How do people get a top Hollywood agent? Do smaller agents refer them?

I know that top Hollywood agents don't go to the nobodies, but how do the nobodies become somebodies? Do smaller agents give industry referrals to better agents or not?|||To get signed with a Big 5 (William Morris, CAA, ICM, UTA, Endeavor) or the B Agencies (Gersh, Paradigm, Stone Manners), you need at least several guest star roles on major TV shows/Film and an industry/Celebrity recommendation.





To get an agent in general, you need to get GREAT headshots, a good resume, and training from the best. These are enough to get you a commercial agent at least. Getting a GOOD theatrical agent (Film/tv) takes longer. Most good theatrical agents won't see you unless you're SAG, have a polished resume, and a demo reel. Commercial agents are more lenient about that. What the best Commercial agents want to see on your resume are good commercial classes, improv, and cold reading.





You can get an agent multiple ways. Here are a few common ways:


-Mail in an unsealed manilla envelope with a CONCISE coverletter and headshot with the resume stapled on the back. If you have a demoreel include that too.


-Attend a showcase and impress them. By showcase I do not mean scammy conventions like IMTA, Proscout, or Best New Talent. I mean legit ones like at TVI, Reel pros, etc.


-Get a referral from a friend who is with the agency that you're interested in





DON'T


-Email them unless they tell you to. IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL!


-Call unless they tell you to. ALSO UNPROFESSIONAL!


-Walk in and ask for a meeting. UNPROFESSIONAL THREE!


-Sign with them if they ask for upfront money, make you take new photos with THEIR photographer, or take THEIR classes. Agent's ONLY make money when you do. Agents usually make 10% on film/tv and commercials and 20% on commercial print.





Here are the top agencies in LA that are more open to taking developing talent:





Top Commercial Agencies(*=definite winners):


KSR *


Abrams *


CESD *


Diverse *


Coast to Coast *


Daniel Hoff *


Commercial Talent *


Commercials Unlimited


Innovative Artists *


Independent Artists


Flick Commercials


DPM


DDO


Venture IAB


Sutton, Barth, Venari *


Arlene Thornton and Associates


Pantheon *


Beverly Hecht


Don Buchwald and Associates *


M. Greene and associates


AKA *


Amsel, Eisenstadt %26amp; Frazier


Brady, Brannon, and Rich *


Brass Artists


Aqua


Special Artists Agency


Amatruda, Benson, and Assoc.


Angel City


BiCoastal


Clear Talent Group


Lemon Lime


LA Talent


LW1


Mavrick


Momentum


NTA





Up and Comers:


-Talentworks (Emily Hope from ACME is here)


-BMG (Shanna Randell from Bobby Ball is here)





Theatrical Agents:


-Abrams


-Coast to Coast


-Amsel Eisenstadt Frazier


-House of Representatives


-Daniel Hoff


-M. Greene and associates


-Agency for the Performing Arts


-AKA


-Diverse


-Media Artists Group


-GVA


-Gage


-Geddes


-Talentworks


-Kohner


-Metropolitan


-Domain


-Peter Strain


-The Glick Agency


-IFA


-Pakula King


-David Shapira


-Sovereign