Actors -3 Tips For Maintaining Your Identity With Your Agent

Signing with an agent or a manager is a big step toward having a professional career as an actor in the business.
Getting representation, however, is not a green light to throw away your own integrity as a person just because that rep is advising you on your career.
This article contains 3 tips for maintaining your own identity even after you've landed a great agent or manager.
1.
Don't rely on your agent to do everything.
This is good overall advice for your career, for sure.
But even when you have signed with an agent, don't depend on them for everything or nothing will happen.
Stay sharp with your craft in classes.
Network and schmooze other contacts yourself.
Be proactive in developing your own material - online content, webisodes, etc.
- to raise your profile.
2.
Listen to your own opinions when something doesn't feel right.
Sometimes agents will give you advice about your acting career that doesn't feel right to you.
They may want you to get more head shots with very specific types of looks, for example.
If you don't agree with their advice, don't hesitate to voice your concerns.
At the end of the day, it's your career and your identity.
Listen to their recommendations but if it doesn't feel right to you, don't feel that you have to always follow the agent's advice.
3.
Don't pretend you're doing the agent a favor to sign with them if you have no credits.
Most actors aren't shy about wanting to achieve a certain level of success with their career.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to be the next Brad Pitt or Jennifer Aniston.
But until you're well on your way to that level, don't take an "A-Lister" attitude with your agent.
Your agent wants you to work so they can make money off of you, so trust that they are on your side.
Be confident in yourself as a person, but don't put on airs about how lucky they are to rep you if you have taken one class and have no credits.
Summary At the end of the day, it's your name and face on the line and it's your career.
Take the initiative to run it as professionally as you would any other business.
Don't be afraid to go against your representative's advice if you're not totally comfortable with their recommendation.
If you have decent credits, feel good about that.
If you don't really have credits, then at least have a realistic sense of what your strongest casting is and what persona you bring to the table as an actor.