Love your column! I look for a new one from you everytime I log on to Backstage.

I went to a Seminar at Actor's Connection NYC. AWESOME way to meet CDs and agents. I met with an agent from an upper mid range agency and I really liked his style. It went really well, he was very positive about my monologue. I fit the description of young unknown which he specified he was looking for.

That was about a month ago. I know every agent is different. Some will tell you on the spot they are interested. Other's will call you in at a later date. I'm in the Philly market right now and I'm pretty green about playing on that level. If I could crawl up inside the guys head I TOTALLY would. Perhaps I could crawl up in yours a bit (JUST a bit). I read what you wrote about being extra picky right now. How would it play out with you under these circumstances? I can only afford to go to NYC but for so many of these things.

Also, if you find talent in another market, does your agency help make it feasible to relocate said talent? I know model agencies do it (I've heard about those icky model apartments.) Got any insight?

Also, if you find talent in another market, does your agency help make it feasible to relocate said talent? I know model agencies do it (I've heard about those icky model apartments.) Got any insight?

If you got what they desperately needs, they will relocate you, sign you into the union, pay the fees and treat you like royalty... if, you got what they desperately needs. Very rarely does that happen in acting. in modeling, its all about the looks, its hard to find ppl with the model look.

Agents don't pay to relocate talent. It doesn't work that way - not at any level. That was only true during the thirties and forties when actors where under studio contracts. It's not going to happen now.

As for your particular situation - think about it. Thanks to the WGA strike, every agent is being extra picky about who they sign and you don't live in New York. So why should he take a chance on you? Every agent has given a break to an out of town actor who promises to catch trains or planes or whatever at a moment's notice and make auditions. And most of the those agents have been burned. So even if he loves you, why bother?

(I've tried the same thing in LA with actors who live in San Francisco and San Diego. It has NEVER worked out.)

Also, the guy is a NY agent. It's not like there's a lack of great talent in Manhattan, right?

Hi,

Just wondering what is considered an out of town actor. Im on long island, about an hour away on the LIRR. Is this considered out of town? I know a lot of friends that live in queens and brooklyn, and it could take as long to get into midtown manhattan on the subway.

thanks in advance,
Tom

I don't live in NY but I just called an agent friend in Manhattan and he says Long Island isn't considered out of town. The same is true for most of Westchester and some of Jersey.