talent agents – Page 9 – Answers for Actors

Facebook, Linked-In, Twitter, email, land mail, carrier pigeon, or stalker?

So many platforms of which to connect personally and professionally: which outlet is the best for unsolicited actor-to-gate keeper communication? Which is the worst?

All. And All.

Huh?

Yep. There is no clear-cut, saw-the trees-down-to-be-seen answer.

So then, what to do?

Utilize all platforms. Retailers do the same to you, yet does MACY*S or Walmart wither with worry as does an actor who insecurely thinks, “If I contact a casting director via Facebook, or send an email to an agent, or send out land mail to both, they’ll hate me.”

First of all; our memories are short like a voter’s.

Secondly; retailers don’t cower that you’ll never shop or consider their services because they contacted you. Nor do their hired advertiser and/or marketer fear the client’s obscurity because of sales outreach on behalf of the client. As a marketer-in-exile I know people return to a product that was once ignored if never tried. And even if tried, and disliked, people are willing to give a person, product, or place a second chance.

“But casting director, Mr. I’m-Better-Than-You tells me never to contact him or any other casting directors via [insert platform],” you say. Good! Now you know Mr. I’m-Better-Than-You’s communication preference. But for him to speak for all casting is ludicrous. Unless he’s an omnipresent psychic, the casting director doesn’t know for certain how colleagues react to each unsolicited communication by actors. Same goes for talent agents, managers, producers, directors, or anyone in position of hiring talent.

So what’s an actor’s marketing strategy?

An actor’s unsolicited outreach options:

1. Research each hirer or representative of talent of your interest as to how they prefer to be contacted. Some will list their preference(s) on their website, or in guides like The Call Sheet.

The employers and gate-keepers who don’t publicly announce how they wish to be contacted are fair game. If you contact a casting director via Twitter, and that casting director hasn’t made public unsolicited communication preferences, then they have no right to bitch and moan when tweeted to.

Or…

2. Reach out to targeted employers and gate keepers via as many platforms as you desire. But not all at once. And don’t do so blindly. If you have no interest in print work, why contact modeling agencies? I know of too many actors who contact Legit agents for Commercial representation. Most Legit agents don’t cover commercials. Research who best matches your goals (that’s why God and Al Gore created the Internet).

In my classes, and when I teach at universities, I tire of hearing actors say, “I’ve been told by Ms. Talent-Agent-To-The-Muses never to contact talent agents via social networks.” That’s only that talent agent’s personal preference blindly blanketing the industry, and hobbling your marketing efforts. If I told you never to eat pickles because I loath the slimy sour phallus, would you? Or would you decide on your preference (or dislike) for pickles via your judgment?

I get unsolicited land-mail and email, to which a reply is almost always returned (sometimes weeks later). I make the choice of how I respond.

Unless your target publicly states how they wish, or don’t desire to be contacted, you firmly choose how to distribute your outreach. It’s your career, not theirs. Take control.

My best,
Paul

Casting Directors, Talent Agents, Directors & Actors

Love the Best-Selling Book for Actors
ACTING: Make It Your Business!

“Humorous and witty…

Actors everywhere who are trying to succeed in the business, young or old, on stage or on camera, anywhere in the world, take note:

This is your roadmap!”

— BERNARD TELSEY, casting director – CSA
(NBC’s Peter Pan – LIVE!, Into The Woods – The Movie, Wicked, Sex & The City)

“All the right questions asked and answered…
and with a generous portion of good humor.”

— SUZANNE RYAN, casting director, CSA
(Law & Order, Unforgettable)

“I love this book!

Paul’s book tells you what you don’t want to hear but really need to know

EVERY actor should read this book!”

— DIANE RILEY, Senior Legit Talent Agent
Harden-Curtis & Associates

“Paul’s book made me proud to be a part of this community we call ‘show!'”

— KAREN ZIEMBA, TONY & Drama Desk Award Winning Actress

“Paul Russell’s words are not only blunt & accurate they zero in on all the questions every actor wants to know but is afraid to ask!”

— KEN MELAMED, Talent Agency Partner
Bret Adams, Ltd.

“I had my Business of Acting, BFA Seniors, class do book reports on a variety of “business of acting” books and ACTING: Make It Your Business came out a clear winner—considered to be essential for their bookshelves!

— Dr. NINA LeNOIR,
Dept. Chair – Dept. of Thtr.
Chapman University

Get smarter on the business of acting from legendary Hollywood & Broadway actors and talent agents in a casting director Paul Russell’s Best-Selling Book ACTING: Make It Your Business!

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Paul Russell’s career as a casting director, director, acting teacher and former actor has spanned nearly thirty years. He has worked on projects for major film studios, television networks, and Broadway. Paul has taught the business of acting and audition technique at NYU and has spoken at universities including Yale, Temple and the University of the Arts. He is the author of ACTING: Make It Your Business – How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor. For more information, please visit www.PaulRussell.net.

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UPDATE 04.05.16: Legal action was prosecuted against the players in the below scheme. The players have resurfaced with an alternative offering a similar game that can cause actors to be in jeopardy with the law. Click image to enlarge.

black market breakdowns

Answers for Actors has received documentation alleging that actors are posing as management companies charging fellow actors for representation; charging ‘clients’ exorbitant monthly fees payable only in cash. Pay-to-play representation dependent upon several levels of ‘representation’ reflected by increasing price points. Some price points include access to black-market breakdowns. The more money paid by the actor, the better the actor’s access to representation. It’s an a la carte menu of artistic bribery that many foolish actors desperate for any crumb of success are willing to pay.

The manager’s solicitors offer for a higher cost to the actor, access to breakdowns from Breakdown Services, coyly referred to in the manager’s marketing materials as “The Daily List.” Breakdowns released by Breakdown Services, as noted in Manager Demands Clients Pay to Play, are copy write protected and available only to talent representation by subscription once Breakdown Services has researched the talent representative as legitimate. Breakdown Services’ screening process is seemingly encountering flaws as this is the second time in two weeks, Answers for Actors has discovered managers putting upon actors pay-to-play representation.

The ‘represented’ actors are not screened for their talent or skill-set but for their ability to pay out of pocket monthly to the ‘manager.’

Actors are first approached by the manager(s) via an e-mail after the actors submit their contact information to a web site promising actors an advantage.

The flyer includes the following promise:

“MONTHLY FEE

$85 Talent Rep. Basic Service

With this service, you will be submitted electronically through a reputable bi-coastal talent manager (limited to 45 submissions per month). The management company’s name will appear on your Actor’s Access account and you will automatically have legitimate representation.

(With these services, 10% commission goes to the Manager, unless paid for by the production company)”

The above is not legitimate representation. It’s extortion.

The flyer goes on to include higher pay-to-play price points:

“$120 Talent Rep. Premium Service – 35

Same as the basic service plus, you will get to choose your submission requests from The Daily List (limited to 35 submissions) and we will do the clicking.

(requires subscription to The Daily List (price not included) which is delivered daily by your distributor)

$150 Talent Rep. Premium Service – 65

(limited to 65 submissions per month)

(requires Daily List, same as above)”

The flyer then heralds the oodles of residuals clients have allegedly made followed by the advisory “Limited Space Available.”

Available space for talent does come at a premium, as explained in an e-mail obtained by Answers for Actors in which the manager includes this instruction (in bold font) to paying, gullible actors:

“Please keep all info confidential except with trusted friends who would like to be a part of the service.”

That instruction follows a reminder to the actor to pay their monthly fee, in cash only:

“Payment Options:

Send cash in a secured fashion (i.e. wrapped well in the envelope or in a priority or express envelope).

If your concerned about sending cash, please make POST OFFICE money order (preferred) or a check out to:”

I have received submissions from the scam offices. The submissions never rivaled that of legitimate agencies and talent managers, and thus I never called-in any of the actors.

A legitimate talent representative is only to receive commission once the actor they represent has been paid for work in the arts covered under the representation agreement. Agents are only permitted 10 percent commission as regulated by performer unions. Manager commission rates are whatever a manager demands of clients as managers are not regulated by an entity.

Actors willing to pay for sub-par, illegitimate representation, are not being served as artists. The actors are being pimped and extorted for green backs. Actors who believe cash trumps talent, and self-respect.

— Paul Russell
PaulRussell.net

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Paul Russell’s career as a casting director, director, acting teacher and former actor has spanned over thirty years. He has worked on projects for major film studios, television networks, and Broadway. Paul has taught the business of acting and audition technique at NYU and has spoken at universities including Yale, Elon and Wright State University. He is the author of ACTING: Make It Your Business – How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor. For more information visit www.PaulRussell.net.

Casting Directors, Talent Agents, Directors & Actors

Love the Best-Selling Book for Actors
ACTING: Make It Your Business!