Breaking Into Broadway - Agents
What is a theatrical agent?
Theatrical agents represent actors for work. They have a subscription to something called the breakdown service. A breakdown service is something that lets agents know what roles are available for actors out there in the casting world. They probably see their breakdowns every morning and go through the different requests for talent. They might see a breakdown that says, "We need a black guy, thirty to forties, who can play a doctor or who can play a sharecropper or whatever the thing is. "Then my talent agent will call me up and say, "Hey, Dan, I got this audition for you. It's tomorrow at whatever time and you'll be playing this guy that they described in the breakdown service. "They represent you for commercials, television, theatrical work, sometimes for private industrial work, i.e. for corporations who might want to do a video. They earn their money by taking a little piece of mine whenever I work.
How do I get a theatrical agent to meet me?
Finding a theatrical agent is always a little bit of a challenge. The first thing that you really need is some kind of talent. If you've been involved with acting or if you're interested in acting or you've had a little bit of a taste in things and you want to try something on a professional scale, then it's best to reach out to an agent. You can send out a letter or a mailing along with a picture and resume of the work that you've done. Sometimes they'll have showcases where you might have a particular project or something that you're working on, a play that you're working on, and you'll invite an agent to come see you. In my case, here in New York City where I live, I was able to get my first agent because I came to New York in a play that was popular and people came to see it. And some agent saw me in the play and sought me out, which is a very rare and fabulous thing to happen to an actor. Generally it's a lot of sending out letters, a lot of phone calls, a lot of begging, and it can change throughout the course of one's career. Myself here in New York, I've probably had maybe four different agents in the 12 or 13 years that I've lived here. And the last time that I was shifting agents, after I left one agency to come to another one, was probably the most challenging. Because I had reached a point in my life where I felt like I've done a lot of different work and people kind of know me around here and so it shouldn't be that big of a deal to change agents. Well, it was sort of a big deal and it took me a good six months to garner a new agent. I didn't leave my former agent until I had the new one, but it took me six months to really garner a new agent who I felt was competent and could represent me in the fashion that I was accustomed to.
Will a theatrical agent get me work on stage?
He'll get you an audition or should get you an audition. It's really up to the actor to book the jobs. You know, I personally, you know, my agents would call me constantly to go off for this audition for that audition or whatever. What these really are job interviews. They can get you the interview that says ‘Hey look, go over here and see about this job' but once you're there, it's you and your talent and your ability and your ability to listen to what the director asks for and then be able to transform that back to them in a visual way, a measurable visual way that, you know, the director can say ‘Hey look, this is somebody I want to be with. This is somebody I want to have a round. Somebody I want to work on this particular role.' Because they've seen something in the audition that, you know, says ‘Hey look, I got to have this guy.'
How much will a theatrical agent cost me?
It really shouldn't cost you anything. The best and most reputable agents don't charge you to come into their office and take you on as a client. They make their money when you work. I should rephrase that. It will cost you something: in most cases it will cost you 10% of your income. Some places, some arrangements may be slightly more than that - 12%, 15%. But in general, 10% is the commission that you would pay to an agent every time that they send you for a job that you actually book. When you actually get the job, then you are beholden to them for having sent you on the job interview, the audition. Their form of compensation is 10% of an actor's work.
How do I know if the theatrical agent I am interested in is legitimate?
Agents are all signatory with a particular union. Here in the States we have Actors Equity which represents actors on the stage, the Screen Actors Guild which represent people in film and television, and also the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists that represents actors in film and television and other industrial type videos. These unions will all have an agent that will be a signatory of that union. They can let you know if an agent is legit or a reputable agency. You can also find out by referrals, if you have friends that are actors that you would like to emulate in some way, then you can speak to them and say, "hey look, what is this agency all about? Are they really able to help you? Do you think that they could help me?" These are types of questions you could ask any type of union representative as well.
What should I expect when meeting with a theatrical agent?
You should expect to present yourself in the best light that you possibly can. You want to look sharp and whatever the view you have of yourself as an actor. If you're a clean cut all American guy, you want to go in there and be the best clean cut all American guy you can and if your sort of a surfer dude type then you want to be the best surfer dude that you can. Whatever happens, whatever your type is; when you go into meet your prospective agent you want to put your best foot forward because it's really the first of many job interviews. Although its not particularly a job that you're going out for with that particular agent, that agent will be able to represent you to the larger casting world that is looking for talent possibly in your type and style. You'll want to have when you meet with your agent some photographs of yourself. You'll want to have a resume of your work. You'll want to have if you have any type of video of work that you've done. You'll want to make sure that you have all of that stuff with you when you go to see your agent if you haven't already sent it to them before your meeting. A lot of times what happens is that you might send off your stuff to an agent and then they'll look at it and say "oh well this is somebody that I want to talk to." So they'll make a call to you to say hey look can you over to my office and let's discuss us possibly representing you. So a lot of times they will have your materials there right there in front of them and they can say well this picture is the guy who's sitting across from me and tell me about yourself. I think that it's important for actors when they're looking for talent agencies, looking for representation to be able to speak well and powerfully about themselves and communicate it in a way that engages the agent toward signing you.
What will a theatrical agent be looking for?
Well, they are going to be first of all looking at your talent. Your talent level and your ability to book jobs and make them money. Because when you work is when they make their commissions. You always want to see an outstanding level of talent. That will always, always shine through. So if you are a great actor, and you can represent that to the talent agent when they are meeting you, then that is fantastic. If you are a great actor and you sing as well, then that is even better because then you've got this incredible gift of singing and acting and that makes you even more marketable. But I think the thing that they love the best is when you've got what they call the triple threat. That would mean that you are a great singer, you are a great dancer and you are a great actor. When you've got all of those things working for yourself, you've got your Liza Minnelli types out there, or pick a name. Someone who is really, really adept at all of the skills that an actor would need.
Will a theatrical agent ask me to sign a contract?
He may, yes. Contracts are generally signed between an agent and an actor if they decide that they want to work together exclusively. That would mean that the actor's not going to work with another agent for any of their work, they're counting on their particular agent to represent them totally. Contracts oftentimes vary in length. At the beginning, you may sign a six month or one year contract. I think that the most you can sign a contract for would be for 3 years. Generally, most agents will have you sign a 1-year contract to begin with. In fact, I don't think they can sign you to a 3-year contract initially. You have to have an opportunity between the agent and the actor to feel comfortable with one another and to feel like, hey we're going to give this a shot. And usually 6 months to a year will test that out. After that, you can sign for as long as you like.
What does an agent mean when they offer to 'work freelance' with me?
Freelancing basically means that the agent is not taking you on as an exclusive representative. What they're going to do is call you when they have something that they think is right for you. And this is not the worst thing in the world, it is not bad, of course it's always great to have an exclusive contract with an agent, but this freelance thing, especially when you are just getting started, can really work to your advantage. Sometimes when you're young and you start a long term contract, exclusive contract with an agent, if that relationship isn't working out so well that's not really bearing the fruit that you like it to, then it can be a little tricky sometimes stepping away from that. Whereas when you are freelancing with an agent, you have the freedom to say ‘well ok, you know what, this isn't working for me' and even just not take a course if that's what you really feel. But I always take the course.
