My agent communicates with me very regularly and I love her for it. So when 6 days passed without her responding to an email of mine, I was a little worried. While talking to a CD she's sent me to before, I mentioned I hadn't heard from her this week. The CD said something along the lines of her being let go! That her whole department was eliminated due to economic challenges.

I am devastated! What can I do? Do I call my agency and ask what happened? Do agencies really not alert their clients when an agent leaves? I am freelancing so maybe being signed would make a difference, but it seems this agency almost exclusively freelances!

Is there any way I can contact my old agent? I only have work-related emails and numbers for her; I don't have any personal contact info. And I don't want to contact her just to say hey take me wherever you end up later. I love her to death and she was my first agent out here and I just want to offer my condolences, cuz I'm very sorry it happened to such a fantastic person. However, I fear that will be insulting. "So sorry you lost your job..." ??? But I like her and just want to thank her for everything.

Long post. I apologize. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Hi, there. Something similar happened to me at the beginning of the year- ick! What a tough situation to be in, for both you and her. I would try looking her up on Facebook or LinkedIn and send her a message, starting with something like,

"Hi. I just heard about what happened over at [insert name of agency.] Are you ok?"

Then, I would tell her many of the same things you've posted here. Let her know what a positive impact she has had on your life & career, and let her know that you are there if she needs anything.

That being said, I would suggest against "friending" your former agent at this point. Wait until you hear back from her before you take a step in that direction - that will allow you to keep the appropriate distance until you know how she is feeling about the situation.

Hope this helps!

Just to continue shedding light:

Agencies don't, in my experience, call all the clients on their list to let them know that an agent has been fired. Besides being a time-consuming proposition, agencies always want to maintain a very stable, solid image. So mostly, they don't mention it.

Also, there are strict rules regarding agents contacting former clients. It's definitely better for you to contact her. I've done that with agents I liked personally, and I'm still friends with several of them. But anything that could be seen as trying to lure you away from the agency is a big no-no for them.

I encourage you to find her. I'm sure, at this rough time, she'll really appreciate the love.