acting agents

[nutbrown91]

im 15, and i really want to be an actor but, usually young actors have agents, are they expensive, cheap?

[gammaray]

A good agent will only take a percentage of your fees when they find you work. This can be typically 15% of what you earn. If you are being asked for money to join an agency then beware. Reputable agents don't take joining fees or money to cover photographs or registration, or administration or whatever else they call it. Bogus agents do... then never get you any work!

[CheekyChops]

Most young actors are already part of a drama group or stage school or similar - they get an agent once they have been 'spotted' by producers or casting agents and have been offered a part.

[Buenchico]

GammaRay has basically answered the question. Agents should work on commission only. Big stars might negotiate individual contracts with their agents but most actors normally have to pay their agent around 10% - 15% of their earnings. (The contract will oblige the actor to pay the agent's fees even if the actor was directly approached by a producer or director).

As GR has suggested, there are plenty of so-called 'agents' who try to get money 'up front' with promises of work which never actually materialises. Obviously, you should stay well away from these people.

As CheekyChops has indicated, most actors undergo formal training. The traditional route was via stage school but many young actors now study stage and film skills at university before going on to more practical training afterwards. Only at the end of (or during the latter stages of) their training will most actors seek out the services of an agent. For information about an acting career, this might help:
http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyo urcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile518/

Chris

[Postdog]

A reputable acting school will also act as an agent, at least initially. It's strikes me that even if you went to an agent and hoped for the best, they - bearing in mind it is how THEY are paid - are only going to offer the chance of jobs to those who stand a chance of getting them, those people being trained actors.

I'm not an actor myself, but I live near an acting school (see link below) and for the last ten years I have had students as lodgers. My current lodger no longer attends the school, but has only had one acting job since finishing last September.

http://east15.ac.uk/