By Mitch Rice
If you want to make it big as an actor, you need to work with the right booking agent. Booking agents are the gatekeepers to your acting career — they can reshape your image to orchestrate deals within the industry. In short, a booking agent can make or break your acting career.
But as a neophyte in the acting industry, do you know where to find the right booking agent? Are you aware of the steps to take to end up working with the right one and why you might need one? If you still don’t have any answers to these questions, the tips below can surely help you start your career in acting – whether you want to get into onscreen or theatrical acting.
Here’s how you can find the right booking agent:
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Make a List of Potential Booking Agents
The acting industry is diverse and bombarded with countless booking agents. Type your query online, and you’ll see thousands of suggestions.
To make things easier, make a list of potential booking agents. This means reaching out to your personal network for recommendations. If you know industry professionals, relatives, teachers, and acting classmates who are active in the industry, they can even provide more info to help you narrow down your options.
Make sure to ask your network the following questions when seeking recommendations for a booking agent:
- Which booking agents do you recommend? Are they any booking agents you want me to avoid?
- How can I contact these booking agents?
- Can you refer me to them?
Making a list of potential booking agents by asking for help from your network is important because it helps you narrow down your search and saves you from scams. The more information you know about these booking agents, the easier it’ll be for you to find one. You can start finding booking agents through sites like Booking Agent Info.
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Do Your Homework
Your search in finding the right booking agent doesn’t end once your network gives you recommendations — you still have to do your homework by thoroughly researching your shortlisted options.
Prioritize learning about the work history of the booking agent, as well as the talents they represent. Make sure to know about their location and how long they’ve been in the industry. You want to work with a booking agent with a good track record in the acting industry to ensure that you can gain access to high-quality job opportunities.
Maximize the internet to learn more about the booking agent you’re eyeing to hire. Pay attention to the comments and reviews left by their clients to give you a better sense of how the agent works.
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Prepare and Submit Your Materials
Once you find some reputable booking agents, it’s time to get to work. This part is crucial as it serves as your opportunity to impress several agents.
Reach out to at least 15 of the most reputable booking agents and send them your headshot, acting resume, demo reel, and agent cover letter. If you don’t get a response after a couple of weeks, submit your materials again to your second round of options.
Actors often bombard booking agents with their materials, so don’t expect an immediate response. If they do contact you and show interest in what you do, respond right away. Don’t let the booking agent wait as they might find another talent.
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Prepare for Your Interview
While waiting for the response of booking agents, make the most out of your time by preparing for your interview. If an agent likes your materials, they will schedule an interview to know you better.
To prepare for the interview, secure a copy of your portfolio and make sure to bring it with you during the interview. It’s also important to prepare a monologue as you’ll be performing in front of the agent. Spend days or weeks practicing scripts and reading your lines, so you’ll be ready during the interview.
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Update Your Materials and Submit Again
Expect that you’ll experience several roadblocks when finding the right booking agent. The acting industry is very competitive as new talents are being discovered every day.
If you haven’t gotten any response from a single booking agent after submitting your materials, consider updating them. This means improving the content of your acting resume and the quality of your demo reel. This will require hard work, but if it’s for finding the perfect booking agent, you should be ready to put in the work.
Remain Patient
Finding the right booking agent requires time and effort, so don’t rush the process. It’s better to spend weeks or months finding the best agent than hire an inexperienced individual days after searching. The former will bring better results to your acting career.
So, what are you waiting for? Follow the tips presented in this article so you can finally find the booking agent who will catapult your acting career into a long-term success!
