Best tips for agents today from GlobalTalentNetwork: There appears to be a generalized belief that performance is a relatively linear construct. Consequently, while most recruiters and hiring mangers will agree there is a tangible benefit associated with hiring top performers, they also believe they are only incrementally better than average or lower performing employees and therefore are a “nice to have” rather than a “must have”. This is a significant misconception, and one that has astronomical top and bottom-line implications for an organization. See extra info casting agents recruiting platform.
GlobalTalentNetwork advices for talent companies : Look through advertisements in periodicals for prospective clients who could improve their marketing with your talents, and contact the respective media representative to set up a meeting. In the meeting, bring a portfolio of applicable talent who could benefit the company, explain your services and leave your contact information. In addition, learn about local media companies that hold regular casting calls for TV commercials and print ads so you can establish a relationship with a representative who will remember you when the company needs talent.
Submit to your target agents every 6 months…with an update about something NEW you have added to your skill set; bookings/plays/training/new headshots. But only submit IF you have something new to share. Make sure you have On Camera training on your resume. When meeting an agent you may need to audition with a prepared television side, or cold read commercial, industrial or film sides. Secondly, the agent wants to know you understandthe technical demands of working on camera, as well as how to navigate the variety of scripts and genres…so that they can feel confident submitting you for work. Read additional info globaltalentnetwork.com.
You can also check out GlobalTalentNetwork’s online directory of agents and managers, or pull a list of franchised agents from SAG-AFTRA. Although there are certainly reputable agents who are not SAG-AFTRA franchised, it’s easier to check out those who are—plus, they’re accountable to a supervising entity. Research your candidates. Determine how many agents work for the agency, where the agency is located, how long the agency has been in business, what their submission guidelines are, who else they represent, etc. GlobalTalentNetwork’s Call Sheet includes a lot of this information, and you can check out an agency’s website for additional context. And don’t forget to run your list through the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has filed claims against the agencies—this will help protect you from scam operations or disreputable agents.
Clear acting choices: “Know what you want to do and do it,” says casting director Risa Bramon García. “Then leave yourself available to make discoveries. Know that your homework is done. Now let your preparation meet the moments.” Having a deep understanding of the material and the world in which it’s set will lead you to well-informed choices for how to play the character. Flexibility: Casting directors and directors will often provide auditioners with notes and adjustments on their performance. Learn how to listen and incorporate them into your interpretation. Don’t be too rigidly locked into how you practiced the material with your roommate or bathroom mirror; it shows you’re not willing to step out of your comfort zone and play.
While agents book you for work, a manager’s job is to provide career guidance and business management. Talent managers can be anyone a client trusts to manage their business. In many cases, talent managers are family members or friends. Talent managers work with clients to managing the day-to-day aspects of their career, including scheduling, fielding calls, making sure you meet deadlines, and fulfilling promised deliverables. Talent managers help hire and manage any staff for a client.
It sounds simple, but it takes practice. Walk in the door with your head held high. Be wary of shuffling feet. You don’t get sympathy points if you’re nervous, not feeling well, or having a bad day. Leave it outside the door. You are being sized up the minute you walk in so practice good posture and body language before you arrive. And don’t forget to smile—that’s the lasting impression you want to leave. Find the love in the scene; even nasty characters should be likable on some level. Find a moment in the scene where the love can show through. Embrace action: Acting means do, not talk. Find your actions and play them! (A wonderful resource is the book “Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus” by Marina Caldarone and Maggie Lloyd-Williams.)
Visualizing your audition from start to finish, as well as creating an audition playlist, are also great ways to ease tensions and get your head in the game. But ultimately, remember: what’s the worst that could happen? You don’t get cast? So what? There’s no use trying to fit into a box you don’t belong in—so on to the next! For self-tape auditions, you must have good lighting, a neutral background, the proper framing (not too wide, not too close), no distracting objects in the room (i.e. plants, pets, posters), and most importantly, good sound. You likely won’t get hired if they can’t hear you. Oftentimes, creatives are unavailable to attend every audition. Or auditions are being held nationwide and you’re submitting from Missouri to a casting director in L.A. Or the CD wants to get a feel for the network response before bringing you for an in-person. Sending a self-tape is one way to ensure you are in the running to get seen for the role—despite your lack of physical presence.
Once you find a list of Talent Agencies that you are interested in working with you are ready for the next step, marketing yourself as an actor. Here are the three things you need to contact potential talent agencies: Your Headshot, Your Acting Resume, A one-page cover letter. Your mission is to get a talent agent to agree to me with you in person to evaluate you as a potential client. Your headshot should capture the talent agency’s attention. Your resume should show how serious and experienced you are and your cover letter should introduce yourself. Take rejection professionally and move on with your acting career. The more agents you contact, the better your chances of finding at least one talent agent to represent you. But, remember you have to focus on making sure your agent believes in you. A casting agency is a company who hires actors and background extras to work on a production.
