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dear actor...you know I love you but



So you have an agent.  Good for you!   You go out on a decent amount of auditions!! That is great.  Wait....what....you want  an agent?  I think I am confused....you have an agent....you go out on auditions....that you are right for.....so you want a new agent because......oh...I see you have not booked anything....yes... I can clearly see that this is your agents fault...sorry...I don't know what I was thinking..... REALLY.... You’re  not booking so you think you should move agents.  Get your head out of your ass.   Instead of moving agents (who have been doing their job). Let's look at the bigger picture.    Why aren't you booking (or getting call backs). And before you answer this somewhat rhetorical question....you have heard me say this before (and I will say it again). Moving reps is the only control an actor has in their career, it does not mean it is the right thing to do.  There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle.  And in this case if it ain't broke.....


but I have to say one of the things that gets me riled up is when I hear an actor say..."well I want to see what else is out there"  you have an agent who is doing their job and kicking ass for you but because it is not an agent that is on the "cool" list then maybe it's time to look around..... You know move up to the next level....so I have a couple of thoughts on that....and they may sound contradictory (but that is ok....it's my brain...) here are a few scenarios.....


#1 your agent is kicking ass.   You are kicking ass everybody is working.....can your agent really take you to the next level.   Some can....some can not.....but until you know for sure that they can not....(and yes it will be pretty clear) then why not give the opportunity to the agent who brought you the is far.   One of the things that keeps smaller agents and managers down…. is that actors don’t give them the chance to prove themselves.  So it is a vicious cycle.  


#2 the high powered agent or manager who poaches……To me…. They are the lowest of the low.... it is very easy to pick the low hanging fruit…. When an agent or manager works to develop a client and they get to a place that will put the actor on the map as well as the agent and the manager on the map.....that is when it becomes prime picking for the bigger companies to come in and "take over” …. Here is the thing..... It is true....business is business....but it is also a journey that you go on (whether you are a manager or an agent) with your client.   And as you start to reap the rewards of everybody's hard work.....then someone comes in and gets to actually benefit from everything that has been done…(when an actor jumps from a small company to a big company and more great stuff happens…. more often than not… it is from the work that has been done….the foundation that has been laid)  and yes… ALL managers and agent look forward to going on the ride…your team only makes money when you make money…. but remember…. they are working hard to get you to that place and not making anything in between your jobs because they believe in you.  it can make the folks who have done a lot of the work bitter.....  And angry....and before you start to read to much into this....I don't get bitter or angry...(I actually don't loose any sleep over this….why... because actors will come and actors will go....and I believe that you  should focus on the ones who are with you at that moment)  my issues are with the actors who don’t just say they have reps and are happy (because they they think the grass is greener)  and with the folks who poach....it's a dirty business.   If this how high powered agencies or management companies want to act....then treat it like sports..... Create a secondary agency or management company make it your farm league (or your triple a or double a team) ...then everyone gets to continue to benefit from all the hard work that goes into building an actors career.  (but i digress) 


Now that is out of the way......what if you have an agent and nothing is happening.....no appointments and not a lot of communication....then it is worth…...

1. Having a conversation with your agent to see if you are on the same page....

2.  See what you can do to help make their job easier for them... 

 3.  Don't drop you manager.... 


Yeah....it is one of the things that makes me laugh on a regular basis.   When I hear actors say my agent is not getting me out so I dropped my manager (insert eye roll here.). Of course I always ask (cuz it has happened to me as well). Why not drop your agent if no appointments are coming in and let's see what else is out there.... And 90% of the time...there is no answer.....Just a look of confusion....  Hey man...it's your career.


ok… so turn about is fair play…. what happens if you have a manager and nothing is happening….and what does that mean….cuz technically….(cough cough..clears throat) it is your agents job to get you appointments… so that should not be the reason you are unhappy with your manager…..  but…. it is certainly part of the conversation…. remember though….. your manager is there to see the BIG picture…. helping getting your tools in place….making sure the right people are on the team….are you on the same page with them?  do you agree that changes need to be made with your tools…. are you waiting for them to do it for you? do you have good communication….do you have your expectations in check? do your agent and your manager get along (or do they at least communicate)?  because lets be honest… they don’t have to like each other… but they should be grown up enough to communicate about the things they have in common… namely you….it is great to have a manager who is on your team… but they should also be able to play nice with everyone….

And since we are talking about your career… what is the rush… no… i really mean it… what’s the rush…there seems to be a constant underlying need to hurry up…. you are the only one who creates deadlines for yourself… and since you don’t run hollywood…. then i am not sure what you think you are getting out of it…  Hollywood is not going anywhere…you all seem to think that if something does not happen right away then it won’t happen at all.   RELAX…..the more uptight and in a rush you are the more desperate you appear.


For what ever reason actors seem to think there is a window….THERE IS NO WINDOW….!!!   Do not look at what is happening with other actors.  They have their own journey… and lets be honest - you have no idea what another actor has truly been doing.  focus on you… your tools… your team…. your journey….. learn to play the long game.   Once it stops being about everyone else…. the faster it will start to be about you.     



now go be a rockstar...

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