More Information About Agents

Last week I talked about talent agents in my latest free video voice over tip. In case you missed the video, here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq0BkQxA-So&list=UUuCMW_FgED8X3w7O0G9oCgA&index=2

Here are a few things I forgot to mention in the video.

DISCLAIMER: As I said in the video…I don’t know everything there is to know about agents! Some people might know more than me…some might know less. This is only my experience and what I’ve learned from other voice actors. Take from it what you will.

1 – Having an agent will NOT guarantee work! Once you have an agent, don’t think for a second that your agent will “magically” get you all kinds of great paying jobs! Yes…the agency will have better paying jobs then the pay to play sites. But, unless the client wants you specifically, you’re going to have to audition for the great paying agency jobs just like all the other voice talents in the agency!

2 – Just because you have an agent doesn’t mean you should STOP working for all your other clients now! I believe that an agency can get you better jobs and better PAYING jobs. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to get these great jobs...all the time! Heck, you might get lucky and land the job as the next announcer for Sears. If you do…GREAT! You can tell all your low paying clients you won the lottery. For the rest of us, we’ll have to keep auditioning for the jobs we always have (along with our agent jobs) and hope for that big payday to come in!

3 – Once you have an agent, should you still try and look for jobs OUTSIDE the agency? (like on pay to play or freelance web sites) I say…yes! Like I said before, with an agency, your auditioning for the better paying agency jobs along with ALL the other voice talents in that agency. Just like the pay to play sites, you will not land every job you audition for! (Most voice actors only land 5% - 8% of the jobs they auditioon for. 10% if they really lucky!) If you sat around waiting for the next agency job, you’d be broke within a week! So I say, until you get a nice flow of agency jobs coming to your email box EVERYDAY…audition for as many jobs as you can, from all the places you have been.

4 – If you feel your agency is sending you jobs to audition for but you’re not landing those jobs….don’t give up! Hang in there and give it time! I’d say at least 2 years. I was with Haymen Talent for only a year in 2009. Now I wish I would have stuck with them. So unless the talent agency is charging you a boat load of cash to be with them…be patient.

5 – Do you really NEED an agent? Well, no. Not really. You could be your own agent! It is a lot harder to make a living when you have to do EVERYTHING yourself. But it can be done. I know a few voice actors without any agent what so ever and they are making a very good living.

On the other hand, once you are with an agent, and you start doing more jobs for that agency, another agency might take notice. And then another…and another. After all, an agency will make money (a commission) off of your jobs! If you’re starting to do commercials for Wal-mart, thanks to your agent in Florida, an agency in New York might want a piece of the action! I believe all you need is one agent…to get this ball to start rolling.

There you go. A few more tips on agents. I hope this helps!