What is an Agent and Manager
Please do not confuse a Talent Agent with an Artist Manager. An Artist Manager or Personal Manager, as they are sometimes called, usually represents a small group of select clients each of whom gets a great deal of personal attention. A manager not only finds them work, but also is there to advise them on their 'look' and to handle their public relations. Managers can also handle their business affairs, investments etc. Because of this they command larger fee, 20% commission and usually a handling fee in addition. Because managers handles so few clients and invests a great deal of time in promoting each one, they make a very careful selection of who they wishe to handle. If you are just starting out in the business, you won't need, or will be hard pressed to obtain or even afford a manager.

What Does Your Agent Do
Talent agents have a far greater number of clients on their roster. Talent agents rarely 'get' you work rather they 'find you work' by being informed about what is going on in the industry and keeping in regular contact with casting directors, production companies & producers. They will learn what upcoming auditions might be right for you and book an appointment for you to be there. They promote you by sending out your photo's, resumes, audio or videotapes to people they know in the business or for assignments you may be suitable for. They keep your resume and pertinent information up-to-date. They negotiate terms with any producer/director that may be interested in hiring you, and for these servoces they take a percentage fee of what you make, usually 15%.

Some talent agencies only represent union talent, others will mix union and non-union on their roster as we do. Once you have found an agent and it can be pretty frustrating when you are starting out without any experience, you may or may not be under exclusive contract. If you sign a contract read it carefully and ask questions. A word of caution, if an agency asks for money up front to represent you, find out what those fees are for. Agencies, which primarily represent background performers, without much of a resume, sometimes charge registration fees, partly because the commission taken on background work is low. Among those legitimate agencies charging such fees, the average is $50.00 per year. You should never pay fees that exceed $100.00. Most legitimate, well-established and reputable agencies do not need to charge a fee to cover registration, administration, or maintenance.

The agent's responsibility is to find work on behalf of their clients. A relationship must be established between the agent and the client that is based on trust. There are responsibilities on both sides. The agent expects professional behavior from his client in appearance, attitude and availability. We also have a code of conduct written into our contracts. After all when we send an actor out, they are representing the agency. The agent has the right to be able to get hold of you at any time, therefore if you wish to work you must be available for work or auditions with less than a days notice, seven days a week. You may miss out on work if the agent can't reach you on the first call. Some agents will not consider you if you live more than an hour away from where the work is.

What Do You Do
You will be expected to provide 8 x 10 headshots. Some agents will want you to have photo's taken by photographers they recommend because they want all their photo's in their portfolio to have the same style. However this is not a legitimate practice and if the agent insists that you use a particular photographer don't walk, but run out of the door! Your photo's are personal and an important promotional tool and while an agent's advice and recommendations may be helpful, it is your choice to make. Contact other actors or ask around. Don't just select the first photographer recommended to you or the most inexpensive. Make appointments with at least three photographers, look at their work, ask questions as well as getting prices. If your intent is also to do voice over work, your agent may ask you for voice or videotapes, in which case the same principal applies.

Most of all don't sit back and wait for your agent to call, keep in touch, and tell him what you have been doing, and continue to upgrade your skills by taking classes. Expose yourself to as much theatre and film as you have time for and can afford. Read everything you can find on how the business works.

Providing your agent with contact points is a must. We expect a home and work number; an answering machine that is kept on at all times a fax number and/or e-mail address. A cell phone or pager is also helpful. Please inform your agent if you leave town, go on holiday or are unavailable due to other commitments and that means even for a day. Your agent does not want to waste time booking auditions or projects only to find you are not available. If that happens more than once, you are unlikely to be ever considered again.

Expectations
You have an agent, you are excited, after all you expect that phone to be ringing on a regular basis. Instead you rarely hear from him or her, and you never seem to be cast despite the fact you have been sent out on numerous auditions. Does that mean the agent is not working hard enough on your behalf. In most cases the answer is no. It could be they are promoting you for the wrong kind of assignments. You may have all the talent in the world, but if you are not right for the role or your voice does not suit a particular project, you will not be considered. Good agents only send you out for roles or submit photos and voice tapes for assignments that you are suitable for. They do not want to lose their reputation by wasting director's valuable time and wasting their client's time. This is why you must trust that your agent is working for your best interest.

It could be you are losing out on jobs because your agent is too greedy and is overpricing your services. A good agent will negotiate your fee based on your level of experience, exposure and the type of assignment. (When you are starting out don't expect to receive the same fee as someone that has been in the business twenty years or has done two national TV series.) However more often than not your photo or demotape that your agent has sent out on your behalf has not been selected. Remember producer/directors will weed through numerous headshots, watch and listen to umpteen tapes and videos before selecting the ones they want brought into an audition or selected for a project. When casting for principal roles in major movies or TV , break-down notices are sent to leading agencies across the country. The competition is fierce!