It's been a rough seven years in NYC auditioning with no agent!

I have done everything I thought I am supposed to, send headshots and mailings,paying for studio classes, followup postcards, invites to showcases, on and on with no response.

It's getting so frustrating.
Any advice from those who have signed with an agent?


Renee

I have comments, based on looking at your website. But, do you really want to hear what may be the truth? Many times people ask for advice, but don't really want to hear it. If you truly are at that point where you are open and ready to take it, I can give you my thoughts (my opinion only).

Time to get creative.

If all the "usual" avenues fail, you need to think outside the box.

There's a saying: "Nothing succeeds like success." You need to first have some successes in order to attain more. A leading role in an indie film, a great review in an off-Broadway show. Agents want to see more than a sterile resume with nothing to recommend you before signing someone new. And nothing impresses a potential agent more than booking your own job, then asking them to do the deal for you. An agent would have a difficult time saying "no" to such an offer.

There are also "back doors" to agents (like actors currently signed with the agent you seek). In fact, many agents won't consider new talent without a personal recommendation. You should also contemplate working with a personal manager who could help you in this regard, as well as with your own promotional game plan and overall career goals.

www.robertkim.com

Have you freelanced with any agents? In New York, this is often a good way to get started with an agent. If you get a good amount of callbacks and do some booking while freelancing with a particular agent, they will want to sign you.

If you have been freelancing, then talk to the agents you are working with. Ask them what do you need to do to sign with them. If you have not freelanced, then talk to your acting friends and ask them if they would recommend you to the agents they work with.

How are you doing on self-submissiomns? Are you getting many good roles? If not, time to really review your materials. What type are you? Take a very critical look at your headshot, does it set you out as someone an agent would want to work with? Does it make you stand out amongst others of your type? Look at your resume does it really have good credits on it? Or a lot of the same old, same old? Same thing with your training? Are yous tudying the same thing with the same teacher for many years or do you have some variety there?

If you are doing well with self-submissions, (getting lots of really meaty roles), how are you letting the prospective agents know about this? How are you marketing your success?

I can't really answer your question because I don't know anything about you. It would be unfair of me to pass judgement on a complete stranger. Also, I don't see a link to your site so I can't check that out either.

Now, here's the thing. This may or may not apply to you so please take it with a grain of salt. Most actors have no self awareness. Over the years, I've met tons of actors who swore they were the best and they were terrible. Most actors aren't as good as they think they are. Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, you're not that good? I mean, you've devoted a large chunk of your life and have very little to show for it.

Other actors on this site will probably tell you to hang in there - there are plenty of stories of people who stuck it out and hit it big. I would respond that those cases are extremely rare. Time is short and life is full of options.

SAM, I wish more people would be honest about talent level. If I'm no good, I'd like to hear about it - because otherwise I'm essentially pursuing a no-win situation.

I get glowing responses from CDs and Agents at workshops and always got very positive reinforcement in college - but one does have to wonder how much of that is genuine and not just "polite" when the phone isn't ringing. Know what I mean?

SAM, I wish more people would be honest about talent level. If I'm no good, I'd like to hear about it - because otherwise I'm essentially pursuing a no-win situation.

I get glowing response from CDs at workshops and always got very positive reinforcement in college - but one does have to wonder how much of that is genuine and not just "polite" when the phone isn't ringing. Know what I mean?

The problem is, how do we actually know how "good" anyone is that participates on this board?

There are many people who read this forum who could use the information we give, not just the person asking.

All we can do is freely offer our help and support to anyone who asks for it.

www.robertkim.com

i have to agree...


to be brutally honest...we don't know how good you are. are you working a lot and just dont have an agent? or are you not working very much? do you have a reel we can see?

Everyone has made some good points. The thing is, every actor has their own path. If it takes longer sometimes it's because you're not doing everything you can be doing to be in good projects. Robert made some good points in his post about standing out. You know, in Glenn Alterman's book [forget the title, but it's a book about making it in NYC] actress Debra Monk is interviewed. From what she said, she had a TERRIBLE time getting an agent. And this was after she had some very impressive theater credits, too. But she persevered and today she's a successful working actress who has been on TV shows, in movies, and on stage. Look her up on IMDB.

quote:

Originally posted by Zisa:
I have comments, based on looking at your website. But, do you really want to hear what may be the truth? Many times people ask for advice, but don't really want to hear it. If you truly are at that point where you are open and ready to take it, I can give you my thoughts (my opinion only).

Am I missing something? What website?

The website is: http://www.reneecole.com

Yes, her website was in the original posting, but seemed to have been removed.

As for the original post, I think other folks have touched on the main points. If you've been going at it for 7 years and your resume consists primarily of extra work and limited theatre at unimportant venues, it might be time to step back and reassess your plan. I think your website is doing you a disservice. Your pics look amteurish to me, and your bio is actually embarrassing. You should remove it. You highlight the fact that your career "took off" with extra parts? You highlight that you're a waitress, tour guide, etc? Why would you put that on there? I am not trying to be harsh, but 7 years into your career, even without an agent, there should be more there.

I think you need to rethink your plan and maybe find a different path to your career. I am certainly not saying to give up, that would be presumptuous of anyone. But obviously what you've been doing has not been working. Maybe you need to go back to school to work on your craft and make yourself more marketable? Maybe you should consider another market where you might be able to get some more work and stronger credits (Chicago, Philly, Minneapolis, etc.)? There are lots of ways to go about a career, and not finding an agent for seven years is just a byproduct of the bigger problem that needs to be fixed.

quote:

Originally posted by wonderfulcow:
The website is: http://www.reneecole.com

Thank-you! Glad to know I am not losing my mind-- or at least not in this instance!

I agree with all especially Zisa you definitely have to revamp yourself over. The photos are not a strong look, resume is all extra work. You just need to strengthen it up more that's all. I guarantee once you take care of what info was offered to you here in this post, you'll notice the turn around in agents, and managers. Hustle Hard !!!!