Thread by @WhatHeSaidVO, HANDLING YOUR FIRST AGENCY - A THREADLet's pretend you've just gotten an [...]

HANDLING YOUR FIRST AGENCY - A THREAD

Let& #39;s pretend you& #39;ve just gotten an unsolicited invitation for representation from a local/regional agency. WELCOME TO THE BIG TIME WOOHOO, you think to yourself. Well, maybe! Maybe not. Let me give you a crash course on red-flag avoidance.

(You should ask about or make sure you know the answers to the following questions for any agency, even if you& #39;re reaching out to them for representation.)

1.What is the typical agency commission for non-union projects and union projects? <- most important

2. If a project is, for example, "$1000+20%," will the agency still take a cut from the talent& #39;s check?

3. Do you currently have (or intend to have) a website for or hosting for talent profiles? Is there any fee to be hosted on it, or any other fees for representation?

Knowing when the answer is a red flag is important to ensure you& #39;re being paid fairly. Basically there& #39;s 3 problematic behaviors that are red flags. Most local/regional agencies will do at least 1 in my experience, and you should consider staying away from ones doing all 3.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚩" title="Dreieckige Fahne an einem Pfosten" aria-label="Emoji: Dreieckige Fahne an einem Pfosten">1. Double-dipping - you know an agency does this when you see auditions at $1000 + 20% and yet you& #39;re still paying commission on your check. The most upstanding agents will take the agent cut and leave you the $1000. That& #39;s what the 20% is there for.

Others will still take 10, 15, or 20% from your check, regardless of whether they got paid on top or not. Many, MANY regional agencies do this. Most, I& #39;d say.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚩" title="Dreieckige Fahne an einem Pfosten" aria-label="Emoji: Dreieckige Fahne an einem Pfosten">2. Charging for web hosting / representation. They will charge a fee (sometimes annually) to host demos, or list your profile on their website. This effectively makes them a pay to play. An agency ideally wants to promote you as much as possible so you both make money.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚩" title="Dreieckige Fahne an einem Pfosten" aria-label="Emoji: Dreieckige Fahne an einem Pfosten">3. Take a higher commission - My national agency CESD (and most national agencies) takes 10% across the board whether the work is union or non-union. Many regionals will take 10% if it& #39;s union, but 15% if it& #39;s non-union. Some regional agencies take 20% if it& #39;s non-union.

So if your agency takes 20% but they freely promote you and don& #39;t double-dip, probably okay. If they charge you annually for your website listing but only take 10%, probably fine. If they charge 20% on top of taking their agency cut and charge you for a website listing...

In reality, all this problematic policy is rarely due to agents being sleazebags - it& #39;s usually out of necessity. Regional and single-market agencies are going under everywhere, and these moneygrabs are mostly just ways to try to keep the lights on.

But that doesn& #39;t mean you have to put up with it, or think it just has to be this way. Make sure you& #39;re informed about standard practices (because some regionals will lie and say "oh everyone does this" when they definitely don& #39;t) but...

...there& #39;s still something to be said for "getting 75% of a great job you wouldn& #39;t have had access to beats getting 100% of nothing because you turned everyone down waiting for the perfect fit." The better the agency, the more competitive representation is. Good luck!

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