Expert: Rusty Meyers - 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
This is waaaaaaaaaay too long a question, but I will try and answer a few things.
First of all how old are you really, and do you have any legit credits at all yet?
Are you in any of the unions, SAG AFTRA Equity?
Managers and agents can be extremely busy at times and since they really don't represent you what do you expect.
Having a "sit down" with them can take months to schedule.
That can be a good thing (even though frustrating) but in some ways it means that is just how busy getting work for her clients.
If they could spend an hour or two with you then what are they doing for the people she has to get out on auditions?
Yes it is very difficult to get an agent in LA or NY.
Let me take that back, it's easy to find an agent, it's difficult to find a good one, without referrals.
Most good ones won't even take a pic/res without a referrals name on it.
Are you an actor or a model?
Have you ever performed in front of her?
How does she know that you can act, or can you?
Where are you studying now?
How do you plan on surviving in LA (money-wise) while looking for jobs?
My manager in NY was very picky too but had me on go-see's 3-4 times a week for a month talking with agents.
We went through about 20 or so, then for a year or so I went through a variety of them for different auditions.
Eventually one of them asked her about signing me exclusively.
At that time we sat down and discussed the pros and cons and decide to sign.
We did and I've been with them for over 10 years.
Do you know of any of her other 'clients", I would try and talk with one of them.
Yor acting coach is who I would be talking to.
If you don't have one then you are not an actor, yet.
Maybe just a pretty face that the manager thinks you will be a star.
Lots of managers take on new talent and expect them to do a lot before getting them out there.
Be prepared to "pay your dues" before getting any auditions sent your way.
At least at first you should be lucky to have someone wanting you, but after a while it will be up to you to prove that you are worth the effort by booking jobs.
The bottom line for any agent or manager is MONEY.
If you don't book they don't make money and odds are they won't be calling you at all and you will part ways.
These people remember if you are good, but they never forget if you are bad.
SO STUDY with someone that is in the business.
Good luck.
BTW managers and agents usually aren't listed on imdb.com