How to Find a Legitimate Modeling or Acting Agent

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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Acting Classes
• Modeling Agents
• Photographers
• Theater Tickets
• Personal Organizers

1. Go to a local theater. After the performance, ask the actors for the names of the agents who represent them.
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.
3. Call local photographers and find out which agents they use when hiring models.
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.
5. Schedule your appointment during working hours and meet the agent at his or her office. Avoid meeting with an unfamiliar agent anywhere else.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
10. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been made against the agency.

Tips & Warnings

• Agents making their living by earning a percentage of each job they book for a model. Do not pay any up-front fees to an agent.
• If you're not happy with the number of auditions or bookings you are getting, set up an appointment with your agent and discuss what you can do to generate more jobs.
• If the agent lies to you, makes outrageous promises or asks for up-front money (to cover phone calls or mailing expenses on your behalf), keep looking. Legitimate agents do not ask for expense money.

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