After you've sent out a mass mailing, how soon do you hear from agencies who are interested in meeting you based on your headshot/resume? If they are interested in you after opening up and reviewing your submission, do they just pick up the phone and call, or what?

Surf this site you'll find that question was just asked, but in a different form and was already answered. Good Luck

Will do, thanks!

Lisa --

Don't be discouraged. If you're in a major market like New York or LA, most of the time, no one calls. Personally, I question the effectiveness of mass mailings. But let's hope you get some responses, and if you don't, we'll talk about alternatives.

As California P. correctly observes, we've touched on the subject before.

Thanks Mike !! Lisa I apologize if I was abrupt it's just that new actors come on here and ask question without even researching this site. I'm not saying that you didn't, but if you search and still don't find a answer to your question then like Mike said "we'll talk about other alternatives". Welcome newbie

For the record, it's Michael.

Thanks,

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Kostroff:
... Personally, I question the effectiveness of mass mailings.

It has worked for us.

I auditioned at Beth Melsky last month for a national comemrcial from a mass mailing.

Excellent. So glad to hear that mass mailings can bear results.

I am perhaps weirdly fond of the mailing. I never did a "mass" mailing in the true sense, but I did several targeted mailings and did see results. They weren't exactly what I hoped for, but did eventually lead me to representation. Look at them as research/learning opportunities. Do more than simply mail to everyone. Research the agencies or CDs or managers you are targeting and focus your mailing accordingly. I'd say most of the time you'd hear back within a month, but I am sure there are exceptions. If you are targeting, say, 20 agencies with a mailing, do those 20 once a month for maybe a year and see if you can eventually ignite their interest, perhaps through sheer persistence. Just make sure it's the right 20--(if you are new, go for commercial agencies, address your envelope and cover letter to a particular agent and not the agency as a whole, and go for smaller, less prestigious--though LICENSED--agencies. Go to the sag website (www.sag.org) and look up SAG franchised or ATA/NATR agencies to find a list. Pick up a current 'agency guide' at Samuel French Bookstore if you want more info to do your targeting (I suggest this) and ask around for referrals.....

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied! I will heed your helpful advice

By the way, Jackie...would you say that, as a newbie, it would be nearly impossible to find a theatrical agent?

quote:

Originally posted by Little Lisa:
By the way, Jackie...would you say that, as a newbie, it would be nearly impossible to find a theatrical agent?

Nothing is impossible, it's just much easier to tackle commercial representation first. Unless you have a really marketable something or other about you, or are 18 and can play 15, in which case theatrical may be very do-able.
I actually signed with a theatrical only in NY, first off and then broadened into their commercial dept. by request. And then I signed "across the board" with my LA agency, but they focused me on commercials first. After a few bookings they began submitting me to theatrical jobs. I got the NY theatrical agent off a graduate school showcase, by the way.