[Casting]

At one point or another, talent or crew people may question if they had irritated a particular agent when they don’t get calls for auditions or jobs from that agent? However, you can develop a different way of thinking where this won’t matter anymore. There are some negative consequences, but the good far outweigh the bad.

The most important thing to remember is that the agency is in fact in business to provide a service and make money for providing that service. If an agency takes you on, they probably believe that they need someone like you in their files. The agency makes money by supplying their clients with the talent they need to get a project done.

Some agents have the attitude that talent comes a dime a dozen. Therefore, they feel that they don’t have to treat you with respect and if you don’t like it, they have other people who fit your type to offer their clients. While this may be true to some extent, it is a two way street. If an agent does not want to respect you, you do have the option to get listed with another agent or agents. This depends on whether or not you have signed an exclusive contract with that agent. If you have signed an exclusive contract, terminate the contract at the end of the term and move on. Most contracts stipulate that another agent can not represent you during the term but they generally don’t say that you can’t meet with other agents. Begin meeting with agents and let them know when your current contract ends and that you will not be renewing. You may very well have an agent standing by when the current agreement expires.

This boils down to how hard you are willing to work for your career and your self-esteem. If you have worked on and believe in your abilities, you won’t believe that there is only one agent who is willing to represent you. If you believe that you have talent, approach an agent about your concerns and where you would like your career to go. If the agent is interested at all in your best interest, he/she will at the very least be sympathetic to your needs. However, don’t confuse agents not having time to hold your hand with not caring. Remember that the agent does work for you and a few others and that the job requires lots of time to get work for all involved.