Find a Casting Agent

1. • Gather a list of casting agents in your area. If you live in Los Angeles or New York, you can consult LA411.com or NewYork411.com and look under "Agents, Reps & Job Referral Services" or "Extras Casting Agencies" (see Resources). An actor's weekly magazine called Backstage also publishes a directory of casting agents and managers for Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Florida. You can find this and other books on casting agents at many book shops. The Screen Actors Guild has a larger list of agents all over the United States.
     
   • Write an acting resume. List productions you have appeared in, degrees in acting you may hold and other classes you have taken. You can also list special skills you possess that might be attractive, such as singing, sports, and types of dancing, languages or accents you have mastered.
     
   • Pose for and print head shots. A head shot is the actor's calling card: a professional, full-page-sized shot, of either your head and shoulders or full body, with your acting resume attached to the back. Invest in having a professional photographer shoot these and do them in the standard format.
     
   • Call or email agencies to ask if they are accepting submissions. Be sure to ask for a specific agent to address your head shot to when you send it.
     
   • Write a cover letter that is short and honest. Don't build yourself up into something unimaginable. Agents will see through your ruse and throw out your headshot. Keep it simple and respectful. State why you want this agent's representation. If you are currently in a play or movie, let her know where she can see you perform.
     
   • Mail your head shot, resume and cover letter to your list of casting agents. Check ahead of time to see if they prefer to receive headshots by postal mail or email. Some agencies have a preference for one or the other.
     
   • Follow up on all your submissions. If the agent is willing to meet you, all the better. He may want to see you read a piece of material, or to watch a reel, which is a DVD collection of short scenes from productions in which you have appeared. If you don't have a reel, don't sweat it: just be prepared to read a scene when you meet the casting agent.
     
   • Show up on time for the interview. This is the first test. Your casting agent will want to see that you are prompt, since actors are renowned for their flakiness.