How to Find a Legitimate Modeling or Acting Agent

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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(45 Ratings)

Finding a legitimate agent to represent you just involves having the knowledge and a heads-up attitude, plus doing a little research. You can easily learn how to avoid the scams and find a great agent.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Acting Classes
Modeling Agents
Photographers
Theater Tickets
Personal Organizers
Theater tickets

Step 1

Go to a local theater. After the performance, ask the actors for the names of the agents who represent them.
Step 2

Contact a local advertising association to get the names of advertising agencies in your area. Then ask the art and creative directors which agents they use when hiring models.
Step 3

Call local photographers and find out which agents they use when hiring models.
Step 4

Phone the local SAG (Screen Actors Guild) or AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) office for the names of signatory agents in your area. These are agents who have signed contracts and have agreed to abide by union rules. SAG or AFTRA will give you the list of names for free.
Step 5

Schedule your appointment during working hours and meet the agent at his or her office. Avoid meeting with an unfamiliar agent anywhere else.
Step 6

Look around the office. Do you see pictures of ads the agent has booked for his or her models? Are the phones ringing? You want to see a busy office.
Step 7

Ask to see the composite sheets and head shots of the models the agent represents. Do they look good? Keep in mind that unscrupulous agents have been known to display ads showing models that they don't represent. An agent representing a model should have the model's composite sheet on hand, so ask to see it.
Step 8

Call models who work with the agent before your interview, if possible. Do they like the agent? Do they get work through the agent? Does the agent treat them well? Are they paid on time? (Generally payments are made within 90 days.)
Step 9

Determine whether or not you feel comfortable with the agent. If you're unsure, call the local SAG or AFTRA office, which might have some information about the agency.
Step 10

Call the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been made against the agency.

Comments

ineedanagent said

Flag This Comment

on 10/11/2009 I Need an Agent! Yet, what type (specific) of agent. A little help would be GREAT! Here is my information that would help narrow that decision making.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Hello,

I am writing in regards to finding an agent that will represent me. I am not sure of the type of agent (specificity) that will be required.
I have at least a couple of credentials that provide me reason to seek out an agent to represent me. The first one is that, I currently claim the World Record of Academics, that is, I have earned more semester hours, attended more Universities as a student, of which took 26 years and 4 months (from the age of 18 to the age of 44 – 1977 to 2003).
I did earn a Chemistry undergraduate degree. I started college in 1977 and continued on till December 2003 earning an undergraduate degree in Chemistry, 1/2 a Pharmacy degree, 1/2 a Medical degree (I live...

looks said

on 5/18/2009 hi im looking for an agent that wants to make alot of money. i have someone that is going to be the next tiger of modeling. this kid is going to go globle. trust me. i took one look at him and said hes got what it takes. letting you in on the ground floor. pls contact me at muitt7@comcast.net its a win win. thank you for your time pamela