Advice
Whether you are brand new to the business or have been treading the boards for years we all can do with a bit of advice from time to time. Please find below a list of some of the most important aspects of the industry.
How do I choose a drama school?
What is an agent and how do I get one?
How should I make contact with an agent?
General guidelines for a mailout
The Personal Managers Association
The Co-Operative Personal Managers Association
How do I become an actor?
Numerous stories abound about people getting discovered walking in Oxford Street but for those of us not fortunate enough to bump into Spielberg at the deli counter the most traditional route into the industry today is through an acting college. The time spent at college allows you to develop your skills over time and also to build up a better understanding of the industry. While the idea of getting plucked from obscurity into a prime role might seem appealing only a drama school can provide the enviroment to really explore your craft, take chances and discover your true potential.
How do I choose a drama school?
Choosing the right drama school is the first and one of the most important decisions you will make in your career. One of the most important aspects of the school is not just the training but the fact that at the end of the course you will be looking to get an agent. Colleges will normally invite agents and casting directors to attend the final year performances and showcases. How good the college is will determine how many show up. For a more detailed list of the colleges please see the Training section.
What is an agent and how do I get one?
An actors agent is your representative within the industry. Films, TV and theatre productions normally use casting directors to provide them with a cast. If a casting director was to advertise publically for actors they would end up with queues down the streets so instead they restrict contact to the actors agents. The true measure of an agent is their access to the casting directors. Because of this the top agencies can be extremely selective in their client lists. In order to get an agent they will normally expect to see you in something and normally this will be in a student production. The accepted means of approaching an agent or submitting to an agent is to send them a copy of your CV, a cover letter and a headshot. You should never phone an agent as they are extremely busy people with very long memories.
Who is the best agent?
The simple answer is that there is no such thing. It is not our intention to provide a rating system as the simple truth is that what makes a good agent is entirely dependent on the relationship they have with a client. The actor must find the best agent for them. The best means of doing this is to find out as much information as possible about the agent. Look at their website if they have one. Look at their clients on the website or go to Spotlight. Talk to your friends, professional actors, college tutors and any other industry professionals that you may come into contact with. Although it should go without saying, you should never, ever, ever have to pay to join an agency. Reputable agents take a commission, normally 10 to 15%, on work that they find you.
Avoid the temptation to pursue the agents with the biggest names. A very large and prestigious agency will work predominantly with recognised and established talent and it is unlikely, (though not impossible), that they will take on clients with little or no experience. Some agencies see themselves as more nurturing. They seek out unknowns with talent and work to build careers from scratch. Others work with established stars and work to maintain their carreers. It is a different skill and an important one but more than likely not one that you need right now.
How should I make contact with an agent?
One hard and fast rule is that it is almost never a good idea to call an agent or personal manager directly. They are extremely busy people and the chances of calling at a bad time are pretty much 100%. Emailing as a method of communication, while new, would seem to be growing in popularity. If you do choose to email your submission remember to keep the files small as the last thing you want to do is to clog an agents inbox and have your name all over the offending item. It is far better to embed a link directly to your showreel or website within the email rather than ask them to download an attachment.
Most agents ask that you include an SAE for return of materials and a possible response. However do not depend on a response and if after 6 weeks or so you have not heard anything the chances are, unfortunately, that you won’t. Be wary of follow up calls. Agents will almost certainly contact you if they wish to. We have included, wherever possible, the website details for each agency. This is an invaluable tool for getting a feel for an agency and helping you decide if it’s the one for you. Most sites will list the agent details, some history of the agency and even specific submission details.
General guidelines for a mailout
Put time and effort into the presentation of your submission.
Always bear in mind the sheer quantities of submissions an agent receives. The average is 300 per week.
If you wish to have your materials returned include an appropriately sized SAE, ie an envelop that is big enough to fit a 10x8 photograph.
Allow 3-4 weeks notice for invitations to performances and showcases.
London agents are less likely to travel to venues outside of Greater London.
Covering Letter
A covering letter should be included in every submission you make to an agency. It should be well written, well presented and reflect you as a person. Personalise the letter and try to give the agent a sense of your personality but maintain professionalism and never be overly familiar. Never, ever begin the letter with “To whom it may concern”. Never do follow up calls. If an agent wishes to contact you they will. If you are on spotlight it may be a good idea to include your spotlight pin number.
Headshots
The headshot (also known as a 10 by 8) is a head and shoulders shot, black and white, measuring 10 by 8 inches. This is the industry standard and should be professionally produced. It is important to choose your photographer carefully so as to ensure a professional image. Remember that your photograph should look like you, not an idealised image. Hold back on the make up, the hairdressing and the retouching. The casting director or agent wants the person in the photograph to walk through the door. Although in the longterm it may change most UK agents still prefer headshots to be in black & white and not colour.
Emails
If you are submitting by email please avoid large attachments. Avoid at all circumstances sending blanket emails to all agents. Personalise the email and send to one recipient. For email it is best to have your headshot within the body of the email or provided as a link as agents are usually (and understandably) wary of opening attachments when the sender is unknown to them. Most agents will be happy to receive links to actors websites but if you are using 3rd party sites to host your website please bear in mind that many of these sites require the agents to be registered with them. If the agent is not registered they will not be able to access your site.
The Showreel
If an actor has already worked professionally they may choose to present a short example of this work through a series of edited scenes. They should be no more than 3 minutes in length, and if possible shorter. Be wary of shot from scratch material. Aim for a professionally edited, good quality production. Amatuer showreels will make you appear amateurish. Avoid bizarre editing, visual effects, dominant soundtracks, etc. The agent just wants to see you act.
Drama School Graduates
For productions it is best to work as a group when inviting agencies. By submitting together you are presenting an agent with the opportunity of seeing more than one person at a time. Consider having a leaflet designed professionally that will feature all your headshots. If you are sending out your own submissions wait until you have a good role in a production as due to the time constraints it is unlikely an agent will be able to come more than once. At this point your headshot is the most important tool that you have as you will not be expected to have a strong CV nor a professional showreel. Allow 3-4 weeks notice for all performances and showcases.
The Personal Managers Association
The PMA is the professional association of agents representing UK based actors, writers, producers, directors, designers and technicians in the film, television and theatre industries. Please note that they represent the agents and do not represent actors in any capacity.
Website: www.thepma.com
The Co-Operative Personal Managers Association
Similar to The Personal Managers Association they are the professional association of co-operative agencies in the UK.
Actors
To give us your feedback and to report errors and omissions.
Agencies and Personal Managers
To update your agency details, submission requirements and to report errors and omissions