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Talent Agents

All Age Groups

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WHAT IS A TALENT AGENT?

A talent agent is a professional who represents an actor and helps connect them with legitimate acting opportunities. For a young actor, an agent can be an important part of building a professional career in film, television, commercials, voiceover, and other areas of the entertainment industry.

An agent’s job is not to get your child a job every time they audition. Instead, they help put the actor in front of the right casting opportunities and advocate for them throughout the process.

WHY DO ACTORS NEED AN AGENT?

Many professional film and television casting opportunities are accessed through talent agencies. Casting directors often send audition opportunities directly to agencies, who then determine which of their actors are appropriate for the role.

An agent can:

  • Receive and review casting opportunities
  • Submit your child for roles they believe are a good fit
  • Help negotiate contracts and rates
  • Communicate with casting directors and production companies
  • Help navigate bookings, contracts and professional expectations
  • Advise you about your child’s career as they gain experience
  • Help ensure your child is being considered for appropriate professional opportunities


Having an agent does not guarantee auditions, bookings or success. Casting is competitive, and many factors go into casting a role, including age, appearance, acting ability, availability, experience and simply being the right fit for the character.

HOW DOES A YOUNG ACTOR GET AN AGENT?

Usually, the process begins with researching reputable talent agencies that represent children and teens.

Agencies will generally have a submission process on their website. They may ask for things such as:

  • Current headshots
  • Basic information about the actor
  • Acting résumé, if applicable
  • Demo reel or examples of acting work, if available
  • Age, height and other relevant information
  • Information about acting training and experience


Some agencies will invite a young actor to meet with them or attend an interview/audition before deciding whether they would like to offer representation.

And importantly, you do not necessarily need a long résumé to approach an agency. Many young actors are submitted when they are relatively new to the industry.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT AGENT?

Start by researching agencies that are established, reputable and experienced in representing young performers. Look at the actors they represent, the types of work they submit for, and whether their roster appears to be a good fit for your child.

You should feel comfortable asking questions such as:

What types of roles do you typically submit children for?
 How many young actors do you represent?
 What areas of the industry do you work in?
 How does your submission and audition process work?
 Are there any other fees we should know about?
 What happens if my child books a job?
 What are your expectations of parents and actors?

A good agent should be able to clearly explain how their agency works and what they expect from your family.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

Parents should be cautious if someone:

  • Guarantees your child will book jobs
  • Promises fame or a successful career
  • Pressures you to sign immediately
  • Requires expensive mandatory classes through their agency
  • Requires you to purchase specific photos or services from them
  • Makes big promises about how many jobs your child will get
  • Makes you feel like you must pay them before they will represent your child
  • Requests any kind of upfront fee that you have to pay

A legitimate agent only makes money when their actors book work. Representation should be approached as a professional business relationship, not a promise of stardom.

WHAT SHOULD YOU REALISTICALLY EXPECT AFTER SIGNING WITH AN AGENT?

Signing with an agent is exciting! It means your child now has a professional advocating for them and submitting them for opportunities they believe are a good fit. But it does not mean auditions will immediately start appearing.

The entertainment industry is incredibly unpredictable, and it ebbs and flows.

You might sign with an agent and receive no auditions for a few weeks. Then suddenly, your child might receive three auditions in one week! After that, things might quiet down again. This is completely normal.

Casting is driven by what productions are currently casting, the types of characters they need, your child’s age and look, their availability, and countless other factors that are outside of your agent’s control.

"WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY AUDITIONS... IS OUR AGENT DOING ANYTHING?"

Not necessarily!

A quiet period does not automatically mean your agent isn’t working for your child.

Your agent may be submitting your child for roles that you never see because submissions happen behind the scenes. They may also be submitting them for roles that ultimately change, get cancelled, go to another actor, or never move forward.

You may only hear about the opportunities where your child is actually invited to audition.

It’s also important to remember that agents cannot create auditions that don’t exist. If there aren’t many roles being cast that are appropriate for your child’s age, type or experience at that particular moment, there may simply be fewer opportunities available.

COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR AGENT IS IMPORTANT

At the same time, parents should never feel like they’re not allowed to check in.

If it has been a while and you’re starting to wonder what’s happening, reach out to your agent.

You don’t need to approach it as a confrontation. A simple:

“Hi! We just wanted to check in. It’s been a little while since we’ve received an audition and we wanted to make sure everything is still on track. Is there anything you need from us?”

is completely reasonable.

Sometimes you simply need a little reassurance that everything is moving along as it should.

Your agent should be someone you can communicate openly and professionally with. A good working relationship goes both ways.

THE BIG TAKEAWAYS FOR PARENTS

Try not to measure your child’s progress by the number of auditions they receive.

No auditions doesn’t automatically mean a bad agent.
Lots of auditions doesn’t automatically mean a great agent.
And one booking doesn’t mean your child has “made it.”

The entertainment industry is unpredictable. There will be busy seasons and quiet seasons, exciting auditions and disappointing ones, callbacks that don’t turn into bookings and opportunities that come completely out of nowhere.

The best thing parents can do is stay patient, keep your child’s training consistent, be available when opportunities arise, maintain open communication with your agent, and remember that this is a long-term journey rather than a short 100m race.