voiceover agent advice: ready, aim, stop!
If you have read this blog for any amount of time (and, I know, why would you?) you know that I am late to the party on almost everything.
For example, there’s this new thing called a flip phone…
Anyway, while perusing Instagram today, I came across post from Gabby Nistico about agents. This may have been around for awhile – I don’t know…remember…late to the party on everything.
What caught my attention was the tag line: “Submit to Agents with Care”. Well I have shared that sentiment with talents for decades (as have others), so I thought ‘this was a good start’.
I had to sign into something, probably a mailing list, to get to what the page was about…a fairly long list of voiceover agents.
For some of you reading this, that’s going to get you all excited. That list, however, is NOT the meat on the bone.
It’s a nice list…full of some great representatives and some completely useless agents (and to be fair, a similar list could be compiled of voice talents). Worry not, the reps are not labeled as such on the list and shouldn’t be…everyone’s mileage varies and opinions are like…well never mind what opinions are like, they all stink.
But again, the list isn’t the thing.
It’s the DIRECTIONS that accompany the list that contain the best advice you’ll receive this month. They are simple, almost basic. Likely you’ve heard what Gabby has written before, from others.
But now it’s in writing…there on the printed (web) page in black and white (well actually blue and white but whatever).
You know why she says it, and I say it and other pro VO’s say it and agents say it? Because it’s true.
‘Bull in a china shop’ does NOT work when trying to get an voiceover agent. But so few folks, especially newbies, listen.
So many folks are so anxious, so excited, so blinded by the concept of getting an agent or a new agent that the common sense gene is shut down and overrun by their stupid gland and they end up making a terrible first impression and lose an opportunity at professional voiceover representation.
Female Voice Talent Gabby Nistico
So instead of ‘stop, drop and roll’, please now ‘stop, read and thoughtfully execute’ your approach to professional voiceover representation. Look at Gabby’s agent list, sure, but follow her directions that are right there! If you’re NOT ready to check all the boxes, wait to approach an agent until you are.
One last thought about this….the agency world is changing and, like voice talents, agents are dropping out of the business by choice or necessity. Now more than ever.
This means fewer agencies and yet the same or more voice talents who need/want representation.
So you, voice talent person, must now REALLY come across with your most professional work and demeanor and attitude and all of it…. super important! Yes, VO agents still need voiceover talents to have a business but voice talents need quality business partners…don’t confuse Gabby’s long list for a 100% quality list. That’s true in EVERY industry.
Check before you leap…talk to other voice talents about whether they feel their agents are representing them well. You look for referrals on plumbers, why not agents? Not to make too fine a point of it, but five of my agents are in the VO Agent Alliance. I’ve known these people for years. I am thrilled to be in partnership with them because of who they are as people and professionals) Their participation in the Alliance adds great credibility to it in my eyes.
I think it’s a great place to start when beginning the agency search…but they aren’t all taking everyone. Nobody said this agent search would be fast or easy.
Then, what are your expectations for your agents? Are you expecting them to bring you buckets of VO jobs? Re-think.
Agents, in my opinion, should be viewed as presenting opportunity for talents…not necessarily actual work. Yes, work can/does come from agents (and that’s awesome) but it mostly comes FROM US…in our demos and in our auditions when we have the opportunity presented to us.
Securing the work is ultimately up to us. Hard fact. Deal with it or get out of the business.
Partnership also means that when a gig arises – that an agent did not bring to you but where their insight could be really helpful – give the agent the gig to manage. Yes give them the commission…bring it to them. If they are good, they will help you more than you know.
If you don’t trust them enough to do that or don’t want to share in the gig, I would ask you two questions:
• Why are they your agent?
• What kind of business partner are you? (Short answer, probably not a good one)
