Talent Agents

I have worked in the Entertainment Industry as long as I can remember. I have been a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists since 1985. I decided to create and maintain this blog on my spare time to help people who are seeking representation with a talent agency.

Sincerely,

Alan Baltes

The 2012 Actors Resource Guide eBooks are now available. Comprehensive actors resource guides that include listings of talent agents and casting directors, sample actors resumes, acting classes, headshot photographers, extras casting agencies, work permits, child talent information, and many valuable tips and advice. Each eBook contains a minimum of the following:

• Casting Directors List
• Extras Casting Directors List
• Talent Agents List
• Acting Schools List
• Headshot Photographers List
• Actors Unions
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letters
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• General Talent Agent Information
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• Child Work Permit Information
• Immigration Work Permit Information
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application
• Miscellaneous Resources
• PDF Users Guides

The 2012 Actors Resource Guide eBooks are now available for Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Orlando, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Michigan, Vancouver, New Zealand, Australia, and London.

More locations coming soon.

Western U.S. Actors eBooks

Los Angeles eBook $19.95 USD Austin eBook $19.95 USD San Francisco eBook $19.95 USD Seattle eBook $19.95 USD New Mexico eBook $19.95 USD

Eastern U.S. Actors eBooks

New York eBook $19.95 USD Boston eBook $19.95 USD Louisiana eBook $19.95 USD North Carolina eBook $19.95 USD Chicago eBook $19.95 USD Atlanta eBook $19.95 USD Orlando eBook $19.95 USD Miami eBook $19.95 USD Michigan eBook $19.95 USD

International Actors eBooks

New Zealand eBook $19.95 USD Australia eBook $19.95 USD London eBook $19.95 USD Vancouver eBook $19.95 USD

Your 2012 Actors Resource Guide eBook will be emailed to you in the form of a PDF Portfolio attachment upon receipt of payment, usually within 24 hours but commonly within several hours or sooner. Also included is a “Single File Format” PDF Actors Resource Guide eBook that can be viewed on any computer, tablet, or smart phone. If payment is made using an "eCheck", the payment must clear your bank before the eBook is sent, and that process usually takes 3-5 business days depending on your bank and country of payment. Please include a preferred email address in the payment form that you would like your eBook sent to, otherwise it will be sent to the email address used for PayPal or Google Checkout payment.

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This is a complete list of licensed talent agents that are franchised with the Screen Actors Guild. This list is updated weekly. Click on the area below to see the agents in that area.

Phoenix/Tuscon, AZ
Atlanta, GA
Boston, MA
Chigaco, Il
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Detroit, MI
Tampa/Miami/Orlando, FL
Honolulu, HI
Hollywood, CA
Houston, TX
Nashville/Knoxville, TN
Las Vegas, NV
Albuquerque, NM
New York, NY
Portand, OR
Philadelphia, PA
San Diego, CA
San Fransisco, CA
Seattle, WA

This is a complete list of licensed talent agents that are members of the ATA (Association of Talent Agents and/or NATR (National Association of Talent Representatives), but are NOT franchised with the Screen Actors Guild. This list is updated weekly. Click on the area below to see the agents in that area.

Chicago, Il
Denver, CO
Atlanta, GA
Hollywood, CA
Nashville, TN
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA

A "franchised agent" is a person, firm or corporation that has entered into an agreement with SAG and/or AFTRA under which they agree to abide by certain rules and conditions when dealing with performers who work within SAG or AFTRA's jurisdiction. In most cities AFTRA members are required to deal only with franchised agents for the purpose of securing and negotiating employment contracts.

In order to receive and maintain a franchise from the unions, the applicant must demonstrate that the agency is a legitimate business, registered with the state or city when required, that, among other things, maintains proper office space, surety bonds, and client trust accounts. The agent must also demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the entertainment/agency business.

Agents get 10% commission from your income after you work. Now figure if Bruce Willis' agent books him on a job, and Bruce makes $25,000,000 per film, then the agent gets TEN PERCENT after taxes. That would be roughly $1,700,000 for booking Bruce Willis on that job.

But of the hundreds and hundreds of Agents and Sub-Agents in the business, only a tiny fraction of agents make over a million bucks a year. Most agents make less than $30,000 a year, and many don't even make a living off of it, they have other means of finances that allow them to be agents.

There is a HUGE turnover of agents who are starting out within the first two years of becoming an agent because it is extremely hard to become a successful professional Theatrical and/or Commercial Talent Agent. The "average" annual income of a Talent Agent (including these sub-agents, associate-agents, etc.) is roughly $25,000 per year.

Salary for time worked is commissionable – penalties and reimbursable expenses are not.

COMMISSIONABLE

Audition Overtime
Billboards
Cancellation Fee
Dubbing
Fitting Fee
Hand Model Scale Rate
Holding Fee
Holiday Pay
Interview Fee
Location Pay
Looping
Night Premium
Overtime
Regular Pay
Rehearsal
Session Fee Stunt Adjustment
Third Call Back
Travel Time
Weekend Premium
Wet Pay

NON-COMMISSIONABLE:

Forced Call
Late Payment Penalty
Living Expenses
Meal Allowance
Meal Penalty

If your agents are Independent (i.e., not affiliated with either ATA and/or NATR), and therefore still franchised by SAG, then these agents (as well as the SAG members they represent) continue to be protected by and bound to the terms and conditions of Rule 16(g). Hundreds of SAG franchised agents across the country have maintained their on-going relationship with SAG, and continue to loyally serve SAG’s members pursuant to the requirements of Rule 16(g). Any standard SAG agency contract you sign with an Independent Agency may be filed with, and processed by, the Guild.

Unlike actors, extras do NOT have agents who take a 10 percent commission. You simply register with extras casting companies and call in each day on their casting lines to get work.

You can hire a "booking Service" for about $30 -$50 a month to "call-in" and get you the work. Of course these "calling or booking services" really do not "call-in" to get you the work, they simply know people at the extras casting companies and get lists of what they need, and act as "sub-casting agents".

Think about it, why would the extras casting company individually call each and every person, when they can just call a "booking service" and say, "we need 120 people for a party scene". Then the "booking service" does all the work and calls each of their clients themselves!

SAG is trying to regulate these companies at some point, but the fact remains that these services can get you much more work than you can on your own just calling in on the casting lines all day trying to get through the busy signals.

I am happy to announce my partnership with Back Stage, the industry leading trade magazine in the United States. Back Stage is the top resource for audition information, casting calls/casting notices, training opportunities, and entertainment-industry jobs, news, and interviews.

Film and theatre are the main topics reviewed and reported upon, but the television, radio, dance, music, cabaret, voice-over, modeling, commercial advertising, and stand-up comedy industries are also included in Back Stage's coverage. Back Stage is closely tied to its primary sister publications, The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.

Readers of my blogs receive a special offer from Backstage.

The Film and Television Studios give the "green light" for movies and TV shows to be produced.

Then the production companies hire casting directors, who in turn send out "breakdowns" of the characters being cast.

These "breakdowns" actually are sent out by a service called "Breakdown Services" and are only available to licensed Talent Agencies.

Then the agents at these agencies submit photos, resumes, and sometimes "demo-reels" to the casting directors.

Then the casting directors call in the actors that fit the roles they are casting, usually many many actors are called in.

Then they narrow it down to the best actors who came in and "call back" these actors to read again for the director, sometimes the writer, producer, etc.. Then they narrow it down further, and sometimes there are 3 - 4 "call backs" before an actor is finally hired.

A manager is someone who manages your career after you have established yourself in the business. Managers generally get 15% of your gross income from acting jobs. There are many unscrupulous "managers" out there claiming to have the ability to make someone a star.

The truth is, a manager can recommend photographers, classes & workshops, resume printing services, etc. But this information is available for free, and is certainly not worth paying 15% of your income.

Although it is possible to be cast on a show or film with out having an agent, it is very difficult. This usually only happens with smaller roles, and of course with extras. The studios usually only deal with reputable licensed talent agencies when casting acting roles.

In addition, agents are the only ones who receive the "breakdowns" of what roles are being cast at a given time. And in most instances, a studio or production company will not negotiate a contract directly with talent.

I have personally landed several acting roles by randomly sending in my photo and resume to casting directors when I did not have an agent, but it is not common to land roles in this manner.

However, I do recommend sending in to casting directors randomly because you never know if they will be looking for your exact type when they receive your photo and resume.

Do NOT incude a home address when sending out your photo and resume. I always recommend using a PO BOX.

Also, NEVER meet someone outside of a professional environment such as a studio, agents, or casting office. Do NOT meet someone at a restaurant, private residence, etc. You should ALWAYS let someone else know EXACTLY where you are going, WHO you are meeting, and WHEN you are going there.

And a parent or guardian must ALWAYS accompany minors. A parent or guardian should NEVER be out of eyesight of the minor, whether it be at auditions or on set.