Meeting With an Agent? What Every Actor Should Know

In the process of shopping around for representation, you may be called in to meet with an agent face to face for an interview. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for what your professional relationship might look like. If you’re new to interviews with potential agents, here are some FAQs and thoughts to help prepare yourself before going in.

Key Insights

An agent interview is as much about evaluating the relationship as it is about impressing them, so preparation and clarity are essential.

Knowing your casting type—and being able to articulate it confidently—can make or break how an agent sees your marketability.

Professionalism, from materials to communication style, signals that you’re ready to be taken seriously as a working actor.

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What materials should I have prepared?

Although hard copies of headshots and résumés are increasingly rare these days, it’s good to have them on hand. A current 8×10 headshot, with an updated (and spellchecked) resume printed or stapled neatly to the back, in a presentable folder, is a show of good faith and professionalism.

Likely you will have sent digital copies, along with a link to your reel if you have one, ahead of time, but have any links to clips, profiles on acting breakdown services, your website, or anything you could use to demonstrate your work, ready to pull up quickly. While it will depend heavily on the type of meeting whether you will use this or not, it’s always good to have a couple monologues that showcase your type in your back pocket.

What questions should I ask?

You should have a clear idea of the contract particulars before you leave. Of course, you’ll want to read any literature thoroughly before signing. But you should also go over key points in person. Likely this information will be volunteered, but make sure to clarify:

– What are their agency fees? (Often this will be around 20% for union, 10% for non-union

– What is their ideal working relationship between actor and agent?

– Ask for feedback on your headshot and reel. Some agents will want you to get new headshots to showcase something different, and it’s better to know up front. However, be wary of anyone who tries to insist you use a specific photographer.

– How do they prefer to stay in touch with clients? Building communication guidelines up front will save strife later.

– Do as much research ahead of time as you can, but it’s good to get a feel for what casting directors they have strong relationships with.

– What type of roles do you anticipate submitting me for?

What questions should I be prepared to answer?

A common question is, “What types of roles you most often get cast as?” If you have a relatively spare résumé, this might be technically difficult to answer, but don’t get bogged down in being too literal. The spirit of the question is to find out whether you have a good sense of your type. If you haven’t booked much yet, think about what roles you submit for a lot.

Or what type of roles you would get sent out for a lot should you sign. You should know your type for film and television (both dramatic and comedic, if you have the range), and commercial. If you don’t know your type, start asking people what they see you as. Are you the quirky best friend, the soccer mom, the nerdy coworker? Have a few types that sit solidly in your wheelhouse top of mind when you go in.

Other questions might follow general interview patterns. What kind of representation are you looking for, what kind of work are you trying to prioritize, questions about your résumé and training, etc. Much like an audition, the interview starts the moment you enter the space.

Some agents may ask you to cold read a side, or commercial copy, so mentally prepare yourself for that as well. It’s all right to advocate for your needs — if you need an extra minute to look over new material, a calm request is not going to reflect badly.

How should I dress?

Remember this is an interview. You should look nice, put together, professional, and dress in a way that suggests your type. You want to offer a bit of a canvas while still showcasing your type and personality. For example, clean, natural makeup is always helpful for commercial consideration, but wearing something in a cut or color that accentuates your individual style (and hints at the type of roles you most often go for) will make you memorable. Remember, you are the product, so dress as the most castable version of yourself.

What are some red flags?

It’s important to stay informed and protect yourself from potential scams. Be on the lookout for:

– Asking for any sort of fees or deposits up front

– Insisting you use their headshot photographer, or reel editor, or other personnel

– Fees that are much higher than trending industry standards

– Pressure to sign on right there and then

Follow your intuition. If something feels shady for any reason, there’s no harm in saying you’ll sleep on it, and using that time to do some research. Utilize your network and see what other actors have to say about their experiences, if you know anyone who has signed with them.

Choosing the representation is a bit like dating. Sometimes you have to try out a partnership for a while before you find the best fit. Not every professional relationship is forever, and it’s easier to get representation if you have representation, so don’t feel like you have to hold out for your dream agency from the jump. Keep communication open, conduct yourself professionally and advocate for your needs.

Key Takeaways

Bring polished materials, know your type, and be ready to advocate for your needs without apology.

Ask smart questions about fees, communication, and submissions to ensure the agent is the right fit for you.

Trust your instincts: real agents don’t charge upfront fees or pressure you to sign on the spot.