Ready For an Agent

Scott Nicolino · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007, 23:36 (GMT) Post subject: Ready For an Agent

Alright, I can understand why people with agents don't want to tell those of us looking for agents how to find an agent for fear that some of us newbies with agents may steal some gigs from those of you who already have an agent! Finding a voice agent seems to be such a secretive thing! Why? Can someone PLEASE, who is secure in their "agenthood", enlighten those of us looking for one on how to go about it? I personally think I am ready for one or at the very least I would like to give it a go! Is that too much to ask? I am ready to pay to have an agent...um...just kidding. Seriously though, can someone throw me a bone here?

Victor Harris · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007, 23:53 (GMT) Post subject:

I recommend starting out in your own town. If there arn't any, then in your part of the state. Once you get a few gigs under your belt keep pushing it out further. There is no secret Scott. A great demo, headshot, resume, and a letter of introduction. Bottom line, if they like you, your in. If they don't, you're not. Its simple. Some agents have open casting calls to have you come in person and do a live read, even video you while you read it. So, be ready for that. If an agency has a full stable, most likely they will not be interested. Not all agencies take out-of-towners. LA is a hard nut to crack that way. If you have a ISDN setup, maybe a little easier, but not much. So, the secret is....there is no secret. Just get out and hussle. Wink

Scott Nilsen · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007, 23:57 (GMT) Post subject:

And it might be a shock to realize that even after you have an agent(s), you still need to hustle yourself. If I relied only on what the agent does, I'd be "living in a van...down by the river...in a van!"

Bonus points if you can name the character.

Keith D. Milby · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007, 00:08 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott Nilsen · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007, 00:14 (GMT) Post subject:

Matt Foley -

and I am not sure if he had an agent.

Victor Harris · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007, 00:30 (GMT) Post subject:

I miss really Chris Farley. Laughing

Robert Jadah · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007, 00:38 (GMT) Post subject: agents, eh?

Nobody's herding their agent knowledge, Scott.
If you use that neat little Search funtion at the top, you'll find all sorts of advice about them.
There's a good one all the way back in October, at the Newbies thread. The topic is simply 'Agents'.

Read all about them. Then try find a dozen in the phonebook. Then WOW them. If you're lucky, one or two will bite.

They can get you auditions for real good gigs.

Voice On!

Gema Vazquez · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007, 20:29 (GMT) Post subject: How to get an agent

Scott,

I recommend that you get a package together with your demo, cover letter and resume. Start calling agent in your area and ask them when you might be able to stop by and hand them your package or just stop by and introduce yourself. If you send them the package by mail, just make sure that you follow up a few days later or week later to ask if they received it. Once you hand the package or mail it and follow up there is the waiting period and a lot of patience needed. Just send these packages out as often and to as many agents as you can. That is all. Good luck.

Gema Vazquez

George Karnes · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007, 21:35 (GMT) Post subject:

Yea Chris Farley, John Belushi, Freddy Prinze....kind of depressing....

Hey livin in a van by a river ain't so bad.

I've been there done that for a few months.....

Maya Kuper · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 97

Kate McClanaghan has a chapter in her book, The Encyclopedia of voiceover, called "How To Get An Agent." It doesn't get any more straightforward than that. Her process works--IF you have a well-produced demo that represents you well! The demo is key. (As is the headshot, if you're looking for on-camera work too.) Smile

Bob Bergen · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007, 15:21 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Chris!

I'm brand new to this forum thing, and this is my 3rd post in 20 minutes. I think this can get addictive!

The getting of the agent is harder than the getting of the job. Just keep in mind that all of us with agents at one time in our lives didn't have agents.

I have a page on my site regarding the VO "biz of the biz," covering demos, agents, etc. Check out http://bobbergen.com/faq.htm.

In the meantime, here's my 2 cents on the whole agent thing. And keep in mind that my experience is from the LA point of view. Your market may be totally different.

Bottom line is, it's all about your demo. Step outside yourself and evaluate your demo. Is it contemporary? If the spots were produced for the demo do they sound real? In the first 4-10 seconds does the listener get a good understanding of your personality or just your voice type?? Do you leave the listener asking for more??

No one in this business needs another voice. Good God, they have all the voices they need!! What they don't have is YOU. Your personality, your individual "brand" that only you can bring to the copy. I find this to be the number one thing missing from most actor's demo. They might read copy well, but after listening to the demo I have NO idea who they are. If you listen to the top LA VO demos on voicebank, even just the first 4 seconds, you know exactly who these actors are. You know their style, you know what they sell, you know what they DON'T sell. Check out Rob Paulsen, Jack Riley, Patti Deutsch, Townsend Coleman. You KNOW them. You know the spots they do! You know WHO they are in just a few seconds of their demo.

Now, you might think, "Sure I know them! They work all the time!!! I hear them on the air!" True. But they've "branded" themselves. They present to the buyers exactly who they are, and get the gigs. It's not a coincidence! They are superb actors who are able to bring themselves to the copy!

If your demo doesn't do the same for you, you need a new demo.

And just because a spot is real doesn't mean it belongs on your demo. Many working VO actors re-do real spots for their demo! Often times the production isn't great, or the music drowns out the voice on the actual commercials.

As for headshots, I don't recommend submitting them. You'll be judged on your look, not your voice. You might have a young look with a mature voice. They may not even listen to your demo because they've judged you by your look. That said, maybe in your market submitting headshots with your demo is the norm????

I also don't recommend submitting a resume. You will be judged on what you haven't done rather than what you have done. And let's face it, if you were well known in the business you wouldn't need a resume. If you are new, they know you haven't done much. Let them judge you solely by your demo. Let the demo get you the meeting. Then, sell yourself at the meeting!!

The MOST important thing about agents is don't give up!! There are many reasons why a good actor with a great demo doesn't get an agent. Maybe the agent has tons of people like them. Maybe the agent had a car accident the morning they listened to your demo and were in a bad mood. Etc.

If you are brilliant, and your brand is memorable and marketable, you WILL get an agent!!!!!!!

Wink

,
Bob Bergen

Amy Snively · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007, 16:44 (GMT) Post subject:

Well said, Bob. You should slap that post onto your site.

Debbie Deutsch · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007, 17:00 (GMT) Post subject:

Bob, I liked reading what you said about the biz...
and I LOVE PATTI DEUTSCH! She is nutty and funny and I love her sense of humor. She has been around a L O N G time..... Wink

Thanks for the morning kick start!

Maya Kuper · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 97

Debbie Deutsch · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007, 15:49 (GMT) Post subject:

And Scott (never begin a sentence with a preposition, but I like to do it anyway) search for more than one agent. It's ok to have 1, 2 or 3 agents working for you. Keep in touch with them, don't just wait for gigs, and still continue looking for work yourself. Most agent contracts discuss having multiple agents, and the circumstances when YOU find your own gig and how that is handled, so read it carefully.
Check out their talent list, and see what kind of "company" you'll be keeping. Find that agent that fits your personality and work ethic.
oh yeah, keep a phone log, either on computer or on paper. Write down every thing ever discussed with anybody by telephone and your VO work. You'll find yourself referring to it constantly. I'm also a professional storyteller in town, and when people call me to return and perform again, I refer to that phone log as reference to help seal another deal.
Good Luck! Very Happy