Friday, August 3, 2012
Talent tips and advice when working with a top modeling and talent Agency
A legitimate modeling and talent agent really wants
you to succeed! Their lively hood depends on you booking jobs.
When an agent receives complaints from hiring
clients or if a talent does not perform well it's usually not prepared.
Memorize the tips and you will be one of the favorite talents in a modeling and
talent agency
1-If you are new to the industry. Make sure you
research proper protocol for acting and modeling auditions.
2-Before going to a job or audition please make 100%
sure you know the address and directions. If at all possible go the day before
or very early. You cannot be late or panicky. We often get calls when we are
not open or last minute calls of talent forgetting the address or lost and
usually it is too late to help! First impressions are so very important in this
industry.
3-When you are auditioning in front of a camera and are asked to slate
you wait for them to say slate then look directly into the camera and say
“Hello my name is (first and last name) ____________________.
(Please do not rush it, sound confidant and give them a sincere
smile). If you would like to (but not
mandatory) you can also say I am represented by the agency that represents you and
I am auditioning for the role of (example) Mary.
(If they ask you any questions on camera just listen to them and answer
them confidently). After you have slated you then read your scene to the reader
NOT THE CAMERA!
4- When you are booked for any job, write down the director, producer,
casting director, TV Network etc. You need this information for your resume.
Talent will often call there agency a few months after the project and
seek the info. It is hard for us to remember every detail because we literally
book thousands of different jobs. Remember name of the part or character you
played. (If it was extra work you must put that in a separate Extra category
not acting). Always update your resume the day you do the project and get
us copies. You would not believe the amount of work people lose out on because
their resumes are not updated or we do not have any and they are not updated on
our database.
5- To insure payment when you are booked on jobs that are SAG film
projects, please remember to bring appropriate ID and fill out all forms
legibly and correctly. Also keep track of the dates you work the name of the
client and what the job was just in case.
If it is not a SAG project your agency will generally bill the client
and will contact you when they have paid.
6- Keep your look close to your agency approved photos they use to
promote you or you must update the photos. Clients really get upset when
you do not match your photo or if we send you out to meet them and you have
gained or lost weight, have longer hair or a different color of hair etc. We
could lose that client permanently. The reason you have photos is so they know
exactly what you look like. This is why you should allow your agency to refer
you to various photographers that understand this. Don't think you can just get
by with amateur photos, because a legitimate agency cannot promote you without
the correct photos. Good agents know what is appropriate for you, that's their job.
Some actors have seen other actors with different agencies use photocopies or
poor quality headshots and say “they were able to get the audition with a
photocopy so why is it a big deal”. The reason it is a big deal is because
chances are that photo will go directly into the client’s garbage can and that
person will be thought of as an amateur. The talent does not realize they have
probably missed out on numerous auditions or jobs because in this business
first impression is everything!
7- Never ever say a negative word among fellow actors or models or
clients! Even about other agencies. It never helps you or us in the long
run! Let's all take the high road even though many people and agencies don't.
It is better to not say anything unless it is positive. It always catches up
with people. Sometimes it really is irritating to hear others bad mouth or say
unsubstantiated comments about you, the clients or us, but those people usually
burn enough ridges over time and end up out of the industry.
8- A successful Modeling and Acting career is like any other career
it takes time, persistence, dedication, knowledge, skill and patience ! Great
agents work with almost every major client in their region. Sometimes there are
not any opportunities that your look and skill level match, other times you
will be too busy to do everything offered. Try to be well rounded you will
receive many more bookings
9- Many National Clients will take their sweet time to pay you, even
when billed with a 30 day voucher. Agents hate it as bad as you do (we all have
bills to pay). We will do everything in our power to collect but it has always
been that way and will probably never change with the some of the big national
companies and even some local companies. They know they get a lot of people
work so if you harass them too much the client will just use someone else next
time. Many times the specific client that pays you the talent, has to
first bill one or two other clients for them to get paid, and many times each of those clients are on a
30-day voucher. Unfortunately it is the agency and talent that are paid last.
It has always been that way. If you cannot work under their system do not
accept the job. Usually the Major Films do not take more than 30 days. Please
remember, your agent is not the one paying you to do the job.
10- Do not accept an audition unless you are 100% sure you can make it
and be on time. Usually we are limited in the time slots we have and we do not
have time to replace you. We also give the casting director a list the night
before. It is too hard the next day of the audition for us to schedule someone
else with them. They just figure you are unreliable. We always hear back
from them! If you do not show up on time to auditions we cannot represent you.
12-Remember if you are difficult or bothersome for an agent to work with,
they will definitely not send you to meet their clients. All it takes is one
bad experience and we can lose a valuable client we have worked years to land.
13- No matter how you feel inside at the time of an audition, you must
portray self-confidence when you are interviewed. Clients never hire people who
let them know they are new at this or who are not a polished finished
product. You just cannot have excuses if you expect to be successful at
this.
14- Do not show it or be shocked if the audition is not what you
visualized. It usually isn’t the way you think it is going to be. There is not
one set way every client auditions! A pro expects it to always be different and
is ready to make quick on the spot adjustments. The pro does not mind if it is
a tough audition because they know the amateur will let it affect them. Half of
success in this business is being very adaptable on the fly. That is
why it often takes continual training and experience to book the larger
higher paying projects. The more prepared you are the less likely things will
throw you off.
15- Just have fun with this business. Clients love to be around smiling,
funny, happy people. Many actors, models get too serious when they
audition because they feel the pressure. It then shows up to the clients. You
need to make the clients feel comfortable with you. Enjoy the journey; often it’s
better than the final result!
16- If a client contacts you personally, asks you your rate or would
like to book you say, “Call my agent”, or let your agent know and they
will contact them and work out the deal.
That is our job and we will make sure to get documents signed if needed
and get you the best rate possible for that type of project. We know what you
are worth in the market! Usually the clients that do not want to initially go
through agents or behind our backs will either never pay or low ball you or
work in an unprofessional manner. Plus you are responsible to let the agency
know about these projects anyway. If we hear about it though the grapevine
we will stop prompting you. We are here to be your Acting, Modeling and Extra
agent and will take care of you!
17-Become very familiar with computers almost everyone in our industry
is going that way. Read the casting call
carefully, we receive tons of calls and emails asking questions that are
answered on the casting call. We let you know as much info. As we have on each
call. Sometimes we receive emails from talent like this. "I have been
receiving tons of castings but recently have not received any I fit, please
find me work! This will not help us help you! We cannot create new jobs out of
thin air. We are relentless in our pursuit of work because we want to make
money too!! If we have not talked to you or emailed you anything that you
fit be patient or occasionally remind us that you are willing and available.
Also please only ask questions that are absolutely important. We receive 100’s
of emails and want to spend our time finding and negotiating you work! Use
common sense. Occasionally we get the comment that talent only wants us to send
them audition notices that they fit. There are many reasons why we cannot do
this (trust us; it is not feasible with our time constraints).
Just delete them.
18-When we give you advice it is based on our wisdom from well over 25
years of 9-10 hours per day working with tens of thousands of good and bad
hiring clients and talents. We thoroughly understand what is needed for the
local, national and international markets and your specific talents in those
markets and the budgets that you and the clients have and the ability to
maximize all of these things. For some reason some talent think they know more
than we do and always do it the hard way. Or they will take the advice from a
couple of people who work in only one of the 100's of areas we promote in. It
never works and we both then become frustrated! Yes you should use your
best-educated judgment in the final analysis but trust our expertise. I would
never tell a doctor how to treat and diagnose me, or an airline pilot how to
fly the plane. Let us do our job; it will pay off for you in the future!
19- Good agents have your best interest in mind and appreciate your hard
work, loyalty and referrals. We are going to continue to grow and are always
trying our best to improve and serve you better. We believe we have the most
efficient and organized system out there, and will continue to work
hard to assist you. Sometimes we know some talent would like us to spend more
time visiting or talking with them on the phone etc., we want to spend our time
finding you jobs and then assisting and negotiating them successfully. We want
a long lasting, positive relationship and hope for nothing but the best for
you! We really appreciate the opportunity to represent you and take the job
seriously.
20-If you have more questions or are interested in seeking
representation apply online at www.crazeagency.com
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