Finding an acting agent is never easy. The entertainment industry is notoriously competitive. If you’re new to acting, the process can prove to be even harder. In fact, many agents will automatically delete your email if you don’t have enough credits on your CV. Nevertheless, it’s not completely impossible to find an agent who will take you on. We’ve created a guide to finding acting agencies that accept new talent in the UK.
What to Look For in Your First Agent
They Specialise In Your Niche
Many agencies specialize in representing actors who are part of a specific niche. For instance, Alphabet Talent Agency specializes in representing children and Zebedee represents models with disabilities.
If you fall into a specific niche due to your age, ethnicity, accent, height, and so on, try searching for agents who are looking for actors like you.
They Are Smaller in Size
Typically, smaller agencies will be more open to accepting new talent. Most large agencies reach out to established actors and receive far too many emails to even reply to new talent. If you find small agencies that are off the beaten track, they’ll probably be more responsive to your emails.
They Have a Relatively Small Roster
Agencies with small rosters are usually a good sign. Agents who don’t have too many clients will be more likely to be interested in taking on more actors. Plus, they’ll be less likely to already represent an actor who falls into your casting type.
Their Clients Have Similar Experience to You
Take a look at the clients listed on each agent’s website. If you can see their acting CVs, look for clients that have a similar level of acting experience to you. This is a sign that the agent has taken on fresh talent in the past, which means they’ll be more likely to do so again.
They State They Are Open To Fresh Talent
The easy method of finding acting agencies that accept new talent is to find agency websites that state they want new actors to reach out!
Where to Start Finding Acting Agencies That Accept New Talent
Social Media
If you are actively looking for agencies that welcome new talent into their books, social media is a wonderful place to begin the hunt. Many agencies looking for actors will post updates about whether they are looking for new clients. You can even tag them in posts with your showreel and CV and connect with them quickly on these platforms.
Word of Mouth
Another excellent way to start finding acting agencies that accept new talent is to speak to other young actors you may know. Start to collect a list of agent’s names who represent your fellow newcomers to acting. You could even ask friends if they’d be willing to introduce you to their agent.
Casting Websites
Some casting websites have a “London acting agents open books” section where you can see which agents are currently looking for new clients. They also sometimes have descriptions about the agency and will specify whether or not they are interested in considering fresh talent.
Start With Actors You Admire and Work Your Way Back to the Agent
If you come across new actors, do a little research to find out who their agent is and add them to your list. If you’re specifically looking for agents that take on new talent, try to find out the names of young actors who are acting in professional short films or fringe theatre productions, as these actors are likely to be fairly new to the game — and their agents are likely to be open to people like you!
How to Reach Out to Agents When You Have Little Experience
Do Your Research
Before you start emailing the agents you’ve found, be sure to do some in-depth research into their agency. Find out what kind of work their clients tend to do, and explain why you’d be a great fit for them.
Show Them What You Can Do
Be sure to include some evidence of your acting skill. Put together a showreel of clips of you acting in short films or scene studies. Or, if these clips aren’t available, film yourself performing a monologue and include this with your email.
Ask For Advice
What are agents looking for in actors? Well, sometimes, in addition to talent, they’re looking for someone who is engaged and eager to learn quickly. In your email to potential agents, don’t be afraid to be honest about how much experience you have. You can even ask them for advice about what you can do to find success in the industry. Even if they are unable to take you on now, by asking for advice, you’ll open up space for a conversation and potentially develop a relationship with the agent.
Follow Up
Once you’ve sent off your first email to the potential agent, follow up with another email after a few weeks. The sad truth is that most agents will not bother to reply to most emails if they’re not interested in signing you. In some cases, a follow up can encourage them to reconsider your application. At the very least, a good follow up email that asks for advice might open up a dialogue between you and the agent. They may even be able to recommend other agencies that would be more suitable for you.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt about it — findings. acting agencies that accept new talent isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s often a process of serious digging and research, along with plenty of trial and error. However, if you persevere and continue to search, you’ll eventually uncover some amazing agencies that welcome new talent into their book