Agent? Manager? Do It Yourself?

I recently got an email (one of dozens I've gotten on
this subject) asking me if I could - "explain the
difference between an agent and a manager and which
would be better for me to sign with - to get my career
going?"

Here's my answer:

Dear *****,

Neither an agent or a manager can help you "get a
career going."

The concept that a powerful man or woman can step in
and help you skip all the hard work involved in
starting an acting career - is a "fairy tale."

There is no short-cut to the top of show business (or
even to the middle for that matter). There's also no
Great Pumpkin or Easter Bunny.

If it could be done this way, then agents and managers
would simply pick any actor out of the thousands of
headshots they get every week and turn them into stars.

It cannot be done this way - which is why agents are
so unresponsive to unsolicited headshot mailings.

The good ones are pros and they're not going to waste
their valuable time trying to accomplish what they know
cannot be done.

Their businesses are similar - but not the same.

One sells a product. The agent is a sales person for
the product known as YOU. Sales people (agents) judge
their how well their business is going by how much
money they make. A really good sales professional likes
to make lots of money.

If your product is not saleable (one that people aren't
ready to buy yet) then a sales person won't make a lot
of money selling it (you).

Not surprisingly, agents are coldly business-like about
this part. Until you've managed to start your career
yourself (making money as an actor) don't expect any
really good sales people to be interested.

Managers are just what the word implies. The manage
things. Mailings, bookings, transportation, job offers,
promotion - the day to day business of YOU. (But keep
in mind that in most markets, they are precluded
by law from seeking work for you.)

The top managers are usually the top managers because
they manage very successful careers.

In the past two decades the professional manager class
has had its own difficulties with an influx of "bottom
feeders."

The worst of these are outright crooks, whose only goal
is to separate you from you money or your credit card
with no intention of helping you in any way.

Almost as bad are the ineffectual show biz hangers-on
who rent offices and go about the business of "signing"
practically anyone who walks through their door - then
what they do is they send out your pictures to every
little thing listed in the Breakdowns.

It's just postage.

Since these folks are generally clueless themselves,
they will submit you for stuff you aren't right for.
This is a good way to get labeled as a "clueless"
actor by the casting people.

Many young actors are fooled into thinking that they
must have a manager, any manager - that it's "good
business".

It isn't.

In reality you are signing an agreement to give someone
25% (or more) of your income after YOU successfully
ESTABLISH YOURSELF as an actor who makes money.

Bottom feeders spend a great deal of their business day
writing threatening letters to collect money from actors
who have realized their mistake and don't want to pay 25%
of their income for someone to do ineffective mailings.

The big boys (and girls) in the management game, are
just like agents when it comes to money. They want to
manage a "going concern" and they spend all their time
looking for the next "big thing."

Think about that.

Professional managers make a boatload of money when
they manage to sign on with a Vin Diesel or J-Lo - isn't
it reasonable to assume that they are LOOKING ALL THE
TIME. In fact, they hire people to look - they've got
part-time, secret lookers on their payroll.

Believe me, If you have what they want - if you are a
going concern with a name that you've made for yourself
- they know their managing skills will take you to a
whole new level (making LOTS of money) and they get a
big chunk of a LOT - then, believe me, they will seek
you out.

3. Most importantly, as long as you continue to
believe that your main job is looking for someone else
to help you "build" your career -- you won't be spending
enough time doing the crucial things you need to do
yourself to build your own career.

This is a very bad tactic which results in frustration,
wasted years and, ultimately, failure to achieve what
you want.

If you don't concentrate on doing your part it's
unlikely that you will ever build your business into
something big enough to be noticed by a good agent or
a good manager.

In other words, by all means keep looking for a sales
staff, and a management team - but don't neglect your
business while you're doing it.

Hope that helps.

P.S. A lot of you have written to asking me how to get
the free "Hello Pages" (Over 6000 Show Biz contacts -
casting directors, agents, managers, web sites, film
festivals, acting teachers and coaches, etc.)

Here's how it works: Go to my site, scroll down to the
VERY bottom of the home page and click on "FREEBEES."

When you get to the freebees page, sign up for my
free newsletter, Hollywood How-To, which is all about
your acting career and comes to you once a month.

You will get an email from me asking you to "confirm"
your subscription (this is so people won't sign up
other people without permission) when you confirm that
you signed up, you will get another email (in about 24
hours) that gives you the download instructions for
The "Hello Pages."

I know it's a little round-about, but I hate being
accused of sending a famous prepared meat product.

Wouldn't you?

Have a great week and ...

Much Success,

Bob Fraser

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Bob is an actor, writer, director and showrunner. You
can find out more about him on IMDb.com or read his
bio on the site.

Bob's amazing new acting career course, You Must Act!
has been called -- "...a blueprint for success in
this industry." and "The Actor's Bible."

Why not check it out today?

www.youmustact.com

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