You've decided you want to be a model, singer, actors - either you think you've got what it takes or people keep telling you that you have a talent. Where do you start?
Well, at Amber Talent, we get an awful lot of applications from people who feel they should be famous or where mum or Mr Jones down the road, or any one else, said they they have some sort of talent. In fact, we get between 700 and 1500 applications every week. But not all are going to get on our books.
The reason for this is that we are looking for people who have a look that we can sell - we're in the business to make money so we're not going waste resources on someone who hasn't got a chance of earning us any money. Sounds harsh doesn't it? But that's the reality of any agent you approach, no matter how nice they are.
Don't forget, that as agents we don't charge an application or registration fee, we don't take any money off you. The only way we make money is from commissions that we earn on the jobs that we find for you.
So here's a bit of a guide for those of you that are aspiring models, singers, actors, dancers, even magicians, and want to register with an agent.
First of all, find out about the agent - what they are looking for, what their application/registration process is and what they offer. This can usually be found on the company's website or by simply telephoning the agent.
Now what we do is send out instructions for completing the application form along with an information sheet. The information sheet tells you what services we offer and what commissions we take. Normally, you don't need any more information than that because it states it clearly. If you do, then you can always e-mail and ask your question but beware if your question is already answered in the information sheet then you are likely to get a very terse reply!!
Secondly, fill out as the application form as instructed - there is nothing worse than having to chase up someone, say a model, just because they have omitted to give their vital statistics on the form (we can't “sell” you without this information).
My staff's biggest bugbear however is applicants that send in their forms and don't include enough photos, show-reels, voice-reels etc. You are what we are marketing so you need to give us the material to market you with. You may think that this is stating the obvious and indeed it is, yet you would be surprised how many people send us forms with either just one photo with their face obscured or a very bad recording of themselves singing (usually of “Angels” by Robbie Williams!).
Finally, don't chase us for your profile to get done or get you jobs. If you are accepted onto our books we will let you know in due course and then we'll build your profile, cards etc. We will then start marketing you to talent users.
In the meantime, be patient. You are not going to be rich and famous overnight so waiting for your agent to get the job done properly is far better than hassling them to rush it and then sending you off to jobs you won't do.
