An Acting Agent finds jobs for the Actors they represent. They do this by submitting their clients for auditions, pitch them for roles, follow-up on submissions (and subsequent auditions), negotiate for contracts (this includes everything from better pay to billing to working parameters), and renegotiate existing contracts.

An Agent sends a Casting Director an electronic submission with a headshot and resumé, website link and IMDb page.

While that’s the elevator pitch for an Acting Agent’s job, let’s take a deeper look into their daily tasks…

Many Acting Agents hold casting calls or auditions to find talented individuals to represent. They’ll also attend showcases and screenings, searching for new talent.

In the ever-evolving entertainment field, it’s crucial that Agents stay on top of all things relative and current. Culture climate and business requirements are constantly shifting and changing, and a representative needs to ensure their talent follows suit.

Many Acting Agents take time to work with their clients, this involves helping them sharpen their skills and craft as the market grows increasingly competitive.

One of the key aspects of an Agent’s job is marketing and showcasing their clients and their abilities to help land them work.

Agents are often in close contact with Casting Directors and Producers, always on the lookout to connect their clients with the right hiring professional.

When a client receives a job offer, Talent Agents usually help negotiate the performer’s contract to ensure it’s fair, appropriate and in their client’s best interests.

The chief difference between these representatives is an Agent will book work for an actor while a manager takes an overview of the talent’s bigger plan and aims to shape a career around them.

Another difference between them is the payment system…

If you’ve ever heard the term “ten percenter” in deference to the entertainment Industry, the person being referred to is an Agent, as ten percent is an Agent’s standard fee. Agents are regulated by labor unions. In the case of screen actors, that would be SAG-AFTRA. Agents are also legally permitted to negotiate contracts, while managers are not.

Managers can typically take up to fifteen percent, as their scope of work can vary beyond that of an Agent’s.

Getting signed by one of the biggest agencies — Creative Artists Agency (CAA), ICM Partners, and William Morris Endeavor¹ — is extremely rare unless you’re well-established.

Actors sometimes mistakenly believe that getting repped by a big agency is the end-all-be-all for a successful career; however, this is rarely true. Signing with a boutique agency, for example, means more time spent on lesser-known clients and a greater chance of getting your foot in the door. Although Los Angeles and New York are the main hubs of the entertainment Industry, Agents can be found everywhere across the globe.

How hard it is to get an acting agent is entirely dependent on how much work you’re willing to put in to do so.

Classes are a terrific way to learn your craft, sharpen it, prepare you for a number of different acting scenarios, and most importantly, make connections with other Industry professionals. Networking is arguably the most important aspect of working in the entertainment Industry. Take every opportunity to meet and connect with new people.

Film students are always on the lookout for fresh talent to populate their movies. While not getting paid isn’t so glamorous, working on student films is a great way to strengthen acting skills, push yourself creatively and (let’s all say it together now) make connections.

A headshot is a professional photo of you, taken from the shoulders up. It’s everyone’s first impression, and the “look” you project has the potential to get you through the right doors. We mentioned “professional” headshot. Please don’t take this lightly. An amateurish-looking headshot can easily take an actor out of consideration for a role.

An acting resumé contains your contact information, physical characteristics (height, weight, hair color, eye color), acting roles in reverse-chronological order, education and training (all those acting classes you’re enrolled in), languages, dialects and accents you speak, any unique skills you might have, and any awards and/or accolades.

An actor demo reel (also known as a “showreel” or “sizzle reel”) is a one-to-two-minute-long edited video collection of an actor’s best performances. Acting Agents, managers, casting directors, and potential employers view demo reels when searching for new acting talent. A great demo reel can catch the eye of an Agent, and subsequently, persuade a casting director to call an actor to audition for a role.

Reach out to SAG-AFTRA for a list of union franchised agencies. You may also consider non-union agencies, as a number of them are hard-working, legitimate establishments. But as mentioned, proceed with caution to avoid scammers. A good way to vet reputable companies is to talk to fellow actors (remember all those connections you made in acting class?). When you’re starting out, you’re more likely to get signed by a smaller, boutique agency.

Once ready with your headshot, resumé and list of agencies, you can begin contacting specific Acting Agents at each agency. It’s always best not to go in as a complete stranger (a recommendation from a fellow repped actor helps), but getting signed without a recommendation is not impossible. After you’ve researched a targeted agency, submit a personalized cover letter (be as specific and succinct as possible), headshot, resumé, and your reel.

Be sure to follow the submission guidelines on the agency’s website. Your primary objective should be to get a one-on-one interview to see if you’re a good match with the agency. This is a crucial step many hopefuls miss. It’s not just about signing with any agency, but about signing with the right one. If you’re not in-step, culturally and personally with your agency, the Agent-talent relationship tends to quickly fall apart.

Great news! An Agent saw your headshot, read your resumé and wants to meet with you! This may be well-worn advice, but the best thing to do on these meetings is to be yourself. Not some version that you think will appeal to the rep (they typically see right through subterfuge).

Let your work do most of the talking for you. The Agent may ask for an audition, which could be either a cold reading or something pre-recorded. If you’re the type they’re looking for, they’ll sign you and begin the process of finding you acting work.

The big keys here are communication, honesty, and trust. Always be upfront with your representatives about your schedule and keep them abreast of all work circumstances. Be personable, but don’t occupy too much of their time. Remember, they have an entire roster of clients to service!

The average salary for a Talent Agent is $49,919² per year (as of October 2022), but the income range can be vast.

At a minimum, talent agencies expect their Agents to have a high school diploma. Additionally, having degrees at higher levels of education will always offer a leg-up on the competition.

Although you’ll be working for free, the experience you’ll earn and the connections you develop are invaluable. There’s no greater education for an Agent than to be working within a company and learning its ins and outs, whether paid or not.

There are a lot of agencies out there. Research them. Find out which represents the talent you’d one day like to be representing. Study their client lists and the work they do.

Learn to identify talent. Identify what types of trends the Industry’s following (trends are always changing, so you want to be as current as possible). And always be sharpening your people skills. Learning how to effectively communicate with people is arguably an Agent’s most effective tool.

Competition for Talent Agent positions can be high. A good strategy for standing out from the crowd is to develop a personal brand and market yourself accordingly. Building your own personalized website could be an invaluable aid in this.

Personal connections and networking are essential to thriving professionally. Attend professional networking events and seek to build positive Industry relationships whenever you can. So get out there!