I WAS DROPPED BY MY AGENT!!

I was just dropped by my agent after a discussion!!! I had asked her (the agent) why I was not getting requested for the roles that she was submitting me for (she always checks to make sure if I'm available, interested in the project etc before suggesting me...which is probably sensible on her part). I told her that she may not be pushing me enough as friends of mine with other agencies are getting auditions (my friends are also with good agents, mine is very well known and has a roster of "stars" on her books). She responded with: "Honey, when was the last time you met those Casting Directors and when did they either request you back in for another audition or book you?" "To be honest, If you have already met them and haven't got asked back in,they either think that you're not right for the roles they are casting for OR you're just not a good enough attempt at being an actor!!! "Proof is in the pudding Darl- you have not even booked a "50 worder",it says a lot about your "Talent", I dont have time for your moaning, but I have 2 words for you "Your Dropped!!" Great start to the weekend! Whats a fifty worder?

I imagine it's a 1-2 sentence part.

It is a definition of a Class of Actor. Go to the MEAA, Equity section and the definitions for Class 1 and 2 Actors are there.

Will you try to secure another agent Bill?

Which state are you in Bill?

Your agent's directness and choice of words aside, how do you feel about her assessment of why you have not yet booked any roles?

Thanks for your replies Walter. To answer you, Yes a 50 Worder is just a line or two. I am in NSW and I have no idea why I haven't booked anything. I spent all this week calling other agents and trying to get meetings with them but none wanted to meet with me. They basically said for me to send them my showreel with the exception of a few; A woman that boasted she was once a prominent Casting Director and could get me into see anyone as "she knows everyone" (she said she can open doors!!)- I asked her what her actors have been doing and she said "lot's of things, like 'meaty' (yes she said meaty) extra's roles in some new TV shows" that she is privy to due to her "connections!" (Wow what a player is she!! LOL) I had a nice chat with another agent that had the decency to look at my reel and take my call, but he basically said that (I asked him to be brutally honest with me-pull no punches) "To be honest with you,the problem is with YOU, you're not what our market wants, you dont offer anything special that isn't already available from 'Name Actors' and to be honest mate, I have to agree with your old agent that if no Casting Director wants to see you for auditions they obviously dont think your very good. Sorry, but that's the bottom line." More salt is rubbed into the wounds and it's starting to sting, but sting isn't the word when I finally scored a meeting with one of "Australia's greatest, most respected and experienced agents"(according to himself,possibly back in the 60's or 70's). He said that he could "help me and get my career "back on track" (I didn't know I had a career?) but I would have to pay an "audition fee" to audition with him!! Needless to say I just hung up. I'm so over it all. I think I'll just join an extra's agency set my goals really high and hope I make shift manager at Domino's one day. Over and out.

"Meaty extras roles?" That's a new one. Good to know there's an agent out there with the special skill to be able to 'open doors' for people to get a slice of that pie though. Kudos to the agent who was frank with you about your look and what you have to offer the professional acting industry at this time. He obviously hasn't yet mastered the art of placing people in 'meaty extras roles'. I do work professionally, and like most actors, my fortunes ebb and flow. A few years ago the ebbs were increasingly outnumbering the flows. A frank evaluation of the 'package' I had to offer was necessary. For me, the solution came in changing how I marketed myself. My photos, profile, show reel, online vibe and the kind of roles I was applying for were more representative of a younger 'me'. Everything needed updating, including my perceptions of what roles I was now best suited for. Basically, I had to start looking and acting my age and being confident about it. It paid off. My audition and bookings strike rate went up because I was now aiming at the right targets. There's nothing particularly special, striking or unique about my look either. I'm kind of a Jill Average and there are plenty of others out there with similar specs. But I get work though, because I understand where I fit into the game and how to exploit the opportunities available to me. Maybe a rethink about your professional actor image and what attributes you are showcasing might help get the ball rolling. Do your photos and show reel represent who you are now or have they become fond shrines to a halcyon year partying on the amateur theatre circuit? Is that 'wacky' monologue you filmed 10 years ago still the right thing to show casting directors now? You get the idea.... Nothing wrong with signing up for extras as a starting point to get you into the game. Avoid the 'meaty extras' lady though. Use professionals for photos and show reels. Don't knock the Domino's idea either. Regular day jobs are a necessity for at least 90% of actors in this country. If all your financial eggs aren't in the 'acting basket' then you will be in a much better position to ride out the ebbs when they come. A life and identity away from the madness of the acting world is really important too. I hope this helps. Keep us all posted if you have any changes of fortune. Good luck!

A sensible comment *applauds*. Well done the other Walter. Most of us remain "journeymen"at our craft. Stardom and leading roles is not a goal (or gaol for some) that we can all attain. Nice advice and very well put sir. I doffs me hat.

Well it's been a rough couple of weeks, one old school agent has closed down after 52 years when a long term employee jumped ship to another agency, a 'medium sized' agency just dropped over 20 actors (in their words-they cleaned house), another small one dropped approx 10. I guess it's Winter cleaning time. I haven't got any meetings with agents on the cards-none will take my calls, I was told by a Casting Directors office to stop calling and emailing them, 'We'll call you, you're staring to annoy us!!' So,all is great. Would you like a family sized Pizza with a free bottle of....