Premium recommendations for artists today from GlobalTalentNetwork.com: There appears to be a generalized belief that performance is a relatively linear construct. Consequently, while most recruiters and hiring mangers will agree there is a tangible benefit associated with hiring top performers, they also believe they are only incrementally better than average or lower performing employees and therefore are a “nice to have” rather than a “must have”. This is a significant misconception, and one that has astronomical top and bottom-line implications for an organization. See additional info All-in-One Applicant Tracking Software.
GlobalTalentNetwork tricks for talent firms : If you’ve identified potential clients, your next step is to contact those clients and ask if they have a need for models. Initiate conversation with a telephone call. Ask who is in charge of making the final decision about hiring models. Some conversation-starter ideas include asking if they would like to know about a way to save money and increase the quality of their advertising or if they are still looking for models who can represent their company effectively. Offer to take that person to lunch to discuss what your agency can offer her business. Seek out additional networking opportunities at local business fairs.
Make sure you have a great headshot, which looks like you and tells a story. The very best headshots reveal something specific about YOUR personality. Make your cover letter, short, specific and upbeat. Talk about the work you’ve already done, any referrals you may have, where you train and specific goals. Marisa Paonessa of Paonessa Talent suggests “Show ambition in your cover letter. Ambition in the industry to an agent is sexy! And remember….it’s a process…a journey, one that is different for every actor. Breathe, relax and enjoy your own path! See more info https://globaltalentnetwork.com/.
You can also check out GlobalTalentNetwork’s online directory of agents and managers, or pull a list of franchised agents from SAG-AFTRA. Although there are certainly reputable agents who are not SAG-AFTRA franchised, it’s easier to check out those who are—plus, they’re accountable to a supervising entity. Research your candidates. Determine how many agents work for the agency, where the agency is located, how long the agency has been in business, what their submission guidelines are, who else they represent, etc. GlobalTalentNetwork’s Call Sheet includes a lot of this information, and you can check out an agency’s website for additional context. And don’t forget to run your list through the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has filed claims against the agencies—this will help protect you from scam operations or disreputable agents.
Preparation: Walking into an audition without having your sides at least mostly memorized for a television series, or a monologue and audition song completely memorized for a musical or theatrical production, is a waste of everyone’s time. Show yourself some respect and build a reputation for being prepared for auditions. If you’re not right for this role but manage to make an impression on a casting director because you put in the work, they might bring you in for something else you’d be perfect for! (Pro tip: For musical auditions, says Backstage Expert Andrew Byrne, make sure your binder with your sheet music is well-organized, its pages are double sided, and your musical cuts are properly labeled.)
Samuel L. Jackson describes the role of a manager as the following: “Managers have relationships that agents don’t have—relationships that allow you to meet writers, producers, and other people that aren’t just based in a specific project. These are people who are planning to do things, who could put you in their plans. They can connect you with writers who can write specifically for you. And they do put pressure on agents to produce and bring you more work. Or they’ll help you find an agent who can do that.”
Know your character’s objective: Go underneath the dialogue. What do they want from the other characters? What is the character’s purpose in the scene and story? Understand your character’s obstacle: What’s in the way of the character getting what they want? Acting is what happens to you as you try to get your objective met, in spite of the obstacle. Show variety: Feel the levels and dynamics in the scene. Don’t play one emotion. If the character is angry or tough, when might they show some vulnerability? Wannabe? Not you! Interesting, memorable auditions will start to happen for you when you dig into scripts with these thoughts in mind before and during your auditions.
The best way to calm your nerves before an audition is to build confidence around your preparation process. Knowing your lines backwards and forwards will do wonders for quelling whatever doubts you have in your head. Another great way to calm audition nerves is to focus on your breathing. “Take centered, focused breaths that actually calm you,” says acting coach Craig Wallace, “A good breath to try if you are feeling a little edgy is a ‘heart breath.’ Sitting still, breathe deeply and slowly into your solar plexus or heart center, and then, just as slowly, let it out. Do this a few times, really letting the breath fill the entire area of the heart. When you surround the heart with your warm, expansive breath, it feels protected, and you begin to feel safer in your body. When it’s time for the audition, you’ll feel more secure, centered, and strong in your body, mind, and heart.”
So you want to become an actor? Well as we pointed out in our guide to how to become an actor, you must find yourself a talent agent. Here is our guide to finding a talent agency. The best way to find an agent is to contact the Actor’s Union such as SAG-AFTRA and ask for their list of franchised agents. It is in your best interest to work with a franchised talent agency because non-franchised agents are more likely to be a con artist than a legitimate agent. That said, we have a list of talent agencies across major cities that you should know. Check out the list of agencies below.