Fri 16 Feb 2007
Shocking UP-FRONT FEE Results!
Posted by Jilly under Uncategorized , Actors , Agents , Models , News & Events , Other Ancillary Subjects
Shocking UP-FRONT FEE Results!
75% Get No Work - The Stage…
On 27th April 2006, ‘The Stage’ newspaper reported their results, of their damning survey report, which stated: “Three-quarters of people paying up-front fees to agents in the entertainment industry receive no work from them in the following 12 months and in more than 90% of cases find that they fail to live up to expectations, according to The Stage’s nationwide survey, completed this week. Our survey, which was completed by more than 700 Stage readers, reveals almost half are still being charged a fee when they join an agency and that 63% of those are told this is purely for registration purposes - a clear breach of the law. Where a charge has been made for inclusion in a directory, the vast majority of people have also been told that this charge is compulsory, which goes against industry codes of practice. Some 36% of people were also asked to pay even more money for photographic services provided by the agency, with the majority - 64% - saying they were illegally told that they must use such services in order to join up.” There has never been a prosecution against agencies; that have taken up-front fees under false pretences; that have offered little work-seeking services. Shame!
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February 18th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
No matter what area you get into, dancing, modelling or writing it’s the same process. A bad agent is worse than no agent at all. A really bad agent is worse than not being a writer, dancer, actor or singer, the same will apply. Getting past the “no unagented submissions” barrier is not sufficient justification for hooking up with a bad agent.
The easiest time to get an agent is when you’ve just gotten an offer on a book or gig. The editor or producer phones you and says, “I want your work!”
From a writer’s aspect, the following will apply:-
“Wow! Gosh! Gee Whiz!” you say coherently. Then you thank the editor, make sure you have their correct phone number, and tell them you’ll get right back to them. Call the agent who’s your first choice. Politely explain that you’ve just gotten an offer, and would they be interested in having you as a client? If they say they’re not interested, call your second choice. It’s hard to imagine your having to call a third choice. You’re offering them a commission on a book you sold.
It’s harder if you haven’t sold a book. Selling short stories helps. Having a really good novel in hand also helps.
(If you’ve never sold anything, and one of the top agents in the genre not only takes you on as a client, but gives you his Saturday-night dinner timeslot at the next Worldcon, please believe that he’s taking your prospects very seriously indeed. You know who you are.)
Least appreciated fact about agents: There are very few real ones. Of the gormless, the not very helpful, and the confirmed scammers, there are a great many.