How do i get an agent?(acting)?

Question:

How do i get an agent?(acting)?

and also, if you know the answer, could you also tell me how a pilot season works?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: To get an agent you need to be able to make yourself marketable first. Formal training and verifiable credits that you've been able to obtain on your own are a way of showing an potential agent that you are in demand. An agent will always look at you and see if there is potential to sell the package you have to offer, but very rarely will they take the time to build that package up and make it marketable. That's more in the realm of a personal manager.

Once you have a list of agents you are interested in, you can send in a headshot package with resume and request a sit down. If you don't hear from them within a week give them a call just to confirm they received the package. Still no call, send a postcard as a follow up a week later. Still no call, then call them directly and ask for a sit down. This is one of the times it pays to be aggressive, to a point. Don't make yourself out to be a pest, just reaffirm with them that you want a chance to meet with them.

The other avenue you can do is to invite them to any plays or showcases that you might be involved in. Some agents are so busy that they will send their jr. agents out to scout you, but on the other hand a large majority of agents will attend performances quite often. After all, obtaining new talent brings them a new source of possible income.

You DO NOT need to be a member of AFTRA or SAG to get an agent! Sometimes it helps, but far too often I've seen actors get their union cards before they were ready and get locked into extra work or worse yet no work at all. Having that card should mean you are a seasoned professional and are ready to perform at that level. Be realistic with yourself, having a union card in no way guarantees you anything in this business, on top of which it may cost you a tidy sum to join.

Pilot season is one of the worse times to star looking for an agent. 95% of the agents during pilot season have a client list that they are going to be busy pitching during pilot season and have very little, if any, time to look at new talent. During pilot season the studios will put out ideas for new shows. Maybe 40 pilots will be filmed, at best 4 maybe 5 of them will be picked up for the season. Not very good odds I know. Wait until after pilot season is over before you start to look for an agent. This also applies to theatrical agents as well as television, if your agency splits that way.

One other option you may have is to do workshops that have agents or casting directors invovled in them. This can be especially helpfull if the workshop runs multiple weeks. You can always have an off night, and if that off night is your only chance in front of an agent or CD, then your chances have been greatly reduced. However if they see you perform later and you show that you can rise to a higher level it may be enough for them to want to take another look at you or better yet offer you something in their next project.

Whatever path you choose, do your homework when it comes to agents or managers. These are the people that will represent almost every aspect of your professional career, NEVER take that lightly. Best of luck!