So you think you’re at the point where you can begin looking for an agent in LA? Ok, let me give you a heads up on the how to get started. This advice is not intended to gurantee you an agent; only to give you an efficient strategy when beginning your submissions for an agent.
1. You need Headshots:
Professional Headshots! Not a digital camera or candid photo (this only works for children). Teenagers and adults need quality shots. Remember this your calling card; its your first impression. So make sure its what you want people to remember. Please do your research on on the photographer; there are so many amatuers who pose themselves as professional photographers and they haven’t taken one phtography course, they just happen to own a camera. I had a very humbling experience in where Paid someone over 500 dollars for a shoot and all of the pictures were overexposed. They were great shots but the lighting was completely off. Luckily he refunded a portion of my money…but I was impatient and ready to jump into the first photographer I found and I learned a valuable lesson. Research and invest wisely as this is the first hurdle.
2. Printing and Retouching
Don’t try and do it yourself! Your pictures should be handled by a professional editor and printed at a place that actually does set-ups of headshots or exprienced in printing formatted headshots. I got my pictures retouched at a place called argentum, www.argentum.com. They are very professional and effiecent. A little pricey, but definitely worth the money. They provide a plethora of services for the working actor; check them out.
3. Submitting to Hollywood Agencies
Ok so here’s the meat and potatoes. You will need to go the samuel french store in LA (http://samuelfrench.com/store/) and pick up the Agencies book. It cost about 12 dollars and there is a monthly issue. This book provides all the addresses and information about each talent agency in LA. Each agency will tell you if there SAG franchised, AFTRA, AEA,etc. These are unions and guilds that the professional actor joins to get better pay rates and better jobs. For details about each union, I’ll post in the near future. YOu want your agency to be franchised in some way or another, because going with an agency that is not can be very very risky; you are not protected under the Laws of the unions, which means that agency can pretty much do whatever they wish with you, so beware.
In the Agency book, you will read a specific descriptions of the “types” they are looking for that month. SUBMIT TO AGENCIES LOOKING FOR YOUR TYPE. Its a waste of money in the beginning to solicit mail to agencies that are not looking for your type, they will usually send it back or throw it in the trash. When I say your type, it will list something like this, “ searching for African American & Latino women between 18-40; very attractive people. No character actors.” If you’re a white male- do not submit; if you’re an African American woman who looks 60- do not submit; if you’re a character actor- do not submit. These agencies get hundreds upon hundreds of headshots per week, don’t make them waste their time opening something they don’t need! Trust me there is an agency in that book for all types.
4. Cover Letter
Once you’ve got a list of agencies that you would like to submit your headshots to, you will need to include a cover letter. It needs to be concise and list things that will peak the interest of the Agent. Remember they are trying to make money, so if you’ve done anything in the realm of entertainment, that has produced signficant revenue for you, put it in your letter. If you’re eligible to join any of the unions, add this as well; this means they can submit you for union jobs and if you book it, they get a decent cut. A brief mention of your current training is helpful aswell, because agents want to know that you are keeping your tools current. They know if you’re training, you will be more confident when you walk into the audition.
Word of advice: If you have no experience whatsoever, do not submit to the agency. They will not see you for an interview. I’m not saying it has to professional experience (in which you have received an income for the project) but it should be student films, plays from your school, workshops. They want to be comfortable that you are ready to be sent out on auditions. If you can’t give the definition of the word monologue, if you have never been on a stage, If you don’t know what a slate is, then you may not be ready to submit to an agency. It doesn’t mean that you are not talented, it just means that you need to learn the business more so that you are truly prepared. It is a cut-throat business and first impressions matter. Like any interview, you will not get hired without the necessary basic requirements.
When writing your letter make things quantifiable:
“My name is Ashlee Thomas and I would like to request and interview with your agency. In 2006 I was featured in a National Verizon wireless commercial which grossed over 15,000 dollars and provided me with SAG eligibility. I have worked in various student films and was a principal in an independent feature; my reel is available upon request. I also had the opportunity to tour with a local theater company in Florida. I have trained extensively with Alexia Robinson’s Studio in Burbank, CA. I am currently seeking commercial and theatrical representation. I would like to be considered for commercials, films, stage work, music videos, and lifestyle and fitness modeling. If you have any interest please contact me. I hope to hear from you soon!
Ashlee Thomas
Keep it short and simple. You are selling yourself so verbage is important. The above is only an example of my cover letter (I wrote it from memory so its not as professional as my actual letter). This should give you some direction for you cover letter.
5. Getting in contact with the agents
Once you’ve submitted, someone will call you within two weeks. If they haven’t, it is your job as an entreprenuer to be sure to contact them. “Hello, My name is Jane Doe. I submitted my headshots two weeks ago and wanted to know if I could have an opportunity to come in for an interview”. They will say yes or they will tell you they are not intersted. Simple as that. If you get the second answer, that’s fine. You just move on to the next agency. If your getting this from all the agencies- maybe you need more experience on your resume, maybe your headshots weren’t the best, maybe they just didn’t need anymore of your type. The reasons why, you will never know. Don’t get pushy either, don’t make the agents feel uncomfortable; they will remember. Just start the process all over again. Take a class and then submit again. Work on a student film and then submit again. It can take up to 3 years to get an agent sometimes! Commercial agents are the easiest to sign with, Theatrical (film) agents are the most challenging to sign.
So you have your work cut out for you. Get to it!!
Ashlee Katrice
I’ve left the corporate conundrum and really listened to my heart! Its so funny because all the corporate friends said, “Well what are you going to do without a job” and all my artistic friends said, “Congratulations!!” Perspective is hilarious. 
