I have been signed with my agent for 4-5 months now. I had one audition for a commercial about 3 months ago. My agent has sent me notices for other auditions for things I am not interested in doing such as hair modeling shows and hand modeling (I want to act!). The other audition notices they have sent me are for breakdowns I have seen myself on either central casting or Craigslist (I know!). I almost think that they don't really have access to the bigger auditions. Granted, I am not in La, but Northern CA. I know that there is not a big market here, but I am hoping to gain experience here before moving to La when I am ready (after training, saving, getting experience).

I have not booked any roles yet. I am signed up with central casting and I have gotten several auditions through there on my own. I signed with my agent before I knew more about the industry. I know now that I should have gotten more experience and training before seeking representation so as to sign with a more reputable agency.

I do not really think that my agent is doing anything positive for me right now. I wanted to know what advice anyone has on this? I keep waiting to see if they will get me an audition for something worthwhile such as an industrial or something. Should I drop the agent and try to submit for a more well known agent up here once I have a little more training and experience in student films, shorts, independent films etc.? Should I stay with the agent to see if they can get me any auditions? Should I just go it on my own here doing indies, shorts, student films, and training and then wait to get an agent in La?

Any help is appreciated! Thank you!

p.s. on a side note, the agent sent me to a headshot photographer (I wasn't required to go to them but when I asked who I should go to the agent told me this one), and the pictures turned out horrible. I have read all the headshot advice here on the boards and seen what is good and bad in headshots. They are so bad that I don't want to print any of them. When I go to auditions I print one at a time. Instead I am waiting until I can go to La and shoot with an amazing photographer so as not to risk wasting my money again. The photographer was not professional (ie: no record online, website), only shoots for that agent as they are friends! Is this not just a total red flag??

Central Casting doesn't do audtions! They're an Extras Casting Company. All you have to do is call in and say you're available. Extra work is NOT acting and thus does NOT go on an ACTING resume.

Oh I know. I mean SF casting, which has postings for indies, short films, student films, commercials, and print. It's like LaCasting.

But do you have any advice about my agent?

Sag stated that 6,000 people come to HOLLYWOOD every month to become an actor, and 6,000 people leave HOLLYWOOD every month and quit acting.
People from New York that want to do more than theater come to HOLLYWOOD.
In conclustion HOLLYWOOD is the actors OLYMPICS and if you want to compete, you have to get in the race. HOLLYWOOD is the place to be for actors not northern california. =) Hope this was helpful. In other words if the only thing that's holding you back are thoughts and emotions, let them go and jump.
"I'd rather regret the things 'I have done' than regret the things 'I havn't done.'" Lucille Ball

There are so many actors, agents and projects that go on in Hollywood, if I were casting I wouldn't want to waiste my time on bringing anyone in that lives any further. I'm sure they do, but in which case, I'm sure the actors resume is heavilly equipped. Just my opinion, I'm the new kid on the block. =)

quote:

Originally posted by AustenCA:
Oh I know. I mean SF casting, which has postings for indies, short films, student films, commercials, and print. It's like LaCasting.

But do you have any advice about my agent?

Thanks. Yea I am just waiting to move to La when I have saved up enough...I will not be one of the people who moves back. Anyone have any advice about the agent situation though???

I don't see you needing to drop the agent at this point since he or she isn't keeping you from seeking work on your own. You may want to do so down the line, once you have built up a better resume and reel on your own. Using SFCasting and other local casting sites (I think backstage has NoCal casting as well?) is a great way to do that. Many industrials (which you mentioned) and other nonunion work do post breakdowns on sites such as those because agents sometimes don't want to deal with such small payouts. You also didn't mention the name of the agency so it's hard to check out--but make sure they are LICENSED in the state of CA!! You can check this database:
http://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/dlselr/TalAg.html
All you need is the agency's name. If they are not licensed, do not work with them. To be clear, managers are not agents and do not have to be licensed but if they are an "agency" they need a license.
One more thought. Personally, I'd leave any agency that sent me notices from craigslist.

Thanks for the advice. I checked and they are a licensed agency. I don't think they actually got the castings from Craigslist, but I did see a couple "auditions" that they wanted me to go to were posted on there as well as SFcasting--and i could have just submitted for them myself without an agent...