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How Can I Get a Agent to Start an Acting Career?

If you're going to be a professional actor, finding representation is the best way to achieve your career goals. An agent will do the business work of acting for you. Agents help get auditions, negotiate salaries, network with casting directors, and manage their clients' careers to make sure they are being sold the best way. Finding an agent can be challenging, and it might take time, patience and hard work.

Things You'll Need

  • Headshots
  • Resume
  • List of agents in your area
  • Mailing envelopes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get headshots of yourself. Find a photographer who specializes in acting headshots and portfolios to shoot a good, clear photo of yourself wearing normal, everyday clothes and smiling naturally. Have at least 200 copies made of the best headshot.

    • 2

      Put together your acting resume. List any commercials or television shows you've appeared on, theater credits and acting courses, schools and workshops you've taken, along with any special skills, plus basic statistics such as height, weight, and hair and eye color. Staple these to the back of your headshots.

    • 3

      Get a list of acting agents in your area from a website such as Screen Actors Guild. Mail your photograph and resume to the agents in large brown envelopes. Follow up one week later with a phone call. Try to set up a meeting with agents who might be interested in you, and prepare a reading for a potential audition.

    • 4

      Network as much as you can. Attend any type of function where you could meet agents. Talk to other actors about who their agents are, work as an extra on movies and television shows where you might be noticed, and always carry a headshot, resume and business cards on your person or in your car. You never know when you may meet someone who's looking to represent a fresh, new talent. Go to any open casting calls and meet with casting directors, and get your name and face out there as much as possible.

    • 5

      Take as many classes as you can to hone your acting skills and meet other actors and industry professionals. Acting teachers know a lot of people and they might take a special interest in you. Take classes about the business of acting, commercial and television acting, and even acting for theater.

Screen Acting

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