Actors Safety Alert:
Never put your HOME phone number on your resume and cover letter when looking for a talent agent/manager, or submitting your photos for acting work. Your materials will eventually end up in the agencies’ trash bin and “talent scavengers” and others that could potentially harm you can Google your HOME phone number or use a different search engine and find out where you actually live. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. Always use your CELL PHONE number or voice mail service.
Also, never put your home address on your manila envelopes or other materials (cover letter) you use to submit to agents/managers etc…THIS practice literally gives your HOME ADDRESS to someone that could potentially harm you. Use a P.O.Box address when mailing or use a fake street address and a real City/State and Zip Code (some post offices will not deliver mail unless it has some return address on it).
WE ADVISE YOU TO ELIMINATE THIS PRACTICE IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE USING IT.
Stay tuned for more career saving (and life saving!) information.
Ken Jones,
InfoAlert
Info4Actors.com
*FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR FRIENDS. It’s a great way to look out for them and they will love you for it!
Should you sign “across the board” with an agent?
It depends on the agent. Generally, most agents that require actors to sign “across the board” with them are not equally as strong in both of their commercial and theatrical departments. In other words the agency has more “clout” with Casting Directors in one area than the other.
You’ll find that if and agent requires you to sign across the board with them for representation, you will more than likely get more castings for commercials than theatrical (or vice versa). Again, months will go by and you will only hear from the agent for one type of audition or the other. And, if you take a meeting with the agent to discuss the imbalance, they usually ask you to “hang in there” and give it time, and will not want to release you from the department in which there is no activity.
If you are in this situation we suggest that you start a search for another agent in the area in which your current agent is not productive. Meet with the new agent, and of course, during the meeting it should not be mentioned that you have an agent but they are not “sending you out” and that is why you are looking for a new agent. After the new agent signs you, change your information on the casting services (La Casting or Actors Access) and begin auditioning for the new agent. If your old agent finds out and has a problem with this, call for a meeting and simply explain to them the situation, that it made no sense to be held in an area where there is no activity at all for months on end. Remember it is your career-not your agents. If the agent really values you in the area where he or she is most productive for you, they may not like it, but they would have to meet you half-way and agree to the new deal. If not, then all bets should be off and you go your separate ways. This sounds like a very bold move, but remember, it is your career that is being wasted, not the agents. According to our research, this strategy usually works if the actor is bold and proactive enough to practice it.
Stay tuned for more helpful insights, ideas and events,
Ken Jones
InfoAlert
How to terminate your contract with an agent “legally” before the 1 year term is up
Attention actors! You don’t have to sit and wait for a whole year frustrated with your agent that never calls you for auditions before you begin your search for another agent. You can legally break your contract with your unproductive agent and move forward with a better agent. Here’s the simple procedure:
Send a registered or certified letter to the agent (to make sure they received it) saying this, “Attention (agents name), As of (put the current date) our contract agreement is terminated, and is null and void. I have notified the Screen Actors Guild of this action.” Thank you. (sign your name).
That’s it! Most actors feel as if they have to make some long explanation as to why they want to leave the agent, or even feel guilty and it’s the actors’ career, not the agents!
DO NOT LEAVE THE AGENT UNTIL YOU HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH ANOTHER! Just in case they all of a sudden start calling you for auditions, the ball will be in your court and you can decide what your next step should be.Now here’s what is really important: Most actors think that if they break their contract before the term is up the agent will take them to court-BALONEY. When there is no money involved (you don’t even get auditions, so of course there’s no money involved), no jobs booked, you appear to be worthless to an agent. They are not going to sit in small claims court over nothing when they could be in their office working they way they should have been for you. Take the power back in your career. Do not accept that month after month it’s just “slow” as your agent keeps telling you. Actors are working year round’ TAKE CONTROL!
Ken Jones,
* Actors, Thank You for all the kind comments we received of how helpful our emails have been.
Actor Safety Alert: How To Protect Your Identity Using The Online Casting Services
Do not list your Social Security number on Casting Frontier, La Casting, Actors Access or any casting service. These casting services are not secured and can be hacked easily. Besides your Agent, only give your Social Security number when filling out work documents on the set of a job.
Even though online identity theft accounts for only 6% of reported cases, take no chances. Also, shred all credit card offers with a “cross cut” shredder that come to your home in the mail. According to research, over 70% of identity theft is attributed to credit card mail offers. Most people throw them away. Thieves get them out of the trash, fill the forms out, change the address and act as if they are you, and open a new credit file. Actors have enough challenges. Protect your name and identity so it will look great on the electronic billboards!
Forward this to friends and family you care about.
Ken Jones
