09 Jun It’s not you, it’s me. When to dump your agent and when to stay.
We all know the age old break up signs. You have bad communication. What you once loved now makes you cringe. You suspect infidelity. They don’t show you the attention you feel you deserve.
Unfortunately, those aspects aren’t just for romantic relationships. Sometimes they apply to your agent as well. You hear actors complaining or boasting about their representation all the time. That first acceptance of backing can be exhilarating, but there are moments in an actor’s life when they have to take a long hard look at their relationship with their agent and decide… is it you or is it me? Here are signs when to dump your agent.
You Don’t Get Auditions
This can happen for a lot of reasons. There may not be a large number of parts for your type. Logically assess where you fit in casting breakdowns. Does your agent also have another type just like you that is scoring those auditions? It’s hard to determine if it’s your headshot that isn’t getting the calls or if your agent isn’t pushing you hard enough. Before you dump all the blame on your representation, ask your agent if there’s a different approach you should take with your headshot to make it pop. Are you actively promoting yourself? Keeping yourself in front of a casting director so when they see your submission, they know they want to call you in? Before you start looking elsewhere, boost your postcard mailings, hand out more business cards when you meet people, and attend more workshops.
Avoidance
Is your agent avoiding you when you attempt to contact them with legitimate questions? This is a bad sign. If you’re constantly filling their email with needless questions, you’re the problem. They’re busy and don’t always have time to give you feedback or help you decide exactly what to wear to a showcase. That’s not their job. Their job is to get you auditions, but if they start a dialogue with you and don’t continue, or continually avoid legitimate requests about their own policies or requests, it’s not you – it’s them.
Rigid Requirements
It’s understandable for an agent to want their talent to follow specific instructions about photographers, looks, and communication, but if your agent requires exceptionally rigid guidelines that are peppered with rudeness or aligned with financial gain on their side, it’s best to proceed cautiously. If you feel like something is off with how your agent funnels in talent or is constantly requesting new headshots every few months in accordance to new structures, it’s a good time to look at whether or not you followed the original guidelines or if they simply shift standards at their own whim. If you feel like you’re on a rocky boat and aren’t seeing results though you adhere to standards, it’s most likely them – not you. If you’re honestly missing the mark and other clients are having good results with the agency, it’s time to tighten your bootstraps and take your representation more seriously.
It’s a gift to have representation. It can feel like a monkey on your back if you’re not seeing the results you desire. Before you ditch your representation, be sure you’re doing your part. Are you using your postcards effectively? Are your headshots sharp? Do you pour effective effort into promoting your career? If all of these are a yes, and you’re still having a rocky relationship with your agent, it may be time to explore new horizons.