Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 2/11/2010

Question
I would really appreciate your advice. I have been with an agent in my market (Washington,DC) about six months(nonexclusively) and I have gotten three auditions, a runway show, background in an industrial and submitted for some pick by headshot projects. Which is pretty good, I think. My agent says I'm missing out on a lot of print work because I don't have any pictures for a comp card (which I don't).  At the time she told me that, about a month ago (1/16), she offered to be my manager and asked if I had any plans to move to LA or NY. I told her I would be moving to LA in three to six months permanently. She asked me to make my move closer to six months so she could help me with development -- she says I can lower my age range to 16 (which I've been told before). Also, she told me that she only takes a handful of people as a manager and she has people in LA calling her right now asking for help, but there's really nothing she can do because she's not representing them. She says its impossible to get an agent in LA if you don't know anyone. I think she has given me some good information; however, I am deeply concerned about a few issues -

- It's been almost a month since she's offered to be my manager and we still have yet to schedule an appointment to discuss anything. When I emailed her two weeks ago about it, her reply was "We have been swamped.  We are moving all next week into another space and I have been working like crazy with New York with my models.  I will email [agent associate] to see when we can set up a one on one to chat with you.  Hang tight and I look forward to sitting down with you."(1/28) Since then, I've heard nothing about "sitting down". Am I I just being impatient or should some alarms be going off in my head at this point? This makes me concerned that she will be unable to give me the attention I may need from her as my manager, especially if I'm on the other side of the country.

- Yesterday I received this email: "hey it was brought to my attention that you are still signing in on jobs that you are submitted for through [agency name] with your personal information.  I don't know what I have to do, but you never put your own information on any submissions that [agency name] sends you in for.  Im confused, and not sure if this does no make sense to you.  You are making me look bad as an Agent.  Please never use your personal information on anything unless I ask you to.  The casting company contact me and only want to deal with me until I give them your information.  It only makes you and [agency name] look unprofessional". I always Sign-in using my agency information when I'm sent by them, and I had no knowledge this was an issue in the first place. It could be possible that I am being overly sensitive, but the email seemed to come from no where and was borderline offensive - especially since we never had this conversation before. I know I don't need to best friends with my agent/ manager because this is a business, but communication is important and we are obviously having a problem here. Then about an hour later I received an email from her saying the email was sent from her 'waiting to be sent folder' by mistake  on today 2/10. She typed it a while ago but did not send it to me. "It still holds true but sorry it's just going out." Then I noticed the message was originally dated 1/29. I do recall placing only my information on my headshot/resume for an audition the date of that message (so I can understand her frustration), but it was an honest mistake/misunderstanding and the only time that's EVER happened. The Casting Director usually covers information, personal or agency with a sticker and they happened to be out of stickers that day. I didn't realize that they still used the information under the sticker and it was never called to my attention before because my agency's name is usually there. Also, I have read column's by casting professionals as well as others mentioning the importance of also including my personal contact information in case we switch agents(although I have not been doing it in DC but I will in LA)-- I'm not trying to con her of her 10% or make anyone look amateur. Just the opposite, I've been trying REALLY hard to maintain a good relationship with my agency, at least that is the way that I feel.

-  Is it truly impossible to get an agent in LA? Before she offered to be my manager, I gave myself a goal of two years to get an agent using the first year to focus primarily on learning my craft and the market and potentially getting commercial work while building my resume. Also, is it even wise to have a manager on the east coast (especially from a smaller market like DC) while working on the west coast? I'm under the impression it can depend on relationships, but I haven't been able to sit down and talk with her about her current clients, what projects their working on, and her working relationships with agencies in LA. She said she's "going to try to help [me] get some photos after this mess" with the snow, but still no talk of an appointment. There are also no credits listed for her or the agency under IMDB so that was a dead-end.

Thank you again for your time.

Michelle

Answer
Hi Michelle, Well, this is a long,complex question. I will try to provided you with some help in these matters. First, your agent has been doing well for you and second, she is right, you are missing out on lots of work by not having a comp card. Why on earth she even started sending you on calls with out a comp card is beyond me. If you do not adequately invest in your business of acting and modeling, how do you expect that business to flourish? Not having got your pics made could be one obstacle to her not being that motivated to manage you. And she is right about getting an agent in LA.  There is plenty you can do to help with that and with your situation right now. You are right that she is not going to be managing you once you go to LA, that is why she asked for the extra time to work with you before you go. She can mentor you at that distance, as I mentor actors all over the world, but not really manage your career. As far as the email re signing in is concerned, it looks to me as though you were never taught the proper was to sign in and you have been lax in doing it properly.  This is also related to not having a proper comp card and resume. Finally, I think you are in too big a hurry to go to LA. It is nearly impossible to get an agent there and it would be much better if you were better established in the profession before you tried LA.  Well, you are still in the mess of the snow and it is going to take time for things to return to normal so you can get photos and your relationship with her as a manager going. I recommend that you be more patient and learn how to promote yourself and to spend more time where you are.  To these ends I recommend that you visit my web site www.kenplonkeyacting.com and that you your read my book, my blog and articles. It would also help me if I knew the name of your agency. My email in on my web site and you can contact me there with more info or questions that you may have.  God bless, Doc