New Year, New Agency?

Do you have representation but still don’t feel like your career is taking off? Often aspiring singers, dancers, actors and models are so excited to sign with an agency, but then the experience leaves much to be desired. There are many reasons why clients are dismayed by their relationship with their agency. Perhaps they are not being sent on auditions frequently or at all. Maybe, especially if they signed with a smaller agency, they don’t feel as though they are getting the personal attention that they expected or were promised.

Are you unhappy with your agent, but you’re simply not sure if you should leave the agency? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you feel that your agent or manager has a strong knowledge of the business?
• Does your agent or manager have good relationships with casting directors, producers and directors? Or is your agent actively trying to develop these kinds of relationships?
• Does your agent send you out on auditions that you are well suited for?
• Does your agent believe in you?
• Is your agent or manager a skilled negotiator?
• Is your agent or manager trustworthy?
• Does your agent or manager make sure that you’re paid in a timely manner?

If you’ve answered no to several of these questions, then it’s probably time to start exploring other agencies. There’s nothing wrong with exploring your options if you’re unhappy with your representation, as long as you aren’t bound by contractual obligations. But it’s very important that no matter what, you try to leave your old agency without burning any bridges.

Before you do anything else, let your agent or manager know that you’re unhappy. Give him or her a chance to turn things around. Perhaps you somehow got lost in the shuffle and your agent just needed a nudge to give you the additional attention you deserve. If that doesn’t work and you’re still unhappy, be sure to tell your agent that you’re exploring other options before you begin contacting other agents. It’s a small world out there and you don’t want to be perceived by your old agent or a potential new agent as dishonest.

If in the end you part ways, it’s important to be as polite and respectful as possible. Don’t give your old agent any reason to say anything negative about you to others in the industry. Be sure to thank your old agent for the opportunity and any assistance they’ve given you.

If you’re looking for a new agent in your area, visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com and click on our 'Talent Resources' page to view the tons of agents in our database. Good luck!

Star Search Casting Is The “Real” Deal!

Casting directors of leading reality television shows on major television networks use www.StarSearchCasting.com to discover new talent!

HOLLYWOOD – Star Search Casting, the industry’s leading casting website is helping its members capitalize on opportunities in reality television to get their shot at the spotlight. A popular resource for aspiring actors, dancers, singers and models for the last decade, Star Search Casting is now one of the premier casting portals where casting directors of today’s hottest reality shows post their casting notices and scout for new talent. Casting executives from MTV, CBS, A&E, TLC and NBC have all used the website to find cast members for today’s most popular reality television series.

Lauren Conrad, star of MTV’s Laguna Beach: The Real O.C. and The Hills, is one of the industry’s most prominent examples of how reality television can turn today’s girl next door into tomorrow’s cover girl. Star Search Casting is giving singers, dancers, actors and models the chance to see if the reality television formula can produce the same results for them. The website offers aspiring singers, dancers, models and actors a variety of reality programming options to audition for including appearing as the co-host of a new show starring Armando Montelongo of the popular home makeover show, Flip This House. Other current opportunities on the website include a new CBS reality television show similar to The Apprentice, as well as upcoming seasons of the Amazing Race, Survivor and Big Brother.

“In the entertainment industry, there are many paths to success,” says Jonathan Parker, entertainment executive and founder of Star Search Casting. “We make an effort to provide all of the tools, resources and opportunities that will help aspiring singers, dancers, actors and models showcase their talents and make their mark on the industry.

In addition to reality television programming, the website offers casting notices for major television shows, feature and independent film, modeling, theatre, and dance casting calls. The website also features casting notices for bands and solo artists hoping to land a career in the music business. Each day the website has thousands of roles available for aspiring actors, dancers, singers and models to browse and audition for.

When Elisabeth Hasselbeck appeared on Survivor, she probably never dreamed she’d go on to host The View and become a household name. As the popularity of reality television shows continue to grow, more and more entertainers pursuing careers in dancing, acting, modeling and singing will use reality television as a launching pad for bigger and better opportunities.

To learn more about the reality television casting opportunities currently available at Star Search Casting, visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com.

How Talent Agents Are Regulated

The entertainment industry can be tricky, especially if you’re new to the business. While a good agent can skyrocket you to superstardom, a bad agent can cause you a lot of angst and leave you back at square one. If you live in the state of California you should know that agents are regulated by the California Labor Code. This means that your agent must adhere to specific rules and regulations.

In the state of California, all agents must secure a license to do business. Additionally, the license must be posted in the agency in plain sight. This means that when you visit a potential agent, you should be able to see their license when you walk into their office. If you don’t see it, inquire about it. If they don’t have it available to show you, you probably don’t want that person to represent you.

When your agency receives a check from a job that you’ve completed, the agency is required by law to deposit those funds into a bank or other recognized depository and disburse your payment within 30 days. The only circumstances in which your agent can hold these funds are if you owe them money, or if the funds are being disputed by the Labor Commissioner.

We often hear about agencies that take advantage of aspiring entertainers who are trying to find their way in the business, often by charging them registration fees or making them schedule photo sessions with photographers who charge them lots of money for low quality photos. Did you know that it’s unlawful in California for a talent agency to collect a registration fee? So if you have a meeting with an agency and they require a financial contribution in order for you to be represented by them, you don’t want that person to represent you. It’s also illegal for an agent to refer a client to any individual or company from which the talent agency will benefit financially including photographers, managers or acting schools.

For more information about the ins and outs of the entertainment industry, stay tuned to Star Search Casting for informative, up-to-date information for aspiring singers, dancers, models and actors. Visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com today!