Hello everyone!
Hope your days are going well. I'm in need of a little advice from the collective mind. I was speaking to a producer last week (he's working on the Channel 4 show Ackley Bridge here in the UK, so he's fairly high up the production food chain), and he was saying that once you've got a decent amount of credits it's time to get an agent so that producers will take you seriously for higher profile jobs. I've got plenty of credits, so, the chase is afoot! Searching has started well enough, but I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for agents they use or have had good experiences with? UK based only. Thank you!
Unfortunately I´m not based in the UK but I wish all the best in your endeavour. I´d love to hear about your experience finding an agent. It could be helpful for other people here in the forum.
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Sure, if people would find it useful I'll post an update when there's some news!
Ok, little update. I've spoken to lots of people, done a ton of research, and contacted about 7 agencies that seemed suitable. One agent was really nice but didn't have any room on their roster at the moment. Another said they'd be in touch. No replies from anyone else, but that's fairly expected with non solicited contact.
The overall mood amongst composers who know more about this than I do is, until you're taking work from the composers on the books of an agency, they won't be interested in you. You have to work on something fairly major for them to want you. So really it's a catch 22; high profile producers want you to have an agent in order to feel you're the right person for a major job, but, agents won't sign you unless you have high profile work already. I've also heard fairly negative hings about the agents who represent major composers here in the UK, during seminars and when chatting to an assistant for a major composer last weekend, which is a bit of a deterrent. For now I'm going to leave it and keep going solo.
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So true what your friend says. It is a total catch 22. The good news is that after listening to your work - which I personally find so fresh, beautiful and inspiring - that I suspect it won't be long for you. Just keep doing what you are doing musically. You will get there.
Thanks Irv, that's a real encouragement. Much appreciated.
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Thanks Joanna for your insight. That´s very useful info and I´m quite lost in this matter. Wish you the best in your career. As Irv Johnson stated, the talent is already there.
In America, I'm told that agents will approach you, at least the worthwhile ones. But I'm sure it works differently for many people, and certainly wouldn't hurt to approach them first!
I had an agent once, unfortunately he had less contacts than I had, and I didn't work for a year, plus I wasn't free to pursue new projects that year, compounding that problem. Make sure you screen prospective offers, and resist the temptation to have somebody else do it all for you. keep contacting producers and directors yourself and keep working.