SHOULD YOU COLD CALL A TALENT AGENT?

Why is it Not a Good Idea to Call an Agency?

Have you ever noticed that there is a catch 22 with talent agencies? You are advised not to call them and you don’t always get a response from a mailing. How will you know if and when they have an open call, if you can’t call them? This is similar to the job posting that says you must have experience to get the job and you need the job to get the experience. There are reasons for these sometimes-contradictory rules.

A lot of agencies are small businesses without a large staff to assign special duties. Often times the person that is handling the casting may sometimes be the person answering the phones as well. Agents spend a lot of time on the phone trying to secure work for the agency and the talent they represent. If the agent had to handle all of the phone calls about "open calls or if a package was received", nothing else would ever get done.

Here are some of the things you can do to get around this. First, ask around because most actors know at least one person who is listed with every agency in the region. During your daily routine of auditioning and working, you will learn through the many conversations who is listed with what agency. If you are interested in being listed with an agency, ask that actor about some of the basics. Get the address and a contact name for mailing a package. It is also a good idea to get a number. If the agent doesn’t like getting blind calls, the talent will more than likely not give it to you. The last thing the actor wants is to be reprimanded by an agent for giving out a phone number that he/she shouldn’t have given out. By the way, you have to be careful with this. While it is great to help a fellow actor, don’t put yourself in harms way just to appear to want to help.

With agencies that have a full-time receptionist, it may be OK to call and ask a few questions. With others, find out information by word of mouth or send a headshot and resume. In the cover letter, say that you are sending a headshot/resume for their files and if they would like additional headshots and resumes, please give you a call.

Periodically, send a postcard or an updated headshot and resume. The idea is to hit as many agencies as you can and get them to know you without being a pain. It seems like impossibility, but it can be done. Remember this is business and you should treat it that way.

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