In this article
- Do you need an agent to start acting?
- When are you ready for an agent?
- How do you check that an agency is legitimate?
- How do you submit to an agency?
- What are the other ways in?
- What happens in the first meeting?
- Commercial agent, theatrical agent or manager?
- What do contracts and commissions look like?
- What are the red flags?
- What should you do while you wait?
- Frequently asked questions
Quick answer: To get a talent agent, get ready first: current headshots, a one-page resume, a reel or intro video, some training and a few credits you can point to. Then build a short list of legitimate agencies (franchised by SAG-AFTRA or Equity for union work and licensed where your state requires it), follow each agency’s own submission rules and send a short, personal note with your materials. Read the contract before you sign. A real agent is paid a commission when you are paid and never charges you for representation.
You can act without an agent, and our guide on how to get auditions in the United States shows how to start on your own. Still, an agent can submit you for projects that never reach the public platforms and can negotiate your deals. This guide is the practical how-to. For the job description, see what a talent agent is.
One clarification: Casting and Acting is not an agency and cannot represent you or recommend agents. The places to look are described below.
Do you need an agent to start acting?
You can start without one: submit yourself on Actors Access, where a free Starter profile lets you view breakdowns and submit your name and resume, and on Casting Networks, where a free account lets you answer audition requests. But the Breakdown Services FAQ says the casting director decides where a project is posted: agents and managers see it on Breakdown Express, actors see it on Actors Access and some projects go to both. Representation opens roles you cannot see yourself.
When are you ready for an agent?
Your materials speak before you do, so finish these before you write to anyone:
- Headshots, resume and reel: current photos, a one-page resume and a reel or short intro video (see how to prepare your audition materials).
- Self-tape skills: you will be asked to record auditions quickly (see how to record a self-tape).
- Training you can name: classes, workshops or a school.
- Credits you can point to: plays, student films, independent films or commercials. If you are short on credits, start with how to get acting experience.
There is no magic number of credits. If an agency’s website says what it looks for, believe it.
How do you check that an agency is legitimate?
Do this before you send a single photo:
| Check | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| SAG-AFTRA franchise | Members can work only with franchised agencies, and agencies outside the franchise system are outside the union’s jurisdiction. Search the Franchised Agents List by Local |
| Equity franchise | For theater, Equity members may sign only with franchised agents. Equity staff cannot recommend particular agents, and the database of franchised agents is in the member portal |
| State license | California requires a talent agency license and the license number must appear in the agency’s ads (search tool). New York licenses theatrical employment agencies through the city or the state. Georgia requires none, according to the Association of Talent Agents’ state-by-state guide |
| Your own research | The FTC advises you to ask for a list of the actors an agency has placed, contact references, search the company’s name with words like “scam” or “complaint” and confirm any required license with your state consumer protection office or attorney general (FTC) |
The Association of Talent Agents is a trade association of more than a hundred agencies. It says it is not a talent agency and does not refer artists, so contact agencies directly. Franchise lists change, so check the list again right before you sign.
How do you submit to an agency?
- Build a short list of agencies that represent actors like you, in your market or the one you are moving to (see our guides to Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta).
- Read each agency’s submission rules and follow them exactly. Every agency sets its own, and if the website is silent, ask politely whether it accepts submissions.
- Address one person and keep the note to a few sentences: who you are, what kind of representation you want (commercial, theatrical or both), why you chose this agency and where they can see your work.
- Attach little and link the rest: a headshot, your resume and a link to your reel or intro video that opens without a password.
- Follow up once after a few weeks. Then move on and keep working.
What are the other ways in?
- Referrals: a working actor or teacher who believes in you can introduce you. Ask politely and never pressure them.
- Being seen in work: invite agents to plays, screenings and showcases, and tell the agency in advance. Casting Networks also lists connections with agents and managers through Talent Scout among its Premium features.
- Your profiles: once you sign, add your agent. An Actors Access profile is shared with all your representatives, and agents and managers can submit you on Casting Networks.
Warning: Never pay to meet an agent. California’s Labor Code defines an advance-fee talent representation service to include charging a fee to procure, or try to procure, an audition or a talent agent, and it prohibits those services (Labor Commissioner). Real training is regulated rather than banned, but a class that promises to introduce you to agents deserves a hard look.
What happens in the first meeting?
Treat it as a two-way interview. Bring your materials and be ready to talk about the kinds of roles you fit. Then ask:
- Who would submit me, and how many clients play similar roles?
- Do you handle commercial work, theatrical work or both?
- What is your commission, and on which income?
- How long is the contract, and how do I end it?
- What do you need from me, such as self-tapes on short notice?
Never agree on the spot. Take the contract home, read it and ask someone you trust to read it too.
Commercial agent, theatrical agent or manager?
Many agencies have separate commercial and theatrical departments, as we explain in what a talent agent is, and commercials are paid very differently from TV and film (see how to get commercial auditions). Ask which department would work for you.
Managers are another matter. SAG-AFTRA says managers are neither franchised nor regulated by the union and generally charge 10% to 15%. They cannot legally submit you or negotiate for you unless they act under the direction of a licensed agent, and the union advises an attorney to review any management contract (SAG-AFTRA).
State law varies. California’s licensing law covers anyone who procures work for artists and defines the people it covers to include managers (Labor Code section 1700). In New York City, managers of artists are generally exempt unless their primary business is finding engagements (DCWP).
What do contracts and commissions look like?
| Who or where | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| SAG-AFTRA franchised agents | No more than 10%, collected only when you are paid, with no up-front or other fees (SAG-AFTRA). On scale jobs an agent can collect a commission only by negotiating above scale, usually “scale plus 10” |
| Equity franchised agents | Commission schedules prohibit any commission above 10% of compensation |
| New York law | For a single theatrical engagement the fee cannot exceed 10% of your compensation (20% for orchestras and for opera and concert work), and registration fees and advance deposits are barred (Employment Agency Law) |
| California law | The contract must state its term and a rate within the agency’s filed fee schedule, and the agency must use reasonable efforts to procure employment. If you get no employment or bona fide offer for more than four consecutive months while available, either side can end the contract. The agency must give you a signed copy (Laws Relating to Talent Agencies) |
| Managers | Typically 10% to 15%, not capped by the union |
Before you sign, check the term, the commission rate, which income is commissionable, what happens to commissions after you leave and how you can terminate. SAG-AFTRA also warns about non-union general service agreements that may try to commission all of your income, and says no union member should agree to a commission above 10% (SAG-AFTRA).
What are the red flags?
- Money up front, a registration or listing fee or a monthly charge. The FTC says real agencies find you jobs and get paid after the client pays them.
- A required photographer, class or workshop. The FTC says an agency should let you hire your own photographer, and California bars agencies from referring you to services in which they have a financial interest.
- Guarantees of work or big salaries, which the FTC says should make you walk away.
- Pressure to sign today or to pay by cash, gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- For SAG-AFTRA members, an agency that is not franchised.
Our guide on how to spot a fake casting call covers more warning signs. If you paid and got nothing, the FTC takes reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What should you do while you wait?
Keep building. Take a class, say yes to a good play or student film, update your reel with new footage and keep submitting yourself. Keep a log of who you wrote to and when. When you have a new credit worth sharing, send a brief update to the agencies on your list. Momentum gives you something new to say.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find an acting agent near me?
Search SAG-AFTRA’s Franchised Agents List by Local, check your state’s license rules and read each agency’s submission rules. The Association of Talent Agents says it does not provide referrals, so contact agencies directly.
How much does a talent agent take?
SAG-AFTRA franchised agents can take up to 10% and only when you are paid. New York caps a theatrical engagement fee at 10%, and Equity caps commissions at 10%. Managers typically charge 10% to 15%.
Can I get an agent without being in SAG-AFTRA?
Yes. The franchise rules bind union members, so a non-member can sign with agencies outside the franchise system. Those agencies are outside the union’s jurisdiction, so your protection comes from state law, your contract and your own checks. If you join SAG-AFTRA later, you will need a franchised agency.
Can I have an agent and a manager?
Some actors do. SAG-AFTRA has a page on whether you need a manager if you have an agent, and it advises having an attorney review any management contract.
Is it a scam if an agent asks me for money?
It is a red flag. SAG-AFTRA says franchised agents may not charge up-front fees, the FTC says real agencies are paid after the client pays them, and California and New York law bar registration fees.
What if an agency says no?
Keep working and ask whether you may send updates. Add credits, refresh your reel and try again when you have something new to show.
Reviewed in October 2026.
Comments
Join the conversation
Create a free account or log in to comment and earn +15 XP for every approved comment.
✓ Free · ✓ No spam · ✓ Earn XP and rank up