NotaPushyMum.Com

Hello all, I hope you're all well & any ds's & dd's doing exams are okay!

I'd really appreciate some advice - I've applied for lots of agencies but just keep getting no replies. I know it's the nature of the industry but it's sometimes so frustrating. I know I don't have as much professional experience as others but I feel it's a bit of a vicious circle (no agent = no work = no experience = no agent!) does anyone else find this? and I also have braces which is very annoying, although my parents have said that if I was offered a substantial part on something they wouldn't mind having them taken off (which is very nice of them) I don't mean for this to sound moany at all (althought it probably does!) but I've applied for so many agencies and keep getting no's and I'm starting to loose my confidence! Also, if anyone knows of any agencies (other than A&J, CS, Abacus, Mark Jermin, Bonnie and Betty) please say! I know they're most of the big names but I'm so enthusiastic but just not getting anywhere!
Please help!

Lots of love and best wishes,
Acting Mad 26 xxxxxxxxxxx

ps. I'd love to email Sylvia Young agency but I'm aware they've just accepted lots of people -- when is the ideal oppotunity to email them after?

ActingMad 26 I empathise with you... I have an agent but I want to change to a different one as I have had no work from my current one, but as I have had not work in about a year (since I signed... ) I think it will be hard for me to get another agent.
Plus, I am a old looking 15- turning- 16 year old and I am just getting braces, which means at 16/17/ (?) 18 I will bnot look my age as it is less common for older people to have braces...

I agree with the vicious circle but I would advise you to just keep trying and doing more work eg. in school/from Mandy or talent circle/ local pantos, and see where that gets you,
and I'm sure theres is a list of agncies on here somewhere... Good luck !

Hi ActingMad26.

It's difficult to know what advice to give, because I have a feeling you're not going to like it

This is meant to be helpful and supportive, but I'm concerned that it will come over as very negative, so I apologise in advance.

If you are getting nowhere with agency applications it will be because the agents don't think you are a good enough "prospect" - that is, if they're decent agents who don't charge up front fees. They don't see your CV and photo as interesting enough. Perhaps your experience is lacking, perhaps your "look" isn't different enough.

I understand your desire, and your enthusiasm is great, but you need to be realistic and perhaps alter your goals a little so that you are not driven mad pursuing something that may be out of reach at the moment.

Try to think of it from the agent's point of view: If you are 15/16 then you still need a licence. There will be plenty of people a little older than you who can go for the parts you are suited to who don't need a licence. That's one thing against you.
Do you have a showreel that shows what you are like on screen? Is it really good? - If not, that's another thing against you.
Most of the work for someone your age will be on screen - either commercials or tv/film drama. TV film and drama is incredibly competitive with loads of really experienced people competing for very few jobs: someone of your age is very unlikely to get a look in if you don't already have a reasonably high profile. Commercials are a complete lottery and there aren't that many opportunities for any one particular "type" - though you do tend to find some people's looks are in particular demand. If you don't have this "popular" look (which changes with fashion/time) there is nothing whatsoever you can do about it!

Even if you did find an agent to represent you, there is every likelihood that you will get very, very few auditions. I know some actors with with agents who have good CVs and fantastic drama school training who have not had an audition for paid work at all this year - not one audition. I know plenty of actors who haven't yet managed to secure representation either, despite having been to drama school. I know many, many actors who have had fewer than 10 auditions this year and many who have had no paid work. The work situation is not great!

I wonder whether you have a totally unrealistic view of what work there is out there? Why don't you do a bit of a count up in the Radio Times for example and see approximately how many girls your age have appeared on TV this week in British drama? Now consider whether agents need to take anyone else on to submit for auditions...

So.... enough doom and gloom!

What you can do is search for ways to enjoy performance opportunities - whatever they are. The most likely place to be able to perform for someone your age is on stage. This is where most people learn their craft. Every performance you do will teach you something valuable. Consider getting together with a few friends and form a play-reading group and then perhaps try to put something on yourselves if there are no groups in your area. Play theatre games and improve your improvisation. If you can afford it, get some singing/dancing lessons and/or join a local drama group or drama class. Concentrate on what you can achieve, get lots of local experience to improve your skills and go back to the search for an agent and professional work once you have (say) five or six good theatrical experiences under your belt. You could also have the aim of appearing in (say) two student films - then you might have a bit of showreel footage too.

I don't suppose this IS the answer you want, but it's the best and most truthful advice I can offer!

Hi Actingmad26, here's my advice (from someone like yourself who spent way too long waiting):

Let's say you're a musician, wanting to play professionally. You could wait and wait for the London Philharmonic to pick you up. But they don't. So what do you do? Get together with a group of friends and play- play for family and friends, busk in the street, improvise, film yourself and put it on youtube etc. Get a set together and play a gig somewhere- write your own stuff... you get me?

As an actor, you have to stop waiting for some agent to throw you the scraps off their table. There aren't enough scraps to go round, and there's too many people begging for scraps anyway. Start making the opportunities yourself!

pg is right, get together with your friends and put on your own stuff. Get yourself going, do anything... Stop waiting! Nobody gonna give you a part? Make one for yourself. It doesn't matter what it is, but JUST DO IT!

You are an actor not a puppet! Nobody is going to work you, so work yourself

I think maybe you are one of those people who just isn't going to get it handed to you on a plate (hey, who is?) So you have to MAKE IT HAPPEN on your own.

It won't be easy, but it will be better than waiting

Steve