Five Challenges to Getting an Acting Agent in Toronto (and How to Overcome Them)
Challenge One: You have no experience.
I know the industry can seem huge and scary at the beginning but the best advice I can give you is to just start. Lots of people are successful with no formal training and it is definitely not required to become a great actor. If you are looking to get into voice acting, I would recommend taking a beginner class with a company such as KH Casting, who are well known in Toronto for their range of classes starting with beginner classes. Alternatively, you can check out a favourite book of mine The Art of Voice Acting, it is a great read for a total beginner or someone more experienced who is looking to dive back in. If you are interested more in the screen or stage side of acting, I would recommend auditioning for a local community theatre or searching your area for acting/improv classes such as Second City Toronto. Not only will these options give you some great experience, it will also help you to decide if this is a career path you’re really passionate about.
Challenge Two: You have nothing on your demo reel.
This can be very frustrating and discouraging for new graduates or fresh faces in the industry if they feel they have nothing to show off their talent. My recommendation would be to create a demo reel from scratch by yourself! If you are looking to make a voice demo to get into voice acting, research and find some scripts/ commercials you love. Purchase a microphone, even if it is a lower-end one it is good enough when you are getting started. I started with and am still using the Blue Yeti Microphone which I love! You can get the microphone by itself here, or you can get the Yeticaster set which comes with an arm and pop filter here.
If you are hoping to get into film or television, you can similarly find free scenes online and record them using your phone. I recommend purchasing a cheap ring light/ stand for your phone to ensure the quality is at least decent, you can get a popular one here. Once you have recorded a scene that you feel confident in, you will have something to send to an agent.
Challenge Three: You don’t know where to find one.
This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s not. Many people find the step of selecting which agency to contact to be the most daunting part of the process as there are hundreds in Canada alone. Some challenges include deciding which agencies are legitimate, deciding which agencies will suit your needs the best and discovering which agencies are popular/successful in your city. The first place I would turn to if you’re looking for representation is the ACTRA Toronto list of reputable agencies. While they are unable to recommend certain agencies, they ensure their list contains agencies who have joined the Entertainment Industry Coalition (EIC) and have signed a Code of Ethics, which helps prevent scams. You can click here to view the list and find agents in your area. (PS you are also able to use this page to file a complaint about an agency if you’ve had a bad experience)
Challenge Four: You don’t know how to reach out to an agent or what to say.
So, you’ve found some reputable agents in your area that you would like to work with, now what? Now it’s time to reach out and let them know you’re interested in them. First step is to review their website if they have one, make sure they represent the type of artist that you are and check if they mention accepting new talent. Most agencies will tell you how they want you to submit to them – via email, website or external link. It is very important that you follow their submission instructions, there is nothing people hate more than people who can’t or won’t follow their explicit instructions so make sure you do. If they have no information anywhere on submission details I would recommend emailing them and letting them know you are “Seeking Representation” and if they do not get back to you, please avoid spamming them with multiple emails as this is not looked upon fondly.
Challenge Five: You are submitting to agencies that don’t align with your skills.
A lot of people have a misconception that all agencies and agents can represent any actor but that is simply not the case. Most agencies are very niche and thrive because of it. It is possible you are not finding representation because you are looking into the wrong agencies. The first thing you need to consider is your union status, some agencies are known for only accepting non-union talent, whereas some will only take union actors. Furthermore, some agencies take on voice talent only and some take on theatre actors only, If you skill set does not represent the current roster, you most likely will not hear back from the agency. To make sure you don’t come across this issue, it is important that you take the time to research the agencies you are submitting to.