As enticing as modeling or acting can be, many aspiring talents fall victim to scams perpetrated by unscrupulous agencies. The trick for the person trying to break in is to look for clues to honesty or dishonesty on the part of the agency. You’ll want to protect yourself and find an agency that has your interests at heart.
Two words: “fully licensed.” That’s a good sign the agency is on the level. Also if it’s been around for a decade or two, you can start to breathe a little easier. Now you should take a peek at the client list — see any names you know? Recognizable names mean somebody big trusts the agency, so maybe you can too. You’ll really get a good idea of what working with an agency is like when you get your model composites made — these are what the agency uses to find you work. It’ll cost you money, but it’s a necessary investment.
As far as acting goes, what background do the owner and staff have? Did they study for four years at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, or maybe work as an agent for a large talent agency in NYC, or as head booking agent for a commercial print and fashion divisions of a leading Model & Talent Agency? What film, TV commercials and theatrical productions have they been in?
Now comes the fun part: what kind of work do you want to do? You want to walk the runway? Appear in print ads? Star in a commercial? Or go to television and film. That sort of work is everywhere, actually. In Southern Florida, for example, USA Network is filming new seasons of its hit “Burn Notice” and Fox is producing “The Glades.”
And should you doubt that you’ve got the right look for modeling or acting, fear not: Often the best face for a job is the one you see every day. Agencies know that being exotic is not necessarily the best bet, and that anyone, of all ages, professional and non, can be just what a casting director is looking for. It may seem like a lot to keep in mind. But having a good agency on your side will help you with the getting-started stuff that trips up other people, and help you avoid scams. Model composites are just the beginning. There’s lots more to figure out before you get to that first audition, so having the right people working with you makes the process that much easier.
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