How To Find A Free Acting Agent For Actors
Okay, let's get one thing straight. Agents are a necessary part of the equation in any good actor's career. They help actors find acting jobs, micro manage their careers, and use their wide pools of contacts to help an actor along - all for a fee, of course. There are, however, free acting agents. Now, the term "free" acting agent makes people think that the agent won't be charging them a dime. If that sounds too good to be true, guess what? You're right. Free acting agents are simply agents who don't charge you anything EXCEPT the standard cut they get if you manage to land a job successfully. Here is the criteria to help you find a good, reliable free acting agent.
Make sure that the agent is registered
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with the Screen Actors Guild or another similarly reputable group. While quite a few free acting agents are independent operators, they are best avoided like the plague when you're new to the industry. Acting in general has been likened to a crocodile pit or shark infested waters for very good reasons, and more often than not the perpetrators of trouble are unscrupulous independent operators. Any agent that's actually registered with a reliable guild has to abide by it's rules and regulations, which are made for the protection of actors.
Another criteria to consider is that YES, the agent will eventually be charging you a percentage for services rendered. Nothing in life is free, and anyone trying to tell you otherwise is mistaken. So, you should find out exactly what services the agent is willing to offer for free, and more importantly which ones he WILL be charging you for. Balance your options, and choose someone that won't charge you a dime if, you can't get any successful auditions.
The simplest yet most legitimate type of agent contract can be broken down into three considerations. One, the agent will help you FIND auditions, and will even book you for them for free. Two, IF you land the acting job successfully, only then will he take a fee (the industry standard is 10% of your fee). Third, in the event that you fail to land the acting job, you WON'T owe the agent anything. Details can often get more complex than this, but this is the most basic operation style of legitimate free acting agents. Lastly, remember to READ the contract before signing anything. You never know when something might get snuck in the fine print...
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Showbiz and Acting Tips:
Study, practice and, then, study more. Take classes and workshops. When you get that audition for that dream role, you’ll need the talent to back it up. Never stop learning and improving. Don’t be afraid to start small. If you are planning on becoming a star and make your living as actor or model: learn your craft by taking smaller roles, doing plays, print work (fashion & commercial), and commercials. All are great things that will give you experience, skills, and credits and pay great money. Be a big fish in a small pond. You don’t have to be in LA or NY to be successful. Get a local licensed agency and build your resume and experience locally before hitting NY or LA.Do commercials. They teach you how to audition, work with agents, negotiate, act, work on a film set, and bring you income. One national commercial can pay you over $100,000 over two years.Always bring a picture and resume to ALL auditions.This may be obvious, but you'd be surprised: no smoking, eating, or chewing gum while working! No model is to drink (even water) with a client. Socializing during working hours will result in an immediate drop from most agencies. Agencies are not dating services.Always bring extra clothes and accessories to all assignments. No one is allowed to bring cameras on the set. Anyone bringing camera equipment will be fined and sent home.
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