4. Yes, you will need an agent to work in T.V. or film, or most paying theater gigs. 99% of all legitimate paying roles in the industry are cast through casting directors who are contacting credible agents for submissions. Your photo will not be seen by a casting director, regardless of the color, size or shape of the envelope in which it is sent. Save your money for food and rent. Getting an agent is not simple and they are no more likely to open your photo and resume. If you're planning to "market" into the wind, I would suggest postcards are better than 8x10 photos and mailing to managers is a more receptive audience. Also, having a showcase or play to invite them to see is a good thing to do. Don't expend, again, a lot of capital to produce a showcase or play and mailings. These folks are busy and inundated with invitations. Again, the smart money is on working a job from inside the industry, getting to know the players and over the long haul, giving them the chance to know you. They ain't kiddin' when they say, "It's not what you know, it's who you know" that makes the difference in the end.

There are published lists of agents and managers that can be purchased through the Hollywood Creative Directory at www.hcdonline.com and clicking on the "Hollywood Representation Directory icon. This directory is not cheap but includes talent agencies, management companies, TV and film casting directors and publicity companies nationwide. They also have a subscription service that is updated twice a year and have a mailing list label service as well.

You will find a plethora of websites designed to show you exactly how to be a working actor, find auditions without an agent, help to get you discovered, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. My feeling is that anyone who asks you for money up front for any of the above is not worth the money. You can find publications that will have ads for actors and models for their upcoming film/project, but these will not be career making opportunities and, worse yet, may be exploitative or even dangerous. Legitimate agents will never ask for anything besides 10% of whatever you make (this is the law). Managers are not bound by the same law that regulates agents that are "bonded by the State." Managers can take whatever you give them and typically will ask for 20%.

On the topic of managers; I had one for the 17 years that I worked in the industry and he remains my friend to this day. He helped me get my first agent and was always a close advocate for me and someone with whom I could talk on a daily basis. I cannot recommend whole-heartedly the acquisition of a manager - that is a personal decision. I can only say that in my mind, especially in the beginning, the extra 20% was not a risk because I wasn't making anything yet and the manager increased my chances working. Again, with 10-20 clients rather than 100-200, the personal manager is a lot more attentive to your needs and has a greater vested interest in your success.

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