Top Questions I Ask a New or Prospective Client
As an agent, meetings are a large part of my job, so I get a lot of practice, but as an actor, you may be used to 16 bars (or under five) and out, so an invitation to chat openly with another industry member might feel totally foreign! Here are the top questions I tend to ask in my meetings with new or prospective clients so that you can get a sense of what to expect—just don’t forget a hardcopy of your headshot/resume!
1. Where are you from?
This is a great conversation starter where you can talk about the places you’ve lived and how they’ve shaped your life. Maybe you grew up in Minnesota and had the Guthrie in your backyard or you can pull out a Southern drawl from your childhood in Alabama. Perhaps you are an immigrant, or an Army brat, or have lived in Manhattan your whole life. Whatever your story is, it is just that: uniquely yours. And though knowing about your life and background can inform my work as an agent, helping me to submit you for more specific roles, I also want to get to know you as you— a human being first, an artist second. Remember that if you are in an agent meeting, it is likely that you have already demonstrated your talents—this is about you being an authentic, likeable person. If we are going to work well together, the conversation should flow.
2. Tell me a little bit about your performing journey.
(I realize this is not in the form of a question.) We were all bitten by the performing bug at some point in our lives. I want to know how you got into the industry and what brought you to NYC.
3. What are your dream roles?
This question gives me a sense of how you see yourself and feel you fit into the industry. Though there are no “wrong” answers, I am hoping that your thoughts align with how I see you. This question can be broken down into four parts:
a. Which roles could you play right now?
I can begin to understand you best if you start by describing age appropriate roles that fit your “type” and match your current skill level. These roles might be different from ones you played in college or even at a regional house. Because of that, understand that if you say “Elphaba” or the “ensemble of The Prom,” the expectation will be that you can belt “Defying Gravity” or perform athletic Casey Nicholaw choreography, respectively. If you are new to the city, it might take a few auditions and classes to get a sense of how you fit in to an environment different from college or summer stock. It is common for Casting Directors to assess if you “fit in the world” of a particular show, so having an understanding of which styles you do best (actor/musician, dance, musical comedy, contemporary musical theatre, Shakespeare/classics, etc.) is helpful.
b. Which roles could you play right now that are currently on Broadway?
In addition to giving me ideas of what I could submit you for right now, this is also your opportunity to show me that you are informed about the current Broadway and Off-Broadway seasons, as well as TV shows that shoot locally. It is common for recent graduates to say that they could be in the ensemble of a show and cover certain principal roles, which I think is great, as long as they have an accurate understanding of the show’s “tracking.” Demonstrating a knowledge of long-running shows vs. those that recently opened, and “required EPAs” vs. “actually seeking” is a bonus!
c. Which roles would you like to play in the future?
As long as you have a good sense of roles I could submit you for right now, I am happy to hear about the Norma Desmonds and Tevyes of your future. This is also the time to discuss “non-traditional” ideas like those female Bobbies and Olafs that seemed impossible not too long ago!
d. Are there certain actors’ career trajectories that feel like a good fit for you?
I get a lot of submissions where actors describe themselves as a combination of star names. While saying that you’re “a young Meryl Streep with the quirkiness of Annaleigh Ashford and the voice of Audra McDonald” is not necessarily helpful, if there are one or two actors whose resumes and repertoire choices seem to keep popping up in your life, that’s great for me to know—let’s work with it!
4. Do you have any relationships with casting directors/other industry members?
One of my college professors once told our class that in the future, we would be hiring each other. It wasn’t until I was a casting intern in NYC and a former classmate’s headshot came across my desk that I realized what he meant. We love to work with people we know! By sharing your list of Casting Directors and other industry members who know you, I can work to capitalize on those relationships and get you submitted for projects where you have a better chance of being seen. If you are a prospective client, it speaks volumes about your professionalism and consistency if certain offices call you in again and again, and hearing about how you cultivate those relationships shows me that you are someone who plays an active role in shaping your career. There is a reason why agents only take a 10% commission—the expectation is that the client does 90% of the work. Expanding and maintaining your “network” (and communicating with your agent about it) is a huge part of that.
5. Is there anything on your resume you’d like to highlight?
Have you already gotten to play several of your dream roles? Did you work with a famous director or write your own one-person show? Can you play piano with your eyes closed or do your own stunts? Are you a registered nurse or a native Korean speaker? I want to make sure that I know about the projects and skills that you are most passionate about and the life experiences that set you apart. Our industry has never valued “authenticity” more than it does right now, so capitalizing on your uniqueness is key. Conversely, if there is something on your resume that is no longer authentically you (perhaps you can no longer tumble or play the cello), you should take it off of your resume.
6. How comfortable are you with on-tape auditions/self-taping?
These skills have never been more important, so if you are unpracticed in either, it is absolutely vital that you take a class on on-camera technique and PRACTICE, but I appreciate an honest answer about where your current skills are.
7. What questions do you have for me?
It’s good for you to have a couple questions prepared, but if they get answered throughout the course of our conversation, that’s okay too! Hopefully, some of your more general questions get answered in my other actor resources HERE!