Hi!
So basically, I'm in year 13 (doing my A-Levels in June) and if I get the right grades then I will hopefully be going to Birmingham Uni next year or else my back up which is Leeds. At the moment I live in London and have a London based agent, but I was wondering, is it at all worth staying with her when I go to Uni? It'd be pretty hard to just pop down to London for auditions, but I suppose I could do it for certain auditions, but then is it worth paying for spotlight again if I'm barely going to be able to go for auditions?
Just wondering if anyone else's DD's/DS's have been in the same situation? What did you do? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)
Thanks!
Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
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aliceinwonderinc
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Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
are you more worried about getting time off from uni for castings or the distance?
i know there is a direct train from birmingham to euston.it takes 1 hour 15 mins!! would be a fair bit longer from leed though....
we travel from stafford for auditions and its not too bad,from home to euston it takes us just under 2 hours...
i know there is a direct train from birmingham to euston.it takes 1 hour 15 mins!! would be a fair bit longer from leed though....
we travel from stafford for auditions and its not too bad,from home to euston it takes us just under 2 hours...
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aliceinwonderinc
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Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
Well I obviously wouldn't want to have to miss too much at Uni, but also I'm wondering whether it's worth paying for Spotlight for another year and also paying for trains back and fgorth, cos I won't have much spare cash as a student! But I suppose I could just stay with my agent and only come down for those auditions I really think are worth it...
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Caroline A-C
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Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
Not sure what the position is with universities, but pretty sure you are not actually allowed an agent/to work whilst at drama college so may be worth checking out.
All new to me!
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aliceinwonderinc
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Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
I don't think it would matter at Uni, becasue you're allowed to have a part-time job (like in the evenings or at weekends and stuff) so surely this would just be counted as a part-time job?
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Caroline A-C
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Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
Think it is that actually performing that is the issue, not the fact that it is a job. I know that people have been prevented from performing outside of college recently. You may be correct, but it would probably be wise just to double check. Good luck with Bristol.
All new to me!
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aliceinwonderinc
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Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
Ah okay, I'll check it out before I talk to my agent. Thanks!
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AbiTheActress
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Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
Haha I'm sorry to laugh but I'm in the exact opposite position! I have a leeds based agency looking for one in London for when I go to Uni in London in September! I tell you what we will just swap eh? (Wish it was that simple!!!) Sorry to be of no use, maybe just find a northern based agency and go for the jobs up north (or midlands if you go to Birmingham) 
Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
Hi aliceinwonderinc
Have you chatted to your agent about your move? I understand why you are pondering how it will work when you are at Uni.
If your agent is happy to keep you on, then there is no reason why you can't ask to be put forward only for jobs during the holidays - though obviously this limits your opportunities. You may decide that you won't bother going to auditions for commercials for example (unless you are really confident that you fit the brief brilliantly and that there won't be hundreds of others who also fit the brief). These tend to be jobs where a lot of people are considered and you get short notice of castings and therefore the "gamble" of paying the train fare and missing important work might not be worth it. Opportunities for TV drama might be worth considering (though they're not that frequent, in my experience!). You probably won't be able to consider any theatre as professional engagements in theatre tend to last for several weeks at a time. Spotlight is certainly a big chunk of money to find, but if you want the chance to do any professional work during your time at Uni then you probably do need to budget for this as you're not very "visible" without it.
Are you intending to try to work as an actor after Uni? If not, then perhaps you could take the decision to drop the pursuit of professional work via your agent and concentrate on the opportunities you will get to perform at Uni? There will no doubt be active drama societies etc.
If you are intending to try to work as an actor after Uni then it's definitely worth talking to your agent about how you should/could maintain your profile while you are at Uni and establishing whether your agent is happy to keep you on or take you back on the books after your degree.
Re: being "allowed" to perform. I don't think it is the same situation if you are not doing an degree in acting. I do know that many drama schools prefer their students not to take on any performance related work during their time studying at the school. When ds was at RADA he wasn't even allowed to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe during the long summer holidays. Any performing while at drama school would normally have to be cleared with the Principal of the school and students (at some schools at least) have to sign something agreeing to this when they start.
Have you chatted to your agent about your move? I understand why you are pondering how it will work when you are at Uni.
If your agent is happy to keep you on, then there is no reason why you can't ask to be put forward only for jobs during the holidays - though obviously this limits your opportunities. You may decide that you won't bother going to auditions for commercials for example (unless you are really confident that you fit the brief brilliantly and that there won't be hundreds of others who also fit the brief). These tend to be jobs where a lot of people are considered and you get short notice of castings and therefore the "gamble" of paying the train fare and missing important work might not be worth it. Opportunities for TV drama might be worth considering (though they're not that frequent, in my experience!). You probably won't be able to consider any theatre as professional engagements in theatre tend to last for several weeks at a time. Spotlight is certainly a big chunk of money to find, but if you want the chance to do any professional work during your time at Uni then you probably do need to budget for this as you're not very "visible" without it.
Are you intending to try to work as an actor after Uni? If not, then perhaps you could take the decision to drop the pursuit of professional work via your agent and concentrate on the opportunities you will get to perform at Uni? There will no doubt be active drama societies etc.
If you are intending to try to work as an actor after Uni then it's definitely worth talking to your agent about how you should/could maintain your profile while you are at Uni and establishing whether your agent is happy to keep you on or take you back on the books after your degree.
Re: being "allowed" to perform. I don't think it is the same situation if you are not doing an degree in acting. I do know that many drama schools prefer their students not to take on any performance related work during their time studying at the school. When ds was at RADA he wasn't even allowed to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe during the long summer holidays. Any performing while at drama school would normally have to be cleared with the Principal of the school and students (at some schools at least) have to sign something agreeing to this when they start.
Re: Going to Uni, what to do about my agent?
Hi,
My ds was filming a TV series before Xmas in Prague. There was an actor out there who is at Manchester Uni who had come to some arrangement with his Uni about catching up the work. I think he probably goes for auditions for really good parts. Similarly ds is taking GCSEs. his agent only put him up for really big things you couldn't turn down (ie those annoying parts that usually go to known actors) or nothing that isn't filming until Summer.
Seems a shame to cut ties with London agent.
My ds was filming a TV series before Xmas in Prague. There was an actor out there who is at Manchester Uni who had come to some arrangement with his Uni about catching up the work. I think he probably goes for auditions for really good parts. Similarly ds is taking GCSEs. his agent only put him up for really big things you couldn't turn down (ie those annoying parts that usually go to known actors) or nothing that isn't filming until Summer.
Seems a shame to cut ties with London agent.