Agents and Training - Comment from the Industry

 I can't claim credit for this but I have been given permission to pass it on...

If you are looking to do a course and a school guarantees you an Agent during the run of the course, then you have to ask yourself why in this climate when work is so sparce would an Agent want to take on anyone who is in training without having seen their work first? That Agent's reputation is at stake. There are many Agents out there, but a good Agent will not take on an actor until they have seen the actor's work and feel totally secure in the fact that they can get work out there for you. So if a school can guarantee you an Agent, then you have to ask yourself a number of things:-

1.  What kind of reputation does this Agent have?
2.  Why is this Agent taking on anyone and everyone just because they have enrolled in a course?
3.  Is this Agent being paid a commission by the school for doing so?

These are also questions you should ask when a school suggests only one particular photographer to take your headshots. Are there kickbacks in place?

There are many Charlatans out there, so called 'professionals', professing to have what it takes to get you a job - offering actors quick fixes for showreels and quick roads to success...but please be warned! There are NO quick fixes. Anyone who offers you advice for a price...or a chance to be seen by Casting Consultants and Directors when you're not ready...or advice and suggestions on how to make it in America, or offer you a showreel without taking into consideration what you have to lose...then they are exploiting you. Casting Consultants and Directors who are being paid for their expertise can enlighten you on how THEY work and what THEY want, but THEY cannot solve your acting problems or advise you on how to fix things, or improve your performance. So basically, they can't teach you to act.

Just remember, exposure doesn't always give you better opportunities...but better training does.

Cheers
Screenwise