subject: Entertainment Industry Success [print this page] Is Your Agency Licensed? Is Your Agency Licensed?
An actor or model always has to keep an eye out for the scam. Many talent agencies sweet-talk aspiring folks with promises of work and success, assuming they pay the price. Many good people get caught up in this kind of thing, and dreams get shoved aside. But fortunately there are ways to tell the good ones from the bad ones.
Honest agencies are fully licensed, they've got years of experience and a client list with names you know. Find one of these and you can begin to relax a bit. Trust is the first important foundation to set. It'll also help you when it comes time to get those model composites made. These are like your business cards, and while they'll cost you money to have made, the agency can get you set up so they can start shopping you around.
Secrets for Acting Success
Guess what the secret ingredient is in the whole industry? It's a strong work ethic. No one gets ahead on charisma and confidence along. You've gotta be willing to put in more hours than anyone to get yourself ahead in the business. There's a whole lot to do, believe me, and you can't be waiting for someone else to take you by the hand.
The next challenge is to think about what kind of work you actually want to start working. This isn't a decision set in stone, but it'll help the agency, and you, if you know you want to be in the next hit TV show or film, if you want to dominate a runway, lend your voice to radio, or be cast in a music video. Watch for explosions. And listen, you may not know what you want to do going into the biz, but that's something that you and your agency, and maybe a chance meeting or two, will sort out in time.
Navigating the Tricky Industry
The right look for any given job is a tricky thing to find, certainly, but it's not always exotic faces that casting directors are looking for. Talent agencies will tell you that they want real people, everyday faces, to populate commercials and TV shows. And whether you're a baby or a grandmother, whether you have experience or not, there's probably a fit for you somewhere.
There's really nothing to worry about. If you're smart, if you work hard, if you find the right agency, you're well on your way. Those folks can help you with the arcane business of headshots and auditions, and prepare you for that moment when all eyes are on you, and it's time to go for it.
