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Question: Do I Need to Get a New Agent!?!?
So I found my agent by finding a casting call for a small production company's show on craigslist which she is also the executive producer for!. She also is part of an extras agency!.

1) I have been with her since mid-March and she has found me one audition! (By the way I am a non-union mixed race actor with a 12-15 playing age) She initially said that she wants to save someone like me for the "big stuff"!. I told her through email later I want to be sent out on smaller stuff but she ignored it!.

2) Out of the twenty two emails that I've sent her she's replied to six of them!.

3) She's not in the list of legit agents on the ACTRA website which means she's not part of the Entertainment Industry Coalition's (EIC) Code of Ethics!.

4) I've heard it's very unprofessional to charge a startup fee and hers is a postage fee of $120/year!.

5) I've seen a couple breakdowns on casting workbook for roles that are perfect for me that she hasn't gotten an audition for!. One of them I even emailed her about, and nothing!

6) She is even unreachable on both her phone lines!.

7) I could probably get a new agent easily enough!.

What do you think!?!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
It sounds like you are going to look for a new agent!. That's fine!.

Are you in the US or Canada!? There are some different rules!.

You have a couple of misconceptions: She can't really GET you an audition!. She submits you to the casting directors, suggesting that they see you!. The CDs decide whether or not to see you!. She may submit you for everything she sees, but if they do not know you yet, or they don't really know her or have much of a relationship with her, they may not trust her ideas about actors yet!. It's fairly complicated that way!.

Agents make their money when you make money!. IN order to get you seen by CDs, they spend their entire day on the phone and the fax submitting actors' photos and talking to CDs!. They really don't have time to answer phone calls from every actor calling, or emails!. Do not condemn her for that!
I have been a professional actor for about 12 years and I do not call my agent!. She is one of the best in this city and I know she is doing her job and she calls me with the audition information!. My job is to go to the audition and do the best I can do!. It's business!. You don't need to be friends!.

The start-up fee is illegal in Canada!. I'm not sure about where you are!. Here she would be booted out of the business for that!.

Not on the ACTRA list!. Here a new agency is not on that list usually for 3-6 months, so not being on the list is not necessarily a bad thing!. You should ask ACTRA!. That's what they are there for, to help you!. You can also mention the start-up fee and they will give you the answer!.

It's business, and you don't have to justify looking for another agent, at any time by the way!. It would be great to find someone who really believes in your talent and will go to the wall for you! And you need to get out there and sell y ourself also - go to every audition you can get on your own, without an agent, do plays, take classes, learn new skills!. Get more confidence and meet other actors and people in the business!. It should and can be fun!

See you in the rooms!

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