How do you get an agent as an aspiring actor?

Question

I can't figure this one out -- to get anywhere in the acting world, you need an agent. But an agent will not represent you unless you have acted before. You can't get any acting jobs without an agent... catch-22?

So when you're just starting out, how do you get work without an agent? Or for that matter, how do you get an agent at all if you've never acted before?

Answer 1

k i have been through the agent stuff before. here's what they look for

sorry but its not gonna be a walk in the park....

1) any previous acting experience onstage?

2) taken any acting classes?

3) live nearby an agency. you can look up talent agencies online and in the yellow pages

4) they look for professional recent headshots. Photographer quality. this can be pricey. Although sometimes if your parents or friends have a really good quality camera, you can sneak normal photos in and just say they were done by a photographer...but ya have to know what your doing.

5) Have good audition experience. Most agencies look for this because they want to know what they're going to be representing before hand. And they want to see if you have the talent. The best way to be prepared for this is to have all the audition experience you can get, whether its just audtitioning for local community theatre or what.

6) don't get ripped off. Some agencies are nothing but a scam. As a starting career, don't look to shed out big bucks to these people unless they are ligit and can promise you a blossoming career. If they demand a high amount of money, they're not worth it. That is until, your making more money off of gigs they got you.

its not easy and i'm not sayng it can't be done, but there are so many things they look for, its nearly impossible. You literally have to be one in a million these days.

So confide in close friends and family members...let them know this is what you want cause your gonna need all the support you can get.

Most importantly...be yourself. don't change for anybody or because you think they'll like it better if you act a certain way. be original. thats what stands out.

Good Luck!

hope this helped.

Answer 2

well, just do community theatre and take classes and also do extra work (u dont need an agent 4 that)

Answer 3

Well obviously you need to have acted before, but you don't need an agent to have done that. You need to start building up a resume from scratch, with the simple stuff like community theatre workshop, plays, school plays, etc. You need to take vocal lessons, learn an instrument, take dance classes, etc and when you think you have a decent enough resume...send out a copy of that and your headshot to a bunch of agencies and wait for someone to get back to you.

You HAVE to have experience. But not the film/tv kind. Although indie flicks and student films are a plus.