ABSTRACT
“Having a relationship with your agent is like being in a marriage,” says ICM agent Melissa Orton. “You have to be able to communicate with each other and say what one another needs. Communication needs to happen on both sides.” While this sounds obvious, it’s not uncommon for one or both sides of the partnership to–at some point–feel frustrated with the other. A writer friend called me a few days ago, fuming because his manager of three months hadn’t gotten him a job on a TV show. Another friend, a manager, fired a long-time client (and close friend) because the client kept scolding her for not sending out his four-year-old Family Guy spec. Another friend, a successful feature writer, recently emailed me with a subject saying “Are all agents worthless?”
