Looking for advice.....

[DeannaM]

Hello,

I am a 38 y/o female who is in a small market in Canada that primarily books talent through agents. I have done an introductory class and received a demo from it at the end. Unfortunately the demo is not up to the standard I would like because of a saliva issue on my part. My instructor indicated when I was recording that he had a concern with it but could probably fix most of it with editing. I have been working on improving my technique and would like to move forward.

So......I would like to get representation but am unsure if I should cold call an agency and explain the situation, or try and find a way to do another demo (that's a whole other thread ) and submit an application to an with it.

I would post the demo here but am getting a database error when I try to attach it.

Thanks, Deanna

[Scott Pollak]

Deanna, if you don't mind sharing with us who you did your demo with, I'd be interested in hearing who it was. If you'd rather not post it publicly, that's fine. You can p.m. me if you'd like.

Now, on to the agency question. I think I'm going to copy and paste this reply for future responses because we see this quite often, where folks new to the industry are trying to get on with an agency.

#1) Agencies aren't, for the most part, adding anyone to their rosters nowdays. Why not? Several reasons. One is that they, like most businesses, have been hit by the economic malaise of the past few years. They're getting far fewer calls for talent now than in the glory days. They also are losing a ton of business to the online casting sites like Voice123.com and voices.com. Clients have learned they can go directly to the talent via those sites, set the rate they want, and find someone there who will do the job and not have to pay an agency's markup.

#2) As such, having an agent ain't what it used to be. It's great if you do (I have three) but it doesn't mean that much anymore unless you're a union performer in a highly unionized area like L.A., NY or Chicago. For the rest of us, it means little. Even having three agents, my inbox stays deathly silent due to the dearth of leads from agents any more.

#3) Agencies typically won't even entertain any unsolicited calls or demos. You must be recommended to them, usually, by someone already on their roster for which they have high regard. Personal referral, that is. And even then, you need to be mighty good and be able to show an existing track record of success for them to even possibly think about adding you to the fold.

Based on what you said about an introductory demo and so on, it sounds like you're nowhere close to being agency-ready yet. But fret not. You can still book work via online sites and through your own marketing, personal contacts and so on, assuming you have some talent. And if you feel your demo is not up to snuff, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you post it online or send it to an agency or potential client. You only have ONE chance at a good first impression, and in this highly competitive business, that first impression MUST be stellar. So in the meantime, work on improving your craft, search for a reputable producer to provide a really solid demo for you, and focus on online auditioning for now.

[Mike Sommer]

Hi Deanna,

It's sad to hear your story. It's an old one; one I've heard many times before. The fact that anyone would promises a demo after only one introductory class is outrageous. That instructor should be exposed as the thief he is. Though it is not impossible for one take a single class, and come out ready to produce a demo, but it is very, very unlikely. The only exception I can think of, is if someone has been an accomplished actor already.

This is a process that takes years to accomplish, and in these difficult times, I would say that more true than anytime in the past 40 years.


As for your demo, stick in a drawer and forget you ever made it. Sending out a demo that is less than stellar is pointless, and including a letter explaining the situation of your problem would be paramount to nothing more than a basket of excuses. Your demo is your calling card, it tells the listener who you are and what you can do as an actor.

And here's the cruel part: you've get 4 seconds to empress, maybe 10, because everyone and their mother want's to be in VO. The problem is, VO is already brimming over with low grade and half baked performers, so to even get noticed you need to be damn good.

As for getting an agent, you not only need talent, you need to bring paying clients to the party. Times are tough, there is not enough work to go around. Agents aren't getting anymore jobs than the rest of us. Today agents are behaving more like booking coordinators, than they are as sources of work. So if you're not working already -and I mean good work, 5 or 6 gigs paying $500+ each- they are not even going to look at you... and you still need to come to them with a referral. Most won't even look at you without a referral.


The best advice I can give is- keep working at it. Fix your problems. Take acting and improv classes, as well as getting good VO classes from persons that make no promises of any kind, especially demos at the end. Then after a few years, you'll be ready to take your act on the road.

[DeannaM]

Most of this I just sent in a PM to Scott but will post here too.....

I should clarify that the agency I am looking at actually accepts applications on line and is known for taking on newcomers and apparently there is a demand for VA in my area. Two of the participants in the class are actually with this agency and a friend of mine is also. As I am an accomplished public speaker and been very active in community theatre I do have some experience.

And I know to take it with a grain of salt but my instructor, who was moving right after the end of my class, did offer a lot of positive feedback to me. I know he wasn't looking for me to sign up for more classes with him as he wasn't going to be offering any in the area.

The class was $200 for a total of 18 hours in a class of 10 and we did do individual pieces and critics. I do think I got my money's worth for the knowledge he had of the industry in my area.

There is a casting director and a studio that does a fair amount of work in the area and if I had a good demo I could upload it to the CD's site and possibly get some leads there. In fact I know my instructor did a considerable amount of work with them and the CD actually reviewed the scripts he wrote for our demos to be sure they would be suitable for her purposes. It is not uncommon in my area to have "newbies" to VA land jobs with this CD.

I really appreciate your reponses.

Deanna

[Mike Sommer]

I should clarify that the agency I am looking at actually accepts applications on line and is known for taking on newcomers...

There are a lot of these upstarts agencies because there are a lot of desperate people out there. Also if they ask for any kind of upfront fee, they are bogus. WALK AWAY.

I was just talking to someone the other day who got involved with one of these up start VO puppy mills. The first month she got 4 auditions, and hasn't heard anything from them for the past year.

and apparently there is a demand for VA in my area. Two of the participants in the class are actually with this agency and a friend of mine is also.

Then your area is the apparent anomaly. As for your friends, why be a Lemming to the cliffs. From a curious point of view, why come here for advice if you're just going to follow your friends?

As I am an accomplished public speaker and been very active in community theatre I do have some experience.

Public speaking is not VO, and community theater is no substitute for rigorous training. Acting -VO or otherwise- is a continues never ending process.

I can not say what your skill sets are until I hear you. If you would like for me to listen please PM me your audition.

And I know to take it with a grain of salt but my instructor, who was moving right after the end of my class, did offer a lot of positive feedback to me. I know he wasn't looking for me to sign up for more classes with him as he wasn't going to be offering any in the area.

He may be a good guy. But come on. The fact that he even offered to do a demo at the end of the class is a bad sign. A real demo take weeks just to find the right scripts. Then another 4 to 6 hours for a good recording session, and at least that much time again to assemble the spots. Let's just say, I'm not expecting much.

The class was $200 for a total of 18 hours in a class of 10 and we did do individual pieces and critics. I do think I got my money's worth for the knowledge he had of the industry in my area.

Eighteen hours is just scratching the surface.

One class; a voice actor does not make. This is a process that takes years.

There is a casting director and a studio that does a fair amount of work in the area and if I had a good demo I could upload it to the CD's site and possibly get some leads there.

If you had a good demo. You yourself admit that it has problems. This is a process, it does not happen over night. This is also a business and it takes a significant about of hard work and capital investment on you part to become a competent and trusteed player.

You may be the newbie VO anomaly, in a high demand VO community- another anomaly. But the fact remains, luck does not trump talent and training.

In fact I know my instructor did a considerable amount of work with them and the CD actually reviewed the scripts he wrote for our demos to be sure they would be suitable for her purposes. It is not uncommon in my area to have "newbies" to VA land jobs with this CD.

Those are moot points- I know lost of people that work with a lot of agencies. In these tough times you either have it, with paying clients in your back pocket or you don't. OR they are asking for fees to sign you up- and that's a scam.

The question to ask your friends are, how many auditions are they getting and how many paying gigs are they landing, and how much do these gigs pay?