The other night I was burning headshots for fun, and it occurred to me that I spend a lot of time in this column explaining all the reasons agents pass on actors. Common sense dictates we don’t pass on everyone because if that were true, agents wouldn’t have any clients. And while that sounds peaceful, it’s not very practical. So this week, I’d like to switch things up by explaining why agents decide to take on actors, especially ones who don’t have much experience.
First and foremost, it’s about talent. This is still the number one way to end up on someone’s client list. I’ve always felt too many actors focus on networking skills at the expense of craft. You definitely need both, but an actor without talent is like a Ferrari without an engine. Skill is what drives your career. All that other stuff’s important, too, but it should always take a back seat to your actual acting ability. (OK, I’m done with the car metaphors.
