a great reputable sydney agency for a film AND theatre actress with no showreel and no professional experience

Hello all, I was just wondering if anyone could recommend me a good agent in sydney that will actually audition or accept applications without seeing a showreel. I need an agent that represents both theatre and film actors, not just film, and I'f prefer one that didn't largely work in advertisement, even if that means (inevitably)less work. I basically want a high standard agent that can get me professional theatre work, and I think I'm very ready for this. Can anyone reccomend someone worth contacting? Thanks heaps, merry xmas! Julia

Dear Jujuhead I notice you have been a member of this site for a couple of years....although you may not have logged in for a while?? Check the FAQ section. There is a lot of stuff about finding Agents in there. Read it, all of it, even the bits you think don't apply to you. I'm assuming you're thinking of moving to Sydney or are already there?? Are you taking classes? If not, why not? If you want to work as a professional you will need to keep your skills sharp and learn new ones. You never stop learning. In some classes or schools there may be sessions on how to approach the local agents. At the very least an agent needs to know what you can do. The best way to give them a taste is for them to see you in something. Go through the yellow pages, ask other actors (yes, I know that's what you are doing in this post), put together your acting CV with a headshot. Send it out, with a reply paid envelope, expect a lot to come back with the "thanks but no thanks". Do not disparage ad work, it pays the bills and gets your face onscreen and out there. It can become part of your showreel. You might think that an ad for coffee won't land you a part in a Shakespeare but I personally know of one case where it did, admittedly this was in the UK, but the director was after a specific look for a particular part and saw it in the ad. Read the FAQ, there is loads more to unearth in there. "Life is too short to stuff a mushroom"

I totally agree with Rapunzel, and I'd just like to add that pretty much ALL agents will send you up for ads and TV, and there really isn't enough theatre work out there. Do you have any training? If not, GET SOME. It's so important, especially if you haven't got any professional experience. Many agents won't even see you unless you have training, experience, a showreel, or even better all three.

Hi Julia, Ring some agents, describe your list of personal requirements, let them know you aren't up for advertising work and I see what they have to say. Then, find out what THEIR list of requirements for professional actors is. Good luck. Tulipa.

thanks very much Tulipa, much appreciated, Ill check it out. and yes, I am in training, and contacting all local theatres. I have an ethical opposition to most ad work, and I realise this makes things hard but I chose to stick to my principles. I am already sending reply paid envelopes out there to, with professional quality headshots and my CV. I just wondered if anyone had had a good experience with an agency that they could recommend

Julia, I notice you are one year out of High School, is that right? How did 2009 go? Did you work a lot? I guess I mean community theatre wise? If you are serious about your acting, have you considered auditioning for WAAPA or one of the other schools? Edited to add: In all honesty your 'competition' for an agent on the east coast are graduates from these schools, who may also have had years of professional work during their childhood/teen years and are more than happy to do commercials and the like. It is going to make it enormously challenging to get a foot in the door when you're up against that sort of training and experience *and* you're only willing to do certain types of work. I applaud the courage of your convictions. But I am sure that in the current economic climate, you can appreciate it may come at a very heavy 'price'. If your dream is to work in professional theatre, you might have to be a little more realistic about your background and what you have to offer an agent. I am sorry if that all sounds very negative. Tulipa is far more diplomatic than I. But at your age and with your passion, I am sure you don't want to hear platitudes and sugar coated stories. Bottom line is "High standard agents in Sydney, who get professional theatre work," work with experienced/trained actors in the main, who would most likely not place any restrictions around what work they will do in terms of mainstream advertising. Especially not at your age. By all means go for it. But if it's your life's dream, then now's the time to get very realistic about how you achieve it. You're at the perfect age to do that.