How to get an Agent
Although I haven’t worked as a talent agent for many years, I’m still often asked the question: “How can I get an agent?” My response hasn’t changed: “You don’t get an agent; an agent finds you.”
Think of Hollywood like a 1950s prom, and you’re looking for a date to the dance.
In this scenario, a girl does everything she can to make herself attractive—pretty hair, a little lipstick, pressed clothes, good manners, etc. (I know, I can hear Gen Z cringing already, but bear with me. As Dani from the Netflix hit Love on the Spectrum often says, “It’s just a metaphor!”) The boy approaches the girl he likes and asks her to the dance. She can accept or reject the offer. The girl’s job is to make herself attractive and respond. The boy’s job is to make the offer and follow through. Easy, right?
Believe it or not, traditional representation in Hollywood is just as simple and relies on the natural laws of attraction. In the Hollywood prom metaphor, the girl represents the artist, and the boy represents the agent: agents chase, and artists attract.
The artist must be attractive (making money and/or generating buzz), and the agent must be chasing the artist and the deals. In traditional Hollywood, the agent makes a commission only if a deal is reached. An agent is working without any guarantee of payment, so obviously if he wants you as a client, you have given an indication that there is money to be made.
The bottomline is this; if you want an agent, you must already generate income and/or heat.
When I was an agent at William Morris in the early 2000s, my department had a guideline that new clients needed to earn a minimum of $250,000 a year. Agents earn 10% of their clients’ future earnings, so a $25,000 commission was the minimum for 12-months of representation service including, but not limited to phones calls, client development meetings, negotiating deals, making introductions, sending out material, attending screenings, evaluating scripts, viewing reels, lunch meetings etc. I suspect that today the baseline earnings of a potential client is much larger in order to be desirable at a big agency.
If one didn’t have a monetary track record, one could get an agent’s attention with a hot pop culture moment—like a sex tape that launched the careers of Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian or just safely landing a plane into the Hudson River, like Captain Sully. But let’s be real, you cannot create a viral moment, nor is a viral video a business plan.
So, what can a creative person do to get the attention of an agent or manager in 2024?
You must work! Earn money and a reputation on your own and when you get to a certain level, an agent will approach you. Build a resume by working for the best and most reputable companies. Nurture authentic relationships with the other people at the office or on set. Always be professional, helpful to others and let people know your career goals.
Does Every Artist Need an Agent?
I hosted a dinner party on Saturday and my neighbor shared with us how she sold a TV movie based on her life as an intern at Hustler magazine in the 90s. It took over a decade for her idea to become the highest rated original TV Movie on the free platform Tubi in 2024. Plus, she did it without an agent.
The TV movie is called “Spread” and it’s a cross between “Ugly Betty” and “Younger.” It would have never happened without a great script or a great relationship with the person who would one day green light her project. My neighbor and the executive met when she was working as an assistant in casting and he was a junior studio executive. They became friends and he loved her story so, that he encouraged her to write a script. She wrote the script on spec and many years later, he was in a position to green light projects and called her for the script.
Finding the Right Partner for Today’s Hollywood Prom
In 2024, the Hollywood prom has changed, and so have the rules for finding the right dance partner. Not everyone needs an agent or manager, but many of us want the support and expertise of someone who believes in us on a regular basis. If you are one of those people, I’d like to talk to you.
While I do not promise a job, a script sale, or representation (really, nobody can), I can offer you 25+ years of industry experience, guidance, and my network of contacts to help you make your creative dreams a reality (without a 10% commission or taking a screen credit).
If you’re looking for a solution to get representation-ready or simply need support navigating the tricky waters of a career in creativity, let’s talk. Email your résumé to hello@mygradsgetjobs.com or message me directly below, and we’ll set up a complimentary 20-minute Zoom to find out how I can best help you.