So, you think you need a new agent, eh?

I know it can be really easy to credit our success (or lack thereof) to our agent. But, before we start asking for referrals from all our actor friends–take the following steps:

1. Ask for an appointment to speak with your agent. And yes, I said “speak” with them, either on the phone or better yet–a video call. Emails or texts in this situation don’t cut it. You want to understand what is going on: Is it the present state of the industry? Is it your marketing materials? Have they been going through some personal issues? Scheduling in a call gives your agent a chance to focus on you, and perhaps review your file to see if they are missing some things and how you can help them, help you.
2. Request to see your submission report. Don’t do this all the time, because it can feel like you are checking up on them–and no one likes to be micro-managed. But what a submission report can offer, is insight into who you’re not being called in for despite being submitted to their projects. Is there a trend? If it’s one particular casting director–perhaps follow them on social media to get insight into who they are and what projects they work on. Maybe they’ve got a workshop coming up that you can attend so they get to know you better? Perhaps you actually have something in common that you can reach out to them about to build a relationship? Maybe they just genuinely cast projects that don’t suit your type or vibe?
3. Ensure you and your agent are on the same page about your career and which roles you are suited for. Maybe they thought you only wanted to be submitted for TV/Film roles, but you’re open to doing commercials, too? Perhaps they thought you only spoke English, but turns out you can speak French as well? Maybe they have only been submitting you for Toronto roles, but you actually have family in Ottawa and are willing to work as a local there? Perhaps they see you more as a villain when you’ve always considered yourself a hero?

The point is, you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s so important to communicate with your agent regularly so you can be sure you’re both getting the support you need in this industry. Remember, your agent only get’s paid if you’re booking–it’s in their best interest to get you work!

Now that you’ve done the above steps–do you still want a new agent? Below I’ve listed some major red flags that say you should cut ties asap.

• 1. They don’t communicate with you. You’ve asked for that meeting and there is no response, or it seems like they keep brushing you off. That’s not good. It might not be that the agent is “bad” per se, but that it’s too big of an agency and they just don’t have time for you. I know many actors itching to get into a big name agency and think that’s the answer to getting them seen. But often, it backfires. This is one of those instances where you don’t want to be the little fish in the big pond. If they have a roster of 2500 and you’re relatively new to the industry–you are NOT going to be a priority.
• I always recommend newer actors find a boutique agency and really investigate their roster to ensure they don’t have a bunch of actors that would be competing for the same roles. They are only going to submit so many actors for the same role, no matter how many they have on their roster. If you’re at the bottom of that list–sorry, you’re gonna be left out.
• 2. You’re doing the work, but you’re not seeing the pay. This is MAJOR–and it doesn’t matter how reputable this agency was when you joined. Things happen, and if you have been chasing your pay and you’re not seeing the cheques, there could be something going terribly wrong. There is currently a Toronto agency with fraud and theft charges totaling over $600,000.
• I’m not saying it’s always the agency’s fault–production payroll can be a drag. But you need an agent who’s willing to chase them down for you to ensure you get paid.
• I always think it’s important to exchange information with fellow actors on set, because you can always message each other to find out if productions has sent payment yet. If you know they have, but you haven’t received it yet–it gives your agent ammo to go after the production, or another reason to pressure your agent to pay you.
• 3. Their goals don’t align with yours. Perhaps your vision has changed, or you were just so excited to sign with an agent you didn’t care or know what your vision was. This can leave you feeling stuck or stagnant in your career and we want an agent who can help us grow.
• The flip-side can also be true. Perhaps you discovered something that you want to do more than acting, but your agent just keeps pushing you forward. Maybe for personal reasons you want to take a step back from your career, but your agent isn’t respecting your priorities. This is a partnership, and all parties should felt heard.

I sincerely hope that you’re all very happy with your agents, but if not–Don’t be afraid to self-represent! With social media and casting websites like Actors Access you can find your own work while you wait for the perfect match. If you’re willing to put in the work, having no agent is better than having a bad agent.

The purpose of getting an agent is to allow us take our hands off the wheel a bit, so you can concentrate on other areas of your career. But a bad agent can leave us feeling like we have our hands tied–unable to take full control, yet not getting the results we’re looking for.

Plus, a reputable agency will likely not sign you if you’re still linked to your existing agency in the same market. It’s a small industry and no one wants to end up on bad terms with another agent.

Check out this quick video I posted on this very subject.

Until next time–Break a leg!