Modeling and Acting Agents

1. Significance

   • Advertising agencies, photographers and fashion designers contact modeling agencies to hire models for fashion shows and print advertising. Production companies and casting agents call talent agencies to pick actors for television shows, pilots, commercials and films.
     Acting and modeling agencies have insider information about lucrative endorsement contracts, A-list film roles and high-paying jobs. Actors and models rely heavily on the existing relationships and contacts within an agency to secure regular work.

   Types

   • Modeling and acting agents' specializations vary. There are acting agents that find jobs for children, voice-over talent or pets only. The global talent agencies: Creative Artist Agency (CAA), Endeavor Talent Agency and the William Morris Agency represent A-list talent in television or film work. Modeling agents also represent various types of talent. Within a large agency, you will find plus-sized, male, female, catalog and children's divisions.
     

   Function

   • Agents not only secure jobs for their clients, but help in the development of their careers. Top modeling agencies often train models for the runway, develop their comp cards and portfolios and invest thousands of dollars to build their client's careers. The agent's role is to negotiate the top fee for their client and help build the actor or model's career. Agents earn between a 10 and 20 percent commission of the money paid to their client.
     

   Considerations

   • The top tier modeling agencies -- Elite, Wilhemina, IMG and Ford -- notoriously selective. The agents are searching for models that not only have great personalities but also walk and photograph well. Boutique modeling agencies often act as scouts for larger agencies and recommend models from smaller regional markets to the larger modeling shops.
     Unlike modeling, acting requires hours upon hours of study and training to be successful. The acting agents will send their clients on auditions and meetings, but not without the proper training. The top acting agents insist that budding actors study with acting teachers and coaches to hone their craft, before considering new talent for representation.
     

   Warning

   • With the advent of reality television and ambitious stage parents, more unscrupulous agents are preying on the naïve and uniformed. A legitimate acting or modeling agent will have a solid reputation in the industry for securing work for their clients and a Rolodex filled with valuable contacts. If an agent is offering to sign you to her client roster, but requires you to pay her for modeling and photo-shoots, chances are the agent is participating in a scam. Legitimate agents make money off of commissions alone. Check with your local Better Business Bureau for any questionable business practices or concerns before you sign with a modeling or acting agent.