I've been offered a position as a commercial talent agent at a reputable boutique agency. Should I take it? Loaded question, I know. I'm just looking for thoughts.

I became an intern in order to learn how best to approach agencies, for my own purposes as an actor. I'd been here two days when they offered to sign me as a client, after having me read with some potential clients during interviews. It's been three months, and now they're offering to make me an agent. Flexible part-time hours (and the freedom to leave for auditions), commission-based pay.

It's flattering, but it seems like it would get in the way of my acting career - which I am very serious about. I've gotten myself on the right track by signing with a good agency, but becoming an agent seems like a step in the wrong direction. Plus, I'd sort of be representing... myself?


Anyway, it's very hard to give advice when the information is so vague, but I'd appreciate any thoughts anyone would like to share. Thanks in advance!

I'm fairly certain that representing yourself would cause a problem, sooner or later. If other clients find out, they will (rightly) accuse you of having a conflict of interest.

And also, yes, being an agent is fairly all-consuming. I can't imagine that it wouldn't cut into your acting career.

However, if you're willing to just be an agent for a while, that could be highly educational, and might serve you well down the line.

Hey, if they are giving you the chance to leave for auditions... then what have you got to loose?
You can pursue acting while gaining enviable knowledge and a steady pay!

quote:

You can pursue acting while gaining enviable knowledge and a steady pay!

Is it? Commission based pay these days could be less than that....

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Originally posted by FaithLove:
Hey, if they are giving you the chance to leave for auditions... then what have you got to loose?
You can pursue acting while gaining enviable knowledge and a steady pay!

I'm with Jim on this. Agents make their money from commissions from booked actors or they get paid to attend showcases. So nothing really steady about being an agent especially with this slow and crappy year.

Also, if you become an agent and you're affiliated with any Union, you'll have to do an "Honorable Withdrawal" and not act. It's a conflict of interest if you're both an agent and a working actor.

One of my mentors had his own agency. He was still an actor an a member of SAG and AFTRA. However, he was never told about Honorable Withdrawal and consequently got his agency shut down and his State Agency License revoked.

Hey Musey, which agency is this?

I'm thinkin' that's a PM kind of question, no?

I'm not comfortable revealing which agency it is, I don't think it's fair to them.

The conflict of interest issue is what I was alluding to. It's obviously a bad idea in this respect.

As for steady pay... no, definitely not. I've been essentially doing the job of an agent in this department for three months, and I've seen the current agent get three checks in that time... totaling $236. Not exactly enviable pay for three months' work.

The only reason to do it would be the value of the experience, which I suspect may not outweigh the obvious downside: having to essentially shelve acting for an indeterminate amount of time. I could obviously still be taking classes and, since I'm currently non-union, in theory still act.

If you're really hard up, do a pros|cons list and measure it against your goals.

I would go with agenting if A) It fulfilled the requirements of a survival job as an acting student. B) I was ready to pursue it as a career, C) if the rewards were otherwise unable to be ignored (still not going to feel right if it doesn't really suit you), D) if the experience was really invaluable in furthering my acting.

You may have already learned the bulk of what you wanted to learn as an actor anyway. But who knows...

Yeah. This is definitely a crossroad. Take the money aspect out of the equation and choose. Sometimes it's about the path of least resistance... what is opening up for you. It sounds like the intern thing has run its course, so if you decide you really don't want to be an agent, maybe now is the time to walk away. Ambivalence and a divided focus can lead to not doing well at anything - especially something as consuming as persuing acting. How many actors do we all know who have built their lifestyles around something else entirely? They say they want to act but the job that pays their high rent and car note will never let them.

Here's a good question. How much do you ENJOY the internship? Forget you ever wanted to be an actor for just a moment. How do you feel when you're in the office? Are you into it? How's the energy? It must be going pretty well for them to want to bring you on board. Don't be afraid to try it on and see how it fits. You don't have to wear it forever.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts/suggestions.

Lonni, I enjoy it well enough... it's a high-drama environment which I'm not into, but I have friendships there that I enjoy. I enjoy working with our clients and watching projects come through. I would be miserable in the long term working in an office environment, at least that office environment, especially if it's full time (which this wouldn't be, I'd be looking at ~20 hours per week)... but this has always had an open-ended expiration date on it which has made it easier.

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Originally posted by Lonni Delane:
Here's a good question. How much do you ENJOY the internship? Forget you ever wanted to be an actor for just a moment. How do you feel when you're in the office? Are you into it? How's the energy? It must be going pretty well for them to want to bring you on board. Don't be afraid to try it on and see how it fits. You don't have to wear it forever.

This is great advice. I think its easy to get caught up in the idea that choices are permanent, and they rarely are. Trying something on can be wonderfully revealing.