It is important to get yourself registered on the Spotlight database as soon as you can (nearly all jobs are listed on here and your agent will submit you this way). If you chose not to train at an accredited drama school, the only way to be eligible is to secure four professional speaking credits.
You can submit yourself for work through online sites such as Mandy and Starnow and keep networking and attending classes.
Finding an agent to represent you can be a time consuming but important process.
Step One:
Research agencies - Check their websites, news sections, social media feed and client lists. There are many agencies out there - so take your time!
Step Two:
What is the right agency for you? You should keep the following in mind when looking at their websites and client list:
How many clients do they have?
Do they mainly represent ‘named’ actors?
Do you want a large or small agency?
What do they specialise in. i.e. – Stage, screen, musical theatre etc.
Recommendations from other clients
How to get an agent’s interest:
An agent will want to see you in something, so if you are in an upcoming theatre production,
invite them to see you in it (you will most likely need to sort the tickets out, so keep this potential cost in mind).
If you are seeking work in film and TV, it is likely an agent will ask to see a show reel.
If you do not have one, keep in mind that a good (but costly) investment is to get one made with a specialist show-reel company.
Step Three:
Once you have established which agencies you like, you need to approach them for representation.
Most agencies will specify on their website how they prefer to be contacted, which is usually via a specific email address.
When contacting via email, do use the agent’s name, and not Sir/Madame/To Whom It May Concern as that indicates you have not done your research.
In your email, you should keep your letter short, and include the following:
A good quality, recent head-shot
A link to or copy of your performing CV and show reel
Where you trained (BRIT or Drama School)
Your location, i.e. ‘London based actor’
First -
"Rejection is good. It taught me so much about myself and actually helped me to have more certainty in my decision to go to drama school the next year. Of course it was tough at the start and even this year, where I felt I had a new sense of positivity and drive there were times I felt sick of it. The difference was that my mindset had changed, I knew that I wanted it to happen and went in overall a lot more confident and empowered in my decisions and myself.
You can't let the rejection from one thing or place stop you from creating a future for yourself at another place or doing something different you also love or are interested in.
I was rejected my first year applying to drama schools and have been accepted by two schools this year, so don't think that there is only one time for it, it can happen whenever and the chances are you aren't ready yet, listen to that. It's not a negative thing it's actually a great place to be, you have so much time to figure it out in your own way and know yourself better."
Then -
"Don't limit your own view of yourself. " I can't do that" "I have no experience" "This is the only path for me", because there are so many things out there and it's up to you to find them (with help from those around you of course - ALWAYS talk to people and use them to help you out) But take advantage of everything out there.
If you don't get accepted into the place you'd like to be then find other things to keep you always busy whilst you either wait for next year to try again OR find what it is you'd like to do instead.
CREATE WORK WITH YOUR FRIENDS, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GOOD. I was in a play with a group of people in my year and only a handful of people showed up on the few nights the show was up but it didn't matter because we had a great time anyway and still pulled something off!!
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE AND WORK ON YOURSELF. You can be so many things at once and find out all the things you can do. There will be more than you think I promise. Don't lose the heart for what you want to do, let it get even bigger, make the tired moments your chance to grow."
Finally -
"When you do get into the place you want to be (Drama school, or any other place you're aspiring to) make sure you make a decision that is for YOU and no one else.
If you're stuck about which way to go if there are various options MAKE A PROS AND CONS LIST. TALK TO PEOPLE. ASK QUESTIONS CONSTANTLY. KNOW THAT WHATEVER CHOICE YOU MAKE WILL BE THE RIGHT CHOICE and FIND THINGS YOU LOVE DOING THAT ARE NOT THEATRE/ACTING/PERFORMING.
e.g. Join a boxing club, take up reading graphic novels, start a band, get a job in a café, or a bar, or somewhere you might meet people not doing what you do, go on long walks, cook, go running, write, take up a language etc. It will really help you to learn more about who you are/want to be and means that as a person you are hungry and passionate and capable. It also means that you aren't tied down to one thing, theatre can be so all-consuming and overwhelming.
Doing something outside of it gives you a space to breath, to escape it for a bit, to remember who you are away from it, remind you of all the other stuff you can do and to come back to it with fresh eyes."