Asking an Agent for feedback

[Jon Morss]

Is it improper or bad form to ask your agent to provide feedback on an audition that you send in? I have tried this and there was no response from the agent so I hope I did not irritate them. Anyone have any similar experience with an agent?Jon

[Bob Bergen]

Jon,

Is this your agent???

BB

[RonaldTRobinson]

Better to ask your Mom than it is your agent, Jon. Your agent wants you to have James Earl Jones' timbre, Bob Bergen's flexibility and my personality! :)

"But all kidding aside and seriously though..." Better to get feedback from a coach, a peer or a colleague.

Clients will waffle between "You da Man!" and "You suck!" :)

[bobbin beam]

In my experience, your agent is way too busy to deal with this, unless there is something specific , and significant that the client mentioned to the agent about you. Then the agent would most probably tell you. Generally speaking, I wouldn't bother my agent about feedback on auditions.
Do the audition, then forget about it and move on to the next one.

[Jon Morss]

Bob -- Yes. I was referring to the agent (agency) that reps me in Sac. An audition was sent out and sent in my take on, and after a couple of weeks I sent an email to my agent asking for comments or suggests. After another couple of weeks I still have received a reply. I guess I should have let it be as Bobbin suggests.


Ronald -- Thanks. This sounds about right. The “coach, peer, and colleague” avenue is probably the best option.

bobbin -- Sounds like great advice. I just thought the agent may have a good idea of what clients are looking for since they work directly with them and maybe suggest some things that I could work on for the next time if I do not land the job.



Thanks folks for responding.


Jon

[Bob Bergen]

So, let me get this straight. You sent in an audition ,then a couple of weeks later you asked for feedback??????? If that's the case, how could your agent even remember what you did?? If you want feedback, ask immediately. When you submit your read, either call your agent or write a note in an email that you'd love to get some feedback on this read. But a couple of weeks later???!! Heck, I don't remember what I read 2 hours ago this morning!!

Question: Why did you want feedback??? Did you think your read sucked? Was it a category you've not had much experience in?

Agents want to know their talent is confident and competitive. It's actually that confidence in your read and demeanor that they find attractive, and encourages them to work harder for you. I'm in agreement with Bobbin in that a coach or teacher would be a better person to ask. That said, your agent should be available to communication.

Instead of, "What did you think of my read?" I'd approach your agent with, "What can I be doing to take my career to the next level?" This gives your agent the opportunity to tell you if he or she thinks your recent reads need work. It also shows you are willing to take your career by the reigns and run with it. Many agents get frustrated with clients who think now that they have representation they can coast. Your agent will be impressed at your proactive approach.

It's the confidence that wins em over! Not just agents, but producers, casting directors, ad execs, etc. Be it in your read or your marketing. One of the many reasons celebrities work so much in VO is they are so confident with who they are, it comes through in their read. They don't need the gig. They just know how to be themselves. And it's who they are that the buyers want. It's their brand. They are confident in their brand. JUST like the non celebrity needs to be!!!!!!!!!!

[Jon Morss]

Okay, big breath...

Bob – Thanks a ton for providing your input. This is outstanding advice. Yeah, as far as my contact with my agent after the read is concerned, a couple of weeks may be an overstatement but it was surely not right away. I thought I would give her a bit before I started pestering her about the read. What I did send was pretty much in line with what you stated, in that I just ask for suggestions as to what I should work on to make sure I am hitting the target their clients are looking for.

BB -“Why did you want feedback???”
JM - I wanted feedback for my own self improvement and to make sure I was in the ball park with what the client was looking for. I had to drop out of my VO pursuits for the past couple of years because of a medical issue and I have been trying to get back on track. Also, this was only the second or third real spot I have attempted since I started back up and I really wanted their feedback to ensure I was still a viable talent. The Sac area has such a narrow band with regards to the type of VO read ad agencies are looking for and I need to make sure I am within the spectrum they are searching for if I want to work locally, which I do.

BB -“Did you think your read sucked?”
JM - No. Not at all. Actually I felt pretty good about the read. For me it was a fun spot to read and I felt pretty confident with how I approached it, outside of my bad attempt at a Brazilian accent. The spot I have been referring to is the “Jamba Juice” Radio spot I posted in “Lead & Reads” under DEMO OF THE DAY - WEEK OF 00/03 thru 09/09 just in case you are interested in listening to it.

BB – “Was it a category you've not had much experience in?”
JM - Yeah, sort of. It was a Brazilian accent that I tossed together since I did not have one in my bag o’ tricks. I know this is a no no but since there are very few Auditions that actually come from the agency I just wanted to jump on it to keep myself in the loop.

I hear ya on the rest of what you are saying. Confidence is a big factor and can separate those that book from those that don’t. Hum!!! This could explain some things.

This is incredible input and I really appreciate you taking the time and thought in providing this. I’ll take all of this and put it to good use.


OBTW -- I called my agent to talk to her about something else and I just so happen to mention the audition. As you all stated, she had been swamped and did not have a chance to respond, but she was more then happy to provide me some feedback/advice once she has the spare time. She was really cool about the whole thing. Apparently many of the local ad agencies were using the online voice banks since they could get folks to read a spot for 50 bucks which is much less than the cost of the studio use in the area. But, she is trying to change this so the local talent pool would get used more often. Sounds a bit promising to me and I certainly wish her luck. She’ll need it.

Oh yeah, the client with the radio spot decided to go with a female rather than a male so my read was set aside. Hey, Maybe next time.

I think I have said too much so I’ll stop now.

Thanks to all that have responded. You all are first rate.


Jon

[Julie Williams]

Hi JOn,
I'll put my $2 in (I think my advice is worth more than two cents... plus, I don't have a "cent" key on the keyboard...)

If your agent feels you're not confident in your work, she'll wonder if you are competent in your work. Your agent...more than anyone else... needs to feel you are competent so she can feel confident submitting you. You don't want your agent to perceive you as a beginner.

On the local talent issue:

I should tell Jessica (his Sac agent, and mine) that the best way to combat clients going to services for cheap talent who have their own studios, is to submit quality talent who have their own studios. A client who wants you to work for $50 is one you don't want, anyway. But my Houston agent does a great job of submitting talent who have their own studios for very good jobs.