One of the questions I hear most often is “how can I get an agent?” One of the most important ways to get anything you want in life is to ask the right questions. By asking a different question, you’re likely to get a much different response. Most of the answers to the question, “How do I get an agent?” will only give you ideas about how to meet an agent. Answers such as, “Network with industry people” or, “Find someone who knows an agent and have them introduce you” or, “Send inquiry letters”. Meeting an agent and getting signed by an agent aren’t the same thing…and one doesn’t automatically lead to the other.
Successful sales people know that in order to consistently close sales, they must know their customer and their customers’ needs and desires. Oh, you’re an actress or writer, not a sales person? What’s an audition other than a sales presentation? We’re all selling something to someone most of the time. The quicker we learn this, the sooner we’ll become successful. For creatives in the entertainment business, the product you’re selling is YOU!
Step one is to know and understand your buyers (More about who your buyers are in another article). Getting to know your buyers requires that you ask the right questions. Instead of, “How can I get an agent?” how about, “What does an agent look for in a new client?” Ask this of anyone who understands the agency business and you’re likely to get a list of characteristics that agents look for when signing someone new. This information will help you better prepare yourself to appeal to an agent. Then, when you do meet an agent or make an inquiry, you’ll be better equipped to present yourself in a way that is likely to be interesting to the agent, and increase your chances of getting signed.
This approach works with everyone you need to support you on your way to the top: producers, directors, casting directors, studio executives, etc., etc., etc. They all have their own particular jobs with unique requirements. Satisfy their requirements and they will satisfy yours.
Thank you for this info. I would like to know “more about the buyers” so I can better prepare to sell myself and my talents to the best ones. If there’s a link to the article, I’d love to read it.
*Suzanna Brown
Hi Suzanna,
I haven’t written an article about buyers because every buyer, every company, is different. When/if we meet we can talk about the different ways to research buyers before you contact them…and, more importantly, how you can research them after you reach them but before you start “selling”.
Stumbled across your page through a screen writing contest list. All good stuff on here.
I was told from an agent at WME that the ONLY way to meet an agent is to get a referral from a friend or someone else in the business because no one reads query letters. if this is the case and if all of my connections aren’t connected how do you connect!? Ha. Enjoying your blog posts.
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for your comment, and compliment. Though what you were told is generally true, and still the best way to meet an agent, there is never an “only” way to do anything. Anything other than a warm intro is harder, to be sure, but not impossible. There are exceptions to any rule in biz and in life. So the goal is to be creative and find a way around the front door to the side or back door. How one does that is the creative part. Most of my consulting work ends up being about how creatives can market themselves, no matter what issue they originally came to me to handle. As director/producer Tony Bill once said when asked how someone could get their material read, “I can’t give you a simple answer, but I’ve observed that if you have something to deliver, you’ll find a way to do it.” It’s hard, but not impossible.