What's too much for an agent to handle?

Every agency has a different amount of agents and all the agents share the client list. So that it makes it hard to give you an accurate answer.

My agency has three agents and we represent 110 clients. That's considered a little low. We'll probably be adding another 10-12 actors before pilot season.

Now, keep in mind that I'm talking about a theatrical agency. Those numbers would go way up if we were a commmercial company.

Yep. Some of the best commercial agencies have a HUGE roster. And with commercial agencies size is irrelevant. It's their relationship with casting directors that's important and it's usually the bigger commercial agencies that have those strong relationships.

The reason for this is the fact that Commercial Agencies work DIFFERENTLY than Theatrical Agents.

Good theatrical agents prefer a smaller client base so they can effectively pitch and submit their clients, get feedback, etc.

Commercial agents don't really pitch their clients nor get feedback. When an commercial agency gets a breakdown asking for Asians in their 20s, the agent will go to LACasting, type in Asian, 20s and mass submit all of their clients that match that description. It's then the commercial casting directors' decision as to who goes to the audition.

And with casting directors, theatrical casting directors normally see no more than 30 actors per breakdown role. Commercial casting directors could see as many as 50-hundreds of people per audition.

quote:

Originally posted by TRUTHTELLER59:
Commercial agents don't really pitch their clients nor get feedback. When an commercial agency gets a breakdown asking for Asians in their 20s, the agent will go to LACasting, type in Asian, 20s and mass submit all of their clients that match that description. It's then the commercial casting directors' decision as to who goes to the audition.

Huh. Wow, I don't know who your commercial agent is, but mine (one of the top 10) doesn't work that way. I've been in their office several times when they were working on a submission, and they may first narrow down their search to the broad specifications of the breakdown, but then they carefully go through their choices and submit only the ones they truly feel fit the project. They can't just do a "mass" submission. They won't (can') submit someone who has already has a conflict commercial. They are also careful about submitting their most over-exposed clients and those that normally get paid over-scale, particularly if the casting director has requested that no over-scale actors be submitted. Likewise, many times, the casting director will say something in the breakdown like "Please only submit your top people" or "your top 10" or "only those with great film credits" or "improv company members". Then, the CD will go through those submissions and set up appointments.

I'm talking about a more general commercial submission.

I've seen LACasting through the Agent's perspective. I've met with my agent (who's also top ranked) to see how the submission process works and I know people who work at LACasting who have shown me what the agent and casting director see on their end.

On the agent's side, they have a filter system for more specific breakdowns. If the cd asks for improv from Second City or Groundlings and non-overscale, the agent can click on those things and his or her clients with such training who don't get paid overscale will pop up. If the cd specifically asks for top 10, then the agent will have to go through that.

Of course they're not going to submit people with commercial conflicts. That's entered in the database so that doesn't happen.

Well, it seems to me that there is no correct answer as to how agents work as they don't all operate the same way. But if I had a choice I would certainly want to be with Broadway2Hollywood's agent!

Not me, Camille? A single tear just rolled down my cheek...

quote:

Originally posted by Secret Agent Man:
Not me, Camille? A single tear just rolled down my cheek...

Huh? You lost me there SAM.

quote:

Originally posted by Secret Agent Man:
Not me, Camille? A single tear just rolled down my cheek...

Okay, now that I have had a cocktail I see that what you are saying is that you would become a commercial agent just to represent me. And, silly me, I had lost faith in the kindness of strangers!

Thank you!