How to Land an Acting Agent
How to Land an Acting Agent
How to Land an Acting Agent
How to Land an Acting Agent
One of the biggest questions I'm asked most often by actors is, "How can I find an agent?" Unfortunately, there is no magic pill here, but I would like to share with you a seven step process to help you land a great agent through marketing.
Step 1: Send An E-mail
After you've researched a great list of agents, your job is to begin reaching out to them. I recommend reaching out first through e-mail. Send every agent on your target list a quick e-mail asking for a meeting, sharing a quick career update and introducing yourself. Now make sure that your subject line is one that people will want to open. "Seeking representation" or "Actor submission" aren't really going to cut it.
If you're looking for agent e-mails, there are a couple of resources I have found to be really valuable. The first one is IMDbPro.com. This is the Pro version of the Internet Movie Database, and if you're serious about your acting career, you absolutely cannot live without this resource. You can also find some agent e-mails through the Hollywood Creative Directory at hcdonline.com.
Step 2: Mail A Postcard
A postcard is just a 3x5 version of your headshot. I recommend sending that off with a quick career update on the back, but send it in an envelope. Mailing it in an envelope will not only prevent your mailman from knowing your phone number but also help to put your postcard in a different pile of mail when it is delivered and sorted at the agent's office.
Step 3: Fax A Letter
F-A-X. I know this feels very 1994, but most agencies still own fax machines even if no one uses them any longer. If you fax a quick letter, it is definitely going to get seen. Make sure you address specifically who the fax is for, so it does not look like SPAM. Just rephrase the message you sent in your e-mail in the body of your fax. Lastly, do not fax a photo; it doesn't print very well, so you want your message to be text-only.
Step 4: Physically Drop Off a Headshot and Resume
If you cannot physically drop off a headshot and resume, mailing one will do. However, I believe it is really powerful to bring your presence to the space of the agency you want to work with. When you're doing a drop-off, you're not asking for a meeting on the spot or sucking any air out of the office. You are in and out, dropping off your headshot with a smile.
Step 5: Make a Phone Call
I want you to call all the agents on your target list and request a meeting. Phone calls are frightening to say the least, but it can be a very powerful way for you to stake your claim in the business. Simply pick up the phone, introduce yourself, share your career update and request a meeting.
Step 6: The Follow-Up Step
Here is why I call this the Follow-Up Step. If the person on the other end of the phone in Step 5 is doing their job, they are not going to schedule a meeting. Instead, they will tell you a specific action to take. They might suggest that you e-mail your materials, drop them off or mail them. Whatever action they tell you to take, Step 6 is to take that very action even if you've already done it. Don't say that you have already taken the action because then the conversation is over. Instead, take that action again.
Step 7: Make Another Phone Call
For this phone call, you will be calling the same person you spoke to in Step 5. This phone call is going to be really quick. A possible script would be: "Hi Sarah. It's Dallas Travers here. I wanted to thank you for that great tip. I did what you asked, and I'm just calling to follow up and find out what is the best way to get a meeting."
Now if you follow these 7 specific steps, you will find that your marketing is going to start to make sense. Every step should be about 5 days apart, and remember, sometimes you may have to follow this process more than once before you start to see meetings. The good news is that marketing is a process, not an event, and if you follow these 7 steps eventually you will find that perfect partnership.
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