LA TALENT AGENCIES: 7 BOUTIQUES
by Dov S-S Simens on May 26, 2015
HELLO LA ACTORS:
Always remember “No one looks like you”. You are unique and original so please-please have your headshot look-like-you…
Next you will need and truly want an agent .
FIRST: HOW ABOUT A MAJOR AGENCY
You could try the Big 6 (WME, CAA, ICM, UTA, APA, TGA) but I almost guarantee unless you have a dear friend, who is represented by one of the Big 6, and you do-not-look-like-your-friend, you might have your buddy-friend give-a-call…
It happens. And your odds of it happening are slightly better than “Lotto”
Don’t Like the Odds
If not start with the smaller 1-3 person agencies… that are still licensed that are members of the ATA (Association of Talent Agents) and have a “Talent Agency License” by the state of California.
You can actually go to their office, (they don’t have guards), bop in (a lot are in strip malls, Second Floor, in the Valley on Ventura Blvd), say Hi, and have a fair chance to start up a conversation,
Drop off your headshot, go home, be polite and wait for the phone call… And, there is a possibility that they might not have someone who-looks-like-you in their “stable” and they need someone for a “Cattle-Call”… Voilla.
PEARL OF WISDOM… Most actors get their agency though a friend of theirs that they made in an acting group that they are both in… Every actor, in your acting group, will help you (if he/she believes you are a good actor) and will refer you to his/her agent… READ THIS CAREFULLY…. “As Long as You Don’t Look Like Him or Her”.
YO DOV: HOW ABOUT SMALLER AGENCY NAMES?
Okay. These smaller agencies are usually called a Boutique Agency.
Here are 7 Talent Agencies (there are likely 300-500) that simply start with the letter “A”… But they know what SAG shows and SAG commercials are casting and they have the Breakdowns & Sides and are very happy sending bodies out on “Cattle-Calls”.
(ONE)
AKA TALENT AGENCY, 6310 San Vicente Blvd, #200, LA, Ca 90048
(TWO)
ALVARADO REY AGENCY, 7906 Santa Monica Blvd, #205, West Hollywood, CA 90046
(THREE)
ANGEL CITY TALENT, 8318 Kirkwood Dr, LA, Ca 90046
(FOUR)
ARTIST AGENCY, 9430 Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(FIVE)
ASSOCIATED ARTIST TALENT, 1875 Century Park East, #700, LA, Ca 90067
(SIX)
AFFINITY ARTIST AGENCY, 5455 Wilshire Blvd, #1010, LA, Ca 90036
(SEVEN)
AMATRUDA BENSON AGENCY, 433 N Camden Dr, 4/F, Beverly Hills, Ca 90210
Again, I give no special “this one” or “That one” I merely got a list and started with the letter “A”
Now get your headshot, get in your car and do the leg work…
On many different occasions, throughout the years,I have been told by numerous and random people (cafe in Chicago, Taco Bell, Uber driver, etc) that I have a Hollywood appearance, and very unique accent, accent that makes people want to listen, like it is something really important.
Thus, finally I decided to give it a shot and see what happens.
Robert DZ.
Great article, but what about online submissions? While I appreciate the advice on visiting agencies in person, I’m wondering if you have any tips for actors who live outside of LA and can’t easily visit agencies in person. Could you share some advice on effective online submissions?