Let’s Talk Shop The Business of Show with BAA’s Artistic Director & Founder, Jennifer Johns 1 Common Questions we will cover in our chat today: ● What is the difference between an agent and a manager? Is a manager the best way to go if I’m just starting out? How do I land an interview with an agent or a manager? ● What exactly is the role of a Casting Director? Can I submit my materials to a Casting Director without having an agent? ● Am I ready to pursue NY or local representation? Do I really NEED and agent or manager to get auditions or move my career ahead? ● Do “mailings” to agents and casting directors get looked at? (I’m talking about U.S “snail mail”! What should my mailing look like to get the most attention – re: envelope, picture, resume, and cover letter? ● Now that we are navigating this new environment, should we be EMAILING agents, managers, and casting directors? When IS it appropriate to call or email? ● What is the difference between signing and freelancing with an agent? Can I freelance with more than one agent? ● Once I start working with an agent, how do I maintain the relationship most effectively? ● What are the secrets of “self-submitting” when I find out about a big project that is being cast? ● Should I put together a website or a clip reel and what should be on it? What about YouTube? Social media? ● Should I send a thank you as follow up and if so, when and to whom? Should I follow up by email? Attach a picture? Subject lines for follow up… ● Is a good headshot and resume reall that important? How do I get the best headshot and how much should it cost? What are today’s headshot trends? ● What is the secret to getting a headshot that really works for me and gets me in the door? What is the biggest mistake most actors make with their headshots? ● The Unions: How important is it to be in SAG-AFTRA or EQUITY (AEA)? ● When is the right time to join the unions? ● Should I consider commercial work? How do I go about that? 2 ● What are the most important dos and don’t once I land a big audition? Should I chat with the casting director? Should I shake everyone’s hand? Should my material be memorized or should I use the paper? What distinguishes good audition from a “knock their socks off” audition? ● Is knowing and marketing my “type” important? How do I go about finding age appropriate and “type” appropriate audition material? ● Who are the top NY casting directors I should focus on? ● Who are the top NY agents I should focus on? ● Should I keep an audition and workshop journal? What should be included? ● What should I be doing with my time during this Pandemic to make sure I am READY when the next big opportunity comes along? Important things to think about: ● Auditions are a mini- performance ● The greatest gift an actor has to offer (Being YOU!) ● Focusing on the things you CAN control (and discarding the things you CAN’T!) ● Rejection: Resilience (Hearing “No!” can instead become hearing “Next!!!”) ● Persistence and perseverance ● The three things a day plan ● Marketing- the magic of threes ● Regional Markets (The Season Overview) ● Doing your research! Opportunity is knowing what’s available out there! ● Training and Classes ● PWE! (Professional Work Ethic) ● Getting a “note” is receiving a gift! ● Developing a Great Reputation ● An Exit Strategy If you have additional questions, please add them to the write in spot and I will do my best to address them in our discussion! Additionally, I am very happy to set up a live, zoom, or phone career consultation to assist you with putting an individualized business plan or showcase follow up in place! Please contact [email protected] for career consultation rates or to set up an appointment with Jennifer. 3 Agents & Managers (Actor Representation) *Represents Agents and Managers that represent actors under 18 or have a notable Children’s Division NY Agents (The Short List): *9Muse Talent Agency Artists & Representatives Michael Imbimbo – Agent Ben Sands, Scott Manners- Agents and Partners 356 Broadway, Suite LI2 Alice Skiba, Abigail Berger, Remy Saint Denis - New York, NY 10013 Agents [email protected] **AOS Sarah Haber, Ashley Edson, Gabrielle Weinstein 9muse.org - Assistants 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 220 *A3 Artists Agency (Bicoastal +UK) New York, NY 10036 Formally Abrams Artist Agency artistsandrepresentatives.com Jamie Pillet, Victoria Kress – Children, Teens & [email protected] Young Adults, Film, TV, Theater 13yrs +, referral ONLY Sarah Wallach-Youth on Camera Commercial 350 Fifth Avenue, 38th Floor ATB Talent Agency (bicoastal) New York, NY 10118 Todd Eskin (all areas) https://www.a3artistsagency.com/ Robert Miller Jr.- Agent Does not accept unsolicited materials. 350 Fifth Avenue, 38th Floor bv @amatalentagency.com New York, NY 10036 www.amatalentagency.com www.atbtalent.com AOS- Submit online or via mail Mail submissions ONLY Seeking all types for work in NY, NJ, PA, VA and DC area Atlas Talent Agency (bicoastal) Jonn Wasser - Owner/Agent *Andreadis Talent Agency, Inc. Lisa Marber-Rich – Owner/Agent Michele Peacock- Head agent Mike Milmore – Commercials Lisa Rosenbaum – Talent Agent Tim Walsh- Commercials Olivia Pietruszewski – Assistant 15 East 32nd Street, 6th floor 119 West 57th Street, Suite 711 New York, NY 10016 New York, NY 10019 [email protected] AOS Submissions via email [email protected] www.atlastalent.com www.andreadistalentagency.com AOS Submit via mail or email *Avalon Artists Group (bicoastal) Seeking new talent, all ages and types. Craig Holzberg - Owner, Film/TV/Theatre Michelle Thompson - Commercial/print *Ann Wright Representatives Ellery Sandhu - Film/TV/Theatre Ann Wright – Owner 45 West 29th Street, Suite 403 Susan Wright – Film/TV/Theatre New York, NY 10001 th 165 W 46 Street, Suite 1210 www.avalonartists.com New York, NY 10036 [email protected] [email protected] Currently seeking all types and ages. AOS email submissions only. AOS Submit via mail & online 4 Bauman, Redanty & Shaul/Gage Group *Carson-Adler Agency, Inc. (BRS/Gage) Nancy Carson - Owner, Legit/Youth Mark Redanty, Charles Bodner, Steven Unger, Bonnie Deroski, Commercials Erika Karnell, Justin Noga, Chris Foster– Shirley Faison - Children/Young Adults Film/TV/ Theatre 250 West 57th Street, Suite 2128 1650 Broadway, Suite 1410 New York, NY 10107 New York, NY 10019 www.carsonadler.com www.brsgage.com [email protected] [email protected] Submit via mail Currently not seeking new talent. *The Carson Kolker Organization, Ltd. Bloc NY (bicoastal) Barry Kolker – Owner, Theatre/Commercial Fatima Wilson- Commercial/dancers James Gurley-Dawkins, Huascar Vizcaino – Jim Daly, Lauren Sytsma- Agents, Film/TV/Legit Film/TV/Theatre 18 East 41st Street, Suite #801 Sean Webb – Junior Agent, Dance New York, NY 10017 630 9th Ave Suite 702 New York, NY 10036 CGF Talent [email protected] Joel Carlton – Owner/Agent nyc.blocagency.com Michael Goddard – Owner/Agent Dance video links via email Christopher Freer – Owner/Agent Seeking new talent Brett Rigby – Agent AOS Submit via website or mail Leah Wedge, Nick Baldasare - Assistants 352 7th Avenue, Suite 1601 *BMG Models & Talent New York, NY 10001 Michelle Thompson – TV/Theatre/Youth www.cgftalent.com Craig Holzberg – Theatre/Musical Theatre [email protected] Sarah Zachary – Assistant AOS Submit via mail or email 45 West 29th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10001 Clear Talent Group (bicoastal) [email protected] / Jamie Harris – Theatre/Film/TV/Commercials [email protected] Justin Busch- MP/TV/Theatre www.bmgmodels.com Julianna Lichtman- Youth, MP/TV/Theatre AOS - Submit via mail, online, or through open Chase Renouf- Youth Division call hours 4-5pm. 264 West 40th Street, Suite 203 New York, NY 10018 *Don Buchwald & Associates (bicoastal) www.cleartalentgroup.com/ AOS Submit online Don Buchwald – Owner, Broadcasting [email protected] Pamela Goldman, Leslie Zaslower, Sheri Seeking new talent, all ages and types, especially Talkovsky - Youth Dept. 18+ to play teenagers 10 East 44th Street New York, NY 10017 *Cunningham, Escott, Slevin, and Doherty www.buchwald.com (CESD) (bicoastal) [email protected] Ken Slevin - Owner Seeking new talent Kerri Krilla – Youth Division Kirsten Walther - Commercials and Hosting *Carry Company Maura Maloney - Commercials and Dance Sharon Carry – Owner Billy Collura, Anita Reilly - VO TV/Film/Commercials/Theatre David Doan, Erin Grush, Mallory Tucker, Amanda Keith - Assistant Melissa Bormann - Legit. Dept. Agents 20 West 20th Street, 2nd Floor Sofia Morrow-Schap - Dance New York, NY 10011 333 Seventh Avenue, 11th floor www.carrycompany.com New York, NY 10010 [email protected] www.cesdtalent.com AOS Submit online- VOICEOVER ONLY Seeking new talent, all ages and types 5 *Daniel Hoff Agency *Frontier Booking International (FBI) Dave Secor, Dustin Flores- Agents John Shea– MP/TV, head of commercials Marc Ferre- Agent Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peterson, Stephan 1441 Broadway Suite 3023 Gregory- Associates NY, NY 10018 1441 Broadway, Suite 5001 [email protected] New York, NY 10018 Submissions by request or referral www.frontierbooking.com MAIL SUBMISSIONS PREFERRED! *DDO Artists Agency (bicoastal) Seeking new talent Gina Manfredi, Irene Cabrera, Ellen Schellhorn, Marissa Robinson Marino - Agents (all areas) *Funnyface Today, Inc. (Non Union Models) Mallory Levy - Youth Division Charlie Winfield - Agent 175 Varick St, Suite 268 Doris Stinga, Celidh Morgan - Youth Agent New York, NY 10014 Chelsi Ruiz - Agent [email protected] 381 Park Ave South, Room 820 www.ddoagency.com/submit New York, NY 10016 Seeking new talent www.fftmodels.com AOS Submit via online, email or mail [email protected] AOS Submit online- Models only Ginger Dicce Talent Agency Ginger Dicce - Owner / Commercials, Soaps, The Gersh Agency Inc. (bicoastal) VO, industrials Kyetay Beckner, Randi Goldstein, Samantha P.O.