Houston’s Acting and Modeling Agencies
If you are looking to start a career in modeling or acting in Houston, you should also be able to understand how an agency works and how they work for you as a talent. There are several key components that come together to make the agent and client bond. Let’s understand that an agent is there to help you; however, you have to show dedication and commitment to your career too.
When you have found an agency to work with and an agent that is invested in you. They have several different ways that they can submit your headshots and resume to possible clients in Houston. The most common way that a talent will be submitted to a potential client or casting director is through request. The client will be in touch with the agency looking for submissions; then the agent will send out submissions to the client with theatrical headshots and a resume attached. Sometimes they may even send out a composite or reel to the client in question as well.
It’s not too uncommon for an agency to actually keep a database that has all of their actors and models listed with high quality photos and professional shots included of the actor or model in Houston. When a client takes a look at this database they are commonly looking for images that have a high resolution and wonderful commercial quality or even a reel of the actor or model. A reel is commonly a video compilation of all the best work that belongs to that actor or model. They will even request to see the digitals of the talent if they are interested after seeing the professional photos of that talent.
Don’t be mistaken though, the client is not just looking at an actor or models photos. They also want to know if that talent knows the expectations that are in place at a booking or audition. Looks mean nothing if the talent has no idea on how they should be moving and positioning themselves in front of the camera. Even just basic knowledge of movement and camera angles can go a long way as opposed to having no idea. In Houston the casting director likes to pull in talent that needs very little direction needed during a booking, when the photographer is shooting and amazing runway skills is certainly important as well. Even as a beginning actor, you should be really comfortable with executing a cold read, commercial or even improv that is asked of you during an audition, sometimes even in front of a group of 50-60 people in Houston.
As you are looking in Houston for a good agency, it is good to remember that an agency will look at your experience as well and how marketable you are. Which is why as you are looking around for the best agency to work with you need to put your best foot forward as well. Maybe even get yourself enrolled to start acting or modeling classes. This will show the agency how dedicated you are to starting your career as an actor or model. Acting and modeling take a lot of hard work and dedication and is not a career path to be undertaken lightly.
When you start looking at your list of agencies in Houston, the biggest thing to know is that you should never be having to pay them. Agents get paid when you do. Now with that in mind if you come across an agency that is asking that you pay them a web fee for posting your headshots and photos in their database that is an issue and the opportunity probably sounds too good to be true; they may even be promising instant fame. Don’t be fooled, you should never find yourself paying several hundred dollars to purchase your Talent ID number and have monthly fees to “upload” and maintain your own headshots and photos in Houston.
When you start doing your research on agencies in Houston, you should be well aware a good agency will be a well established agency. Establishing a good network and connections as an agency takes time and effort. You want an agency in your corner that has good connections and a vast network. Good business relationships are not forged in a day but over time and with consistency from that agency. Clients in the entertainment business will tend to come back to the agencies that they have hired talent from in the past over an agency that has just seemingly just started out or has popped up overnight. Good experiences always make for a good working relationship. After all, anyone that has been in the business will know that “time is money”. A client in Houston will not pay for talent that is not top tier and won't spend the big bucks on talent that has no idea what they are even auditioning for or how to move and pose in front of a camera or put their trust in an agency that lacks a reputation.
In Houston, the rise of these fly by night agencies is frequent and as a reputable agency we want our possible clients and talent to understand that this is how an agency should function. Always do your research and if you find an agency that continues to raise more questions than actually answering them you should play it safe and take a friend or mentor that you trust along with you when meeting with that agency for the first time and make sure to ask questions. Make a list even if you need to, but ask questions.
Book your audition in Houston today and start the career of your dreams now!
