1) Do not start taking rep meetings until you are readyIs your child currently in acting classes? Have you done your research on the business and have a general idea of what it entails to have representation? If your answer to either of these questions is “no,” you should not be taking meetings yet. Classes should always be your first step to gauge you or your child’s level of interest. If your child was interested in football, our guess is that you would start taking them to practices before approaching an NFL head coach for a try out—same concept. Agents and managers will be turned off if it seems you are not serious about this or have not done any research on the business you are trying to dive into. Once you are signed, your rep may recommend different classes but that should not deter you from getting your child into basic classes before you decide to take this to the professional level.
2) Prep your materials
If the prospective representation asked you to prepare a scene or monologue for your meeting, make sure it is memorized and that you bring a copy for you AND the reader. Also, make sure you bring plenty of copies of your headshot and resume in case there are a few people in your meeting. And, if you really want to show them how ready you are to audition, bring them a copy of your work permit and Coogan account.
3) Do your research on the company and individual(s) with whom you’re meeting
Are they an agent or manager? Do they represent youth across the board or only in one category? What actors do they currently represent? Look up the company's website and social media. It's absolutely fine to ask the agents/managers what their background is and what sets their company apart. But if the reps have to tell you every detail about them and their company, it's going to show that you had no idea what meeting you were walking into.
4) Present yourself as a supportive parent
Believe it or not, the parent has A LOT to do with the representative’s decision-making. It doesn't matter HOW talented the kid is, if the parent isn't on board or able to take them to auditions, it's going to make the reps job ten times harder. Make sure to let the reps know that you are willing to do the work that it will take, and that you are not expecting the reps to do everything for you. Showing support is key.
5) Do not lead with complaints
If you are meeting new representation after leaving previous representation, always be careful with what you say and how you word it. First, it is always more admirable to clearly part ways with your previous rep BEFORE taking meetings. Some representation will not even meet with you until you have done this. This is a very small business. The previous agent that you may start to talk badly about may be a very good friend of the agent you are talking to. Rather than stating everything you think the previous representation did poorly (which will never land well), focus instead on speaking about what you are looking for in your new representation and why. Regardless, you want to present yourself as positive as possible. If your initial impression is all complaints, we may view you as a potential problem client and not want to work with you.
6) Have reasonable expectations
Stardom does not happen overnight. In fact, for most it does not happen at all. The chances of an actor hitting stardom are the same as that of an athlete making it to the Olympics. Only a small percentage makes it to that level, and those that finally do put in years of hard work. If you come to your meeting only seeking money or fame (rather than view those things as a side bonus if it happens), it's going to come across as a red flag. Which leads us to the final point...
7) Show us how much you LOVE this
Kids and parents who are overflowing with passion are infectious and it makes reps excited to work for you.
This business is very tough and could take years of hard work to see results. As representatives, we are first and foremost looking for talent but the talent needs to be ready to work. Feel free to take multiple meetings before deciding on the perfect fit for you and your family. If you do not get an offer for representation from a meeting, do not be discouraged! A lot of the time, we turn people down because we feel we already have a talent that is too similar and do not want a conflict. You could be the most talented and hardworking actor, but if we have a current client that has a very similar look and type to your child, we may not want to bring you on, but that doesn’t mean someone else won’t! Overall, be prepared, be positive, and be WILLING and READY to put in the necessary work.
About Bri & Laura:
Laura Thede and Bri Curtis are the youth agents at DDO Artists Agency covering TV/Film, Commercials, Print and V.O. Both Laura and Bri got their start in this industry in theatrical casting, both have a great passion for kids and both are Colorado natives.