Something that most actors obsess over is how to get an agent. Both new actors, looking to get their first agent, and seasoned actors looking to sign with a new agent that can take them to the next level, approach getting an agent the wrong way.

They follow the same steps as everyone else and they end up getting stuck, usually signing with the first (or next) agent that gives them the time of day.

However, if you play your cards just right you can actually land a top quality agent, even if you don’t have a lot of credits yet.

So whether you are pretty new to the industry, or a seasoned actor wanting to send your acting career skyrocketing by signing with a top tier agent, there’s something you need to know...

Unless you happen to already be well connected in the industry and you already “know somebody” that owes you one, you probably won’t get the right agent at first.

Most actors know that and they avoid trying to sign with WME.

But, that doesn’t mean you have to settle. You can actually sign with a terrific, top tier agent even if you don’t have many industry connections right now.

See, agents typically like to hire actors with a good amount of experience because (just like you) they want to be seen as industry professionals. So, they avoid signing new and unproven talent that may drop the ball on set and make them bad.

Agents and actors are judged by their industry reputation. That’s why you need to make sure that ​your industry reputation is always in good shape.

When actors begin searching for an agent, they typically look for an agent that will accept them, instead of looking for agents that are a good fit.

That makes a huge difference!

Your agent should be willing to work hard for you and be invested in your success.

Instead of just searching for a random agents, target the agents that are right for you. Your agent can only help you build your acting career if you are a good fit with each other.

Think about what kind of an agent would be the right fit.

In order to do this, you also have to know what kind of actor you are. This means that you have to know what kinds of projects you want to work on and in what categories.

If you are just going after anything and everything that might come your way, you will end up with an agent that does the same. That’s how you end up spinning your wheels and getting stuck in your career.

As you start your search for an agent, or a new agent, take a step back and think about your acting career. Consider what kind of a career you would like to build. A career in comedy, a career in drama, action, etc?

Whichever way you decide to go, ultimately doesn’t matter. Just decide and start with one category. You can expand into other categories over time, so just pick a starting point.

This will help with your search for an agent, because you can narrow it down to agents who do well with actors that also specialize in your same category.

Log into your IMDb Pro account and look up some of your favorite movies and shows. Then, look through the cast list. Pick out some actors that are at a similar career stage as you and see who is representing them.

If a particular agent comes up over and over again, that’s definitely someone you should put on your target list. This may take some time, but it will be time well spent.

Then you just have to get on their radar.

A big mistake that actors make is going after an agency, instead of an individual agent. You always want to start your search as narrowly targeted as possible. Otherwise, you will just end up getting lost in the shuffle with the countless other submissions.

However, if you can approach an agent that has a roster of talent that works in your chosen category and you can demonstrate that you would be a perfect addition to their client roster, why wouldn’t they sign you?

Coming to them in this way completely changes everything. Actors usually approach agents with a “please sign me” attitude. Instead, what you want is for them to jump at the chance of signing you, before anyone else does.

As you build your career and body of work, you will start to grab the attention of top tier agents that are actively looking to sign up and coming actors.

However, that only happens if ​you can be visible where agents are actively looking for new talent. Here’s how I can help you with that.

In the beginning you will be the one reaching out to them and you have to do it in a way that will actually get them to listen.

You can’t just get in touch with them out of the blue and expect to get their attention.

No one wants to sign an actor who desperately needs an agent, just like you wouldn’t want to sign with an agent who desperately needed to sign you.

It goes both ways.

To get the attention of higher tier agents, it’s not enough to just be talented, you need to have some kind of an x factor that they can't find anywhere else and you have to fit into their client roster.

You also have to show them that you have a bright future. We’ll go into the specifics of that over the coming weeks.

Remember, agents don't earn a living if you don't, so they don't want to waste time on actors that don't have something special to bring to the table.

If you are simply another actor that will easily get lost in the crowd, it’s going to be difficult to find a top tier agent that will take you seriously. At least not without having ​an extensive body of work and a great industry reputation. That’s why I built this.

As you start your search, things are bound to come up so remember I’m always just a comment or an email away if you have any questions. I’m always happy to help however I can, because I truly want to...

See you at the top,
Scott