So you want to be an actor? A lofty goal with great rewards but the pitfalls and obstacles are many. To navigate the entertainment industry in the areas of music and film, most people rely on securing the services of an artist manager or agent. For an actor, an agent is the person that would help an actor break into the film industry. The agent and actor would form an agreement in which the agent would secure work for the actor for a fee. In an recent interview with a industry insider, I learned a different approach to hiring an agent. Our industry insider has appeared in “The 40 year old Virgin”, “Weeds”, and the new television show “No Ordinary Family”. The topics discussed included: why does a person need an agent, what an actor needs before talking to an agent, and the mindset an actor should have when dealing with agents.
According to our industry insider, one of the most common mistakes a new actor makes is misunderstanding that having an agent will guarantee steady work in the film industry. An agent can only submit you for roles that meet the criteria that the studio is looking for.
If the actor does not meet the studios’ criteria then the agent is incapable of finding constant work for the actor. Our industry expert offered a solution to this dilemma. He stated that the agent must overcome this problem by negotiating with the studios to alter the criteria of the role. The agent must also present his client as the most marketable person for the role, not the most talented. This is key! The more marketable the actor is may affect the success of the project. Marketable actors will help determine what audience will show up at the box office. So in essence an actor needs an agent who is proactive in providing roles based on how marketable an actor is. In the beginning the agent must seek roles for the actor based on volume. As the actor makes a name for his or herself and has an established image, the agents’ focus should focus on higher paying quality roles. This is the primary function of an agent. Our industry insider will not sign with an agent who is not capable of this function.
Our industry insider was adamant about actors establishing themselves as an independent business first before signing any contract with any agent. This concept was taken from Michael E. Gerber the author of the best selling book called E-Myth. The actor is the business and he or she must work on the business and not in it. The actor must establish a personal brand in which every role, television appearance, and radio interview must be create revenue and publicity for the business. If the actor signs a contract or endorsement deal, having a legal entity in place will help with legal issues that may arise. Most actor have no idea of this concept, therefore their careers falter when the industry takes a turn for the worst.
Mindset is the most important attribute that an actor must have in place before talking with an agent. Having a mindset of being success is only one part of the equation. An actor must think and operate as a CEO but know when to act as an employee. Too many actors rely solely on talent alone that hinders their career when no roles are available. The actor must have his or her hands in every aspect of the film industry. When no roles are available, the actor and his agent must create new streams of revenue by pitching scripts, television pilots, and reality shows in which the actor stars in and have ownership in. Our industry insider sees the industry as a numbers game. Audition for as many roles as possible, somebody will say yes. The object is to get your foot in the door and bring your company with you. The agent should help facilitate this process while acting as an independent contractor of the actors’ company.
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