FAQ : How do I find a good agent?

There are a number of ways to find good agents. Some are pretty straight forward, and other more creative methods. The simplest way is to use the Marcus Institute’s National Directory of SAG and AFTRA Offices. This directory, which sells for $15, but is free with the purchase of the book How to Become a Successful Commercial Model, gives you the phone numbers of 34 AFTRA and SAG offices throughout the United States. These are the two unions (which may be merging in the near future) that handles all the standard negotiations for actors, musicians, radio personalities and people doing television and radio news.

For example, actors who are members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) who work as an extra on a movie in the Washington D.C. area, will earn $102. for an 8-hour day. The next two hours are paid at time and a half, and the 11th and 12th hour are paid at double scale. Those fees were negotiated by the producers and the Screen Actors Guild. Along with feature films, SAG also negotiates for some tv commercials, industrial/corporate training films and some network tv shows.

AFTRA (The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) negotiates for radio commercials, many soap operas, some tv commercials and for news people. If you call either SAG or AFTRA and ask for their signatory agents list (these are agents who have agreed to abide by union rules and regulations), they will send it to you free. In L.A. I believe there is a $3.00 charge. You want to send your head shots and composite sheets to these agents.

Certainly, there are many, many agents, who are strictly modeling agencies and have nothing to do with the acting union, so they will not be on the list. There are also many wonderful non- union agents who are also not on this list, but this list will give you a great start.

There are other listings of agents that you should know about. The Models Mart, 1-800-223-1254, sells modeling books, directories, and lists of agents. Their International Directory of Model and Talent Agencies & Schools can help you find agents in your community, and in other markets.

Ross Reports is a monthly booklet that lists many agents and casting agencies. Ross Reports is primarily used by actors, but some actors’ agents also represent commercial models. This publication is filled with information about New York & L.A. managers, films in preparation, prime time and day time shows, and production companies. Their number is 800-817-3273.

The Madison Avenue Handbook, also known as The Image Makers Source, lists agents and New York advertising agencies, but its primary value is in the additional information it offers on the production of shoots – equipment rental, music, sound, film and tape production, lighting, set design and car rental companies.

Another way of finding good agents (this is how I got started) is by going to any local theater to see a play. After the performance, ask the actors who are the agents in the area that you should be contacting. You will find that certain names keep getting mentioned. These are the agents you want to see.