What is an Agent?
Performers and creatives across the film and tv industry often get job contracts which last only for a single production. For this reason, they have to be constantly connected with the industry’s decision makers, in order to be cast in new roles or hired for new jobs.
Agents represent the mediator in this connection. Staying in touch with producers and recruiters in the industry, they provide their client with the appropriate deals and offers.
What Is The Job?
Much of an Agent’s time is spent establishing and maintaining relationships, using them to source information on the status of productions, the demand for different kinds of roles and positions in the industry.
Agents also have to keep scouting for new artists in order to expand or maintain their existing roster.
The actual work takes place by attending meetings where deals are proposed and negotiated with the employer. Most Agents earn a commission proportional to the amount they negotiate for their client, so it is in their best interests to persuade decision-makers to offer the best possible deal to their client.
Key Skills
Being a job highly based on networking, social and communication skills are essential to cultivate relationships within the industry.
Sometimes speaking foreign languages can be a benefit, as it allows smooth communication even outside of the agent or performer’s home country.
Very good research skills are required to keep up to date with industry developments and also to successfully scout rising talents.
Scheduling, organisation and time-management are huge parts of an Agent’s everyday life and, together with negotiation and persuasion, are the skills that make a good agent really stand out.
How To Get Work as an Agent
There is no specific career path for agents, they can be from a variety of backgrounds. The most common are a junior role in an agency or the HR Department of another sector.
Education & Training
No qualifications are needed. What is crucial is the extent to which the person is experienced in the industry, and so becoming an agent usually requires a few years of work within the sector, in order to build up the necessary contacts.
Become an Agent today
If you are ready for the next step in your career, why not take a look at the latest Agent vacancies on our jobs board? You can view our latest vacancies here.