to film a scene, or leaving an audition walking to your car; it happens differently for everyone, but it happens. A switch turns on in your head and the light bulb flashes. You realize that you don’t suck. In fact, you’re awesome. You’re full of potential and now all you want to do is get better and better at your craft.

That’s the goal starting out, right? To feel good about yourself and gain confidence. A lot of actors struggle with confidence for a long time. So how do you get it?

Time.

Time is our greatest frustration, but it’s also our biggest confidant. No matter how bad you feel about yourself, you will always get better in time. That’s the great thing about acting. You can’t compare yourself to any other actor because they are at a different spot on their own journey.

Here are some of my own personal tips that have helped me gain confidence and ignite the switch:

• Don’t compare yourself to others
  • You will only feel worse about yourself if you’re comparing your abilities to someone who has been acting longer than you, or may have had a lucky break. Instead, focus on yourself and know that in time, you’ll be better than you are now.
• Train consistently
  • The only way to better yourself is to work on your craft. You can’t simply go to a class once a year or do a couple workshops and become a better actor. You must be consistently training your acting skills, much like an athlete trains his muscles. If you stop, you’ll be taking steps backward from where you want to be.
• Watch yourself on playback
  • Everyone sees small things that they hate about themselves on playback. So why not get used to it? I hate watching myself back in class. I move my eyes a lot and talk out of the side of my mouth. But since I watch myself, I can start to correct that and see my progress on a week-by-week basis.
• Don’t give up – Keep Going
  • The only people who’ve failed at acting are the actors who gave up. Keep pushing yourself, even when you aren’t getting jobs or it seems hopeless. The only people who fail are the ones that never really pursued what the were passionate about.

 

Persistence: The Deciding Factor

It wasn’t until I interviewed my acting teacher, Darryl Cox, that I realized what it takes to have a career in the industry. I asked what advice he’d give to aspiring actors. “I’d tell them don’t do it,” he said. Those words lingered in my mind, and made me question my choices in an acting career. Darryl then explained that if you love to do something as much as acting, do that. The chances of success are probably better in any other field.

Days after our conversation, I realized how inspiring Darryl’s statement was, and I learned the essential key to “making it” in the industry.

Persistence: the firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition (Google).

If you love acting more than anything else, then go for it, but do it for the long haul. Think about it: it usually takes over a year to become known within any acting community. If you’re going to move to Los Angeles and be a working actor, give it more than a couple years.

Think about acting as an absolute life-long career, rather than an a possibility. Yes, you’ll have the hardest years of your life working jobs around your auditions and expensive acting classes, but acting has to be that important to you. It needs to be your first priority and feel like the most fulfilling thing you’ve ever done. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the film industry, but at least you’ll know that you’ve tried.

 

Actors: Who are you?

As an actor,  one of the one most important questions you will face is, “Who am I?”. This question will make or break you. It sells yourself before you even walk in the audition room. If you can’t answer who you are in a couple of words like, “the girl next door” or “the quirky best friend”, then you need to figure it out fast.

Why?

Why should I know my type? Casting directors love to typecast you. Remember: Part of the word typecast is cast. If a casting director sees that you look the part, there’s a better chance of them bringing you in for an audition.

How?

How do I know who I am as an actor? This can be tricky, because how you see yourself may be different from how others perceive you. Go around and ask friends and coworkers what actors you remind them of, or who they could see you playing in a movie. This should help you get a better understanding of who you are as an actor.

Now how do you show casting directors, producers, and directors who you are? They may have never met you before, but it’s your job as an actor to show them that you deserve an audition. Most of the branding work to show who you are as an actor goes into the prep work:

• Headshot – Does your headshot sell a character, or is it just another pretty face in the crowd?
• Demo Reel – Does the first 5 seconds of your reel sell you, or is it just an average performance?
• Resume – Do your past projects and special skills help or hinder you from getting future jobs?

It is essential to brand yourself in any field, but especially in acting. Actors work in an industry that relies on their look as well as their talent. This is not to say that every actor must be a gorgeous, 5’8” model that weighs 100 pounds. However, you must know what type of character you sell.