ABSTRACT
Finding and Working with an Agent A common question is “Do I need an agent to do voiceover work?” The short answer is “No, you don’t need an agent” but this isn’t really the right question to be asking. A better question is “Will a talent agent help me in my voiceover career.” For most voiceover talent, the answer is “Yes.” If you work without an agent, you are limiting yourself to only those voiceover jobs you can find for yourself, and you will be responsible for negotiating your fees and collecting payments. One major advantage of having representation is that you will gain access to auditions and clients that you might never have met if you were not represented. Your agent will also handle fee negotiations and collect payments. Having a talent agent working for you is definitely to your advantage; however, this does not mean that you must have an agent to be successful. There is a belief among beginning voice actors that landing an agent means they can just sit back and watch the work roll in. Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way! The truth is that your agent is only one part of your larger marketing plan. According to Gabrielle Nistico of vocareer.com, although an agent will create and distribute marketing materials designed to reach industry professionals, those materials are generally intended to promote the agency, and not an individual talent. It is the voice actor’s individual marketing efforts that ultimately promote their unique skills and abilities.
