Questions about agents for school shows

Perhaps agents 'guru' Labrug can answer this, but I'm sure some or many of you also know the answer: I'm looking at signing up with a local agent that specifically deals with organising tours of shows to schools. Although I won't be touring shows, but offering puppetry building workshops. I know of a number of agents who do this, so finding one isn't my concern. What I'm wondering is, does anyone know how to apply to one of these agents? I'm guessing it works similarly to getting a normal agent - sending in a CV and relevant info - but do you need to already have experience touring to schools (I have experience doing puppetry workshops, but no experience within schools as yet), a reel showing an actual workshop... do you have to invite the agent along to one so that they can see what you do? What's the best approach? Any advice would be very welcome, as I've never dealt with this agent stuff before :)

I'm not sure how it works over in melbourne, but over here there aren't so much 'agent's that book school shows, as there are Theatre Companies who tour to schools. Generally schools know very little about the theatre world and will respond in kind to an agent, a well known theatre company or your granny giving you a bit of help with cold calling. I've found it's best to mail a colourful promotional to the schools--a long way in advance, then follow it up closer to the tour, with another mailout, emails to the deputy principals, registrars or english/art teachers, and if you are feeling really adverturous cold calling. The last only really works with small schools or country areas. Now if you can employ someone as a part of your own business to do this, great. If you can obtain work with an established theatre company who are already in schools even better. But Labrug is right, it is much more like obtaining a job than finding an agent. (However Melbourne may operate differently to WA). Also, if you can obtain a healthways grant, or gain access into arts in education magazines, even make your way to a curriculum meeting then your really cooking with gas. In the end it is all promotional work and can be done by anyway with reverse marketing experience. I hope that was helpful and not confusing at all.

School Agents

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