Expert: Kitty Kavey - 8/27/2007

Question
I am almost 15 years old. I love to sing and want to act. I am a little shy but I am slowly working on becoming noticed and famous. My mom and I are trying to get me into acting but not to quick. I am sure she knows about scams and I know she is smart with that. I just dont know how to find an agent or why I would need one. Do I need an agent? What all should I do because I want to Model but I would rather act. I am just a little confused on it and would like some help and advice that you have for me on anything.

Answer
It is much more difficult to work on your own, without an agent.  An agent receives the list of auditions, or is contacted by companies with modeling work.  Sometimes, if something is hard to cast, or they really want publicity, there are open auditions to the general public, but generally they only want professional actors for professional work - and those are represented by an agent.  
There are agency directories for both acting as well as modeling available in your local library, bookstore or online, and on newsstands in NYC and L.A.  If you're here in the US, you can use the list of agencies located on the Screen Actor's Guild website - www.sag.org under Resources, Agent Information, Find A SAG Franchised Agent.  The list is organized by location in the US, and those agencies marked FS (full-service) are those who have a modeling division (usually commercial print) in addition to representing actors.  So you can be represented by the same agency for both modeling and acting, or two different agencies - one for each.  Most agencies now have websites, so you can use your favorite search engine to find the website for the agencies you are interested in.  Quite often they have submission instructions for new talent or new faces, and details on what type of talent/models they represent.  If an agency does not have a website, you can contact them to ask what ages they represent, and what their criteria is for new faces, as well as ask what their submission process is for consideration.  
You may have to get a professional actor's headshot and resume and/or a modeling composite card to send to agencies first.  
If you do stop by the library or bookstore, there are also a lot of books written about the different types of acting and modeling (some of which also contain an agency directory) which can also give sample actor's headshots/resumes and comp cards for you to review if needed.
Good luck to you,
~Kitty