So you've sent out your emails, hopefully through using Get Repped and got a good response. Now you have agent meetings lined up, and suddenly you're facing a question that doesn't get discussed nearly enough: how do you actually choose the right agent for you?
This is a crucial topic that actors rarely talk about openly. Throughout my career, I've had a few bad agents who simply didn't submit me for work or secure auditions. I learned the hard way that not all agents are created equal, and like any profession, quite frankly some are just not very good at their jobs.
In this article, I want to share what I've learned about asking the right questions and gauging an agent's expertise in that first meeting. Because getting this decision right can be the difference between working or a wasted year.
The Hard Truth About Agents
Let's be realistic, only a small percentage of us sign with top-tier agencies. For the majority, we'll have multiple agents throughout our careers. Even if we do get a top agency, we come sometimes end up forgetting at the bottom of their books. With new agencies popping up every year, it's increasingly difficult to determine if an agency is the right fit.
The first thing I’ll say is trust your gut.
I once accepted an offer from an agency I was genuinely unsure about. I hadn't received much response from my other submissions and thought, "Any agent is better than no agent, right?" That thinking was wrong.
What followed was essentially a wasted year where I had no auditions. I had to chase this agent constantly. Every time I called or emailed, I was given the impression I was bothering them. These were all red flags I'd felt in our initial meeting, but I'd ignored them because I hadn't had responses from anyone else.
My advice if you find yourself in this situation, wait. Do another round of submissions. Go with someone you feel confident will actually work for you. A bad agent is genuinely worse than no agent at all. Without an agent you can still self-submit on Spotlight. For most actors when we sign, we breathe easy a bit and take out foot off the pedal, it’s natural. However, doing this with an agent you are unsure about will just waste your time.
Questions Are Your Best Tool
Enough negativity, let's talk about what you can actually do to ensure you end up with an agent where you'll have a good working relationship and ultimately find someone you trust.
The answer is questions. Questions, questions, questions in your first meeting.
Actors often don't do this, and it took me a while to get comfortable with it. But being certain about the representation I wanted is what turned my career around, from zero auditions to booking multiple jobs a year. Asking questions helps you gauge an agent's expertise and gives you vital signs about whether they're going to be collaborative or not.
What Type of Questions Should I Ask?
This is where the skill comes in. You don't want to seem like you're interviewing them, though in a way, you absolutely are. An agent-actor relationship is a collaboration. You need to be able to talk openly and trust each other.
The key is framing your questions positively. Try things like:
"What's been the highlight of your work as an agent?"
"Is there a particular project you worked on for a client that you're especially proud of?"
You want something polite and straightforward but with enough substance to see how they react. If they're open and welcoming of the question and talk enthusiastically about their client list, you've found a decent agent. If they're evasive, shut you down, or struggle to give concrete examples - that's a red flag.
Pay attention not just to what they say, but how they say it. Enthusiasm and specificity are good signs. Vagueness and defensiveness are warnings.
Talk About Your Casting
Another crucial thing to discuss in your meeting is what the agent thinks your casting bracket is. It's vital that you and your agent are on the same page so they can pursue the type of work you actually want.
I once had an agent who, in our first meeting, described me as a "young dad". That told me everything I needed to know. Firstly, the agent hadn't thought about my casting in any depth. Secondly, they were thinking in purely commercial terms, which wasn't what I wanted from my career.
At the same time, be open to what an agent says about your casting. Perhaps they see you differently than you imagined yourself. Maybe the casting bracket you see yourself in isn't what the industry generally sees. This conversation will give you a clear idea of the types of parts the agent will be submitting you for.
If there's a fundamental mismatch between how you see your career and how they see it, that's important information. Better to know now than after you've signed.
Research Their Client Roster
If you're unsure about signing with an agency, look at their client roster. You can tell a lot from this research.
Size matters: If they have massive books but only a few people working at the agency, you might not get the attention you need. Your emails could sit unanswered for days, and your submissions might not go out promptly.
Check for competition: Do they already have several actors with a similar look to you? Not the best sign. You want to be unique on their books and be their go-to person in that casting bracket.
Look for working actors: Are their clients actually booking jobs? Check recent credits. If most of their roster hasn't worked in years, that tells you something about the agency's effectiveness.
Should You Contact Their Current Clients?
Sometimes it can be worthwhile to reach out to other actors on their books and ask about their experience. However, take this advice with a grain of salt.
Actors are at different stages of their careers, and what they consider "busy" might not match your expectations. Some actors keep themselves in the game while juggling other jobs and may be perfectly happy with a few auditions a year or primarily going up for commercials. That might not be what you're looking for.
If you do reach out to current clients, ask specific questions: How often does the agent communicate? How many submissions do they typically get per month? How responsive is the agent when you need to discuss something? These concrete details are more useful than general impressions.
Questions to Ask About the Agency Structure
Understanding how the agency operates will help you gauge whether you'll get the support you need. Ask about:
How many people work at the agency? A solo agent might give you lots of personal attention but could also be overwhelmed. A larger team might have more resources but you could get lost in the shuffle.
Do they have assistants? Assistants often handle day-to-day admin, submissions, and initial communication. If there's no assistant and the agent is handling everything solo, that could impact response times.
How many clients do they represent? If one agent is representing 80+ actors, they physically can't give everyone adequate attention.
How many clients of your type do they have? If you're their only person in your casting bracket, that's ideal. If they already have three actors similar to you, you'll be competing for the same opportunities.
Red Flags to Watch For
Based on my experiences, here are warning signs that should make you think twice:
They're vague about recent successes: If they can't name specific projects their clients have booked recently, that's concerning.
They seem defensive or irritated by questions: A good agent understands this is a business relationship and expects professional questions. Iciness or coldness is a bit old-school, they should take no nonsense, but always on your behalf, never to you. At the end of the day an agent works for you, they are not the gatekeeper. If you sense any irritation, in my view, that will tell you all you need to know about that agent.
They oversell themselves or make unrealistic promises: Be wary of anyone guaranteeing you'll be on a major show within months. Good agents are honest about the challenges.
They pressure you to sign immediately: A legitimate agent will give you time to think about the decision and take other meetings.
Your personalities clash: If you don't feel comfortable talking to them in the meeting, you won't feel comfortable calling them when you need advice or support.
Remember: They're Interviewing You Too
An agent meeting isn't just a chance for you to sell yourself and it's the same for the agent. Your personalities need to complement each other. You need to envision having an open dialogue with this person in the future.
Be open and ask questions that give you a better understanding of how they work. Try to figure out if they have actors who are currently booking jobs. The conversation should flow naturally, like the beginning of a professional partnership, not feel like you're being interrogated and vice-versa.
Trust Your Instincts
This is the most important advice I can give you: if your gut tells you this might not be the best choice, listen to it and keep looking.
No one is going to care about your career as much as you do. You owe it to yourself to feel happy and confident with the agent you choose. If you're unsure and sign anyway, the result could be sticking with them for a year or more, not getting the auditions you want and deserve. The only person that truly affects is you, wasting precious time in your career.
I learned this lesson the hard way. Don't make the same mistake I did. Wait for the right fit, even if it takes longer. The right agent will energize your career. The wrong one will stall it.
Using Get Repped to Find Better Opportunities
The beauty of using Get Repped is that our email tracking shows you which agents are genuinely interested in meeting you. If an agent opened your email multiple times, clicked all your links, and viewed your materials thoroughly, they're likely serious about considering you.
This data helps you go into meetings knowing there's genuine interest, which changes the dynamic. You're not begging for representation, you're evaluating whether this is the right professional partnership for both of you.
Our database also makes it easy to research agencies before you meet them. You can click through to their websites, check their client rosters, and see what kinds of actors they typically represent. This preparation means you can ask more informed questions and spot red flags more quickly.
Final Thoughts
Choosing an agent is one of the most important decisions you'll make in your acting career. Take it seriously. Do your research. Ask questions. Trust your instincts.
A good agent can transform your career, opening doors you didn't know existed and advocating for you when you're not in the room. A bad agent can waste months or years of your career while you wait for auditions that never come.
You deserve representation that believes in you, submits you actively, communicates clearly, and treats you with respect. Don't settle for less just because you're anxious to have any agent at all.
The right agent is out there. Be patient, be strategic, and be willing to walk away from opportunities that don't feel right. Your future self will thank you for it.