TALENT TIPS

I have been asked this question A LOT! This question (or some form of it) is on the top ten of most asked questions concerning the entertainment industry.  So I have chosen to discuss this for January’s topic. This topic was prompted by the following question submitted a few weeks ago by Sheila Adkins:

Hi Nicolle:

It is great to find a company like The Actors Scene who not only find and promote talented actors, etc., but to find someone whose business is close within the area where I live. I have been very interested in TV commercials, and would like to know what does it take to be cast for upcoming commercials without costly spending to get there. I am 46 years of age, but look late 30’s (I believe). I have been in the recruiting industry for 11 years; am funny at times, married - no kids, but fit very well into any setting. Any tips for this middle-aged woman? Keep up the good work.

Unfortunately, my answer to Sheila is it does cost to get into TV commercials or any other aspect of the entertainment industry. This is a business. And when you want to become an actress, model, singer, dancer etc, you are opening your own business. To open a business, you invest in it. It really is that simple.

The problem is, most people do not see this as a business. Many people think that you can wake up one day and say you want to be “an actor” and you can achieve overnight success. However, most people who have achieved “overnight success” have been working in this industry for years until they obtain their “big break.”

We hear all the time on the news, or from people like Clark Howard, that you should never pay money  to get in this business. While that is true to some extent, it is misleading. When news reporters tell the public these kinds of statements, what they mean, specifically, are to talent and modeling agents. And, this is where it is prudent for people to research and gain knowledge about the industry so they can know the difference between an agent and an acting school.

It is true that you should never pay an agent any sort of fee to represent you. An agent makes money only when the talent they represent works. They receive a commission. So any agent or manager that requires you to pay them for representation is not a legitimate agent. They can, however, require you to provide your own marketing materials or pay a small fee (under $100) to list you on their website. But an agent is not the same as an acting school or studio.

However, you do need to make an investment in yourself if you want to be in the industry. You must take training classes and workshops, you must have a photoshoot and purchase headshots or comp cards for your agent to market you to casting directors. All these things you have to pay for. An agent or manager is not going to pay for these things. And they will not represent you unless you have these basic requirements.

Next, you may ask: Why do I need training? Well, it’s like anything else. If you want to be good at something, you have to learn it, gain the skills and practice. Acting is no different. If fact, it’s vital. There are so many people who want to get into this industry. The competition is fierce. Agents have their choice of a long buffet of people. Why would they choose someone who doesn’t have the skills over someone who does? Why would a casting director, network, producer or ad agency hire someone to be in their TV commercial, film or print campaign who has no skills when they could have someone who does? I have a favorite quote by a famous actor: “There is always someone right behind you who is willing to work harder, practice more, train more. To succeed, you have to be willing to be that person.”

This business is the same as any other. Employers hire the most highly skilled and trained personnel. However, this is where the general public is confused. They think “scam” anytime there are costs associated with this industry. Training schools, acting studios, classes and workshops are different than agents. Just like you pay for karate lessons, dance lessons or any other activity, you pay acting studios for training. You pay photographers for a photoshoot. You pay a printing company for headshots or comp cards. These are all legitimate and necessary costs that each individual must invest in to start in this industry.

And to be competitive in the industry, you have to have the training. At the very least you need the technical knowledge of acting in front of a camera as opposed to stage, or the technical knowledge of acting for TV commercials as opposed to film, and so on. Directors on a set don’t have time to teach someone those things because every person on a set from the camera man to the key grip is paid each filming day. Teaching someone would eat into filming costs. So, they hire professionals who are already trained.

Photos are necessary as agents and managers use this tool to market you to the casting directors and ad agencies. You can’t go to an audition without them. Therefore you must have a professional photoshoot, then print headshots and/or comp cards. A normal photoshoot costs between $175 and $400. Anything higher raises a red flag.  Even in NYC and LA, these are normal prices for great industry photographers. I would walk away from anyone who wants to charge you more than this. You can print 100 headshots or comp cards from a great printer for $100 to $150.

There are great acting studios in the Atlanta metro and suburb areas that cost anywhere from $100 to $200 a month. Anything more than that for ongoing acting class should also raise a red flag. Call your local talent or modeling agencies to obtain a reputable list of recommended acting studios. If that agency wants to offer you classes through their agency, you walk away. Legitimate agencies do not offer training because it’s a conflict of interest. It’s also against acting union rules. If an “agency” offers training classes, then you should suspect that is the primary source of income for them–not sending their talent on auditions.

To summarize, there are legitamite costs required to get into TV commercials or any other form of acting or entertainment. You just have to be smart, use common sense and above all…do your homework. Knowledge is power.

1. Drue Says:
   January 20th, 2009 at 1:59 am

   Thank you so much for posting this information on your website, I knew a lot of it from “the actor’s guide southeast”. I’m also and older (45) woman that always wanted to get into the industry, I’ve done some workshops, church plays,and have headshots. However I need so much more training, I just can’t afford it right now. This information was very inspirational, and I really appreciate it. I never give up until I’m not breathing.

   P.S.
   The quality of my
   headshot plus size
   would allow me to download
   to posted website