How to get an acting agent with no experience

The truth is you cannot get an acting agent with no experience, however, this does not mean you need professional acting experience to acquire an agent.

Use this guide to develop the necessary acting experience to get an agent:

Practice acting by yourself at first

Initially, it is important to determine what type of acting you most want to pursue and to mimic it alone. Take cues from films, TV shows, or recorded plays that display the type of acting you wish to pursue. Try to imitate the actors you see.

Get a monologue from a play and tape yourself. Watch it back and show it to others who will give you their honest opinion on if they think you have natural abilities.

Get literature on acting

There are many great books on acting, Stella Adler's 'The Art of Acting' and Konstantin Stainislavki's 'An Actor's Work' are considered by many to be two of the greatest books on acting. However, there is so much other great literature on the subject.

Do some research and read as much as you can.

Consume other media on acting

In addition to books, there is a wealth of knowledge about acting in other formats, and the great thing is that much of it is free. Check out different podcasts and tutorial videos on the craft, and again seek to digest as much as possible.

There are also paid options in these areas, such as online courses like Matserclass, however, before spending too much money, make sure you gain enough knowledge and even some experience.

Join a community theater program

These are ideal for people seeking an agent but lacking experience. Theater programs give you the ability to develop confidence in front of an audience, and in general as an actor.

It also has the benefit of interacting with other actors. You also can try out different roles and see what kind of productions you are most suited to and enjoy the most.

Sign up for acting classes

Acting classes can enhance valuable skills like focus, memorization, and improvisation.

Apply to a formal acting program

This is not a requirement, however, many actors do choose to go this route. A formal acting program will expose you to essential knowledge and skills needed to become a good actor. They help teach how to use your body and voice to communicate specific emotions, and how to approach classical and modern scripts and plays.

Another huge benefit of a formal acting program is that it presents you with networking opportunities.

Take any acting opportunity you can find

As a beginner, it is important to not turn down most acting opportunities. This means productions like student films or plays at local theaters. Even if the result is an overall bad production, they are useful experiences nonetheless. You are sure to take away something that can benefit you along the way.

Create an acting reel

Creating an acting reel is, perhaps, the most crucial step to getting an agent. All agents will want to see some of your acting reels before they decide if they want to represent you. An acting reel is an edited video of your strongest work as an actor.

Student films, short films, and taped theater productions are great ways to build an acting reel. If you have acted in commercials or online advertisements, include these clips as well, as they are seen as professional acting jobs.

One great aspect of acting reels is that they are just clips, so even if the production was lacking, you only need a piece of it that showcases your abilities as an actor.

It would be advantageous to seek out a good video editor when creating your acting reel.

Establish a strong social media presence

Social media represents a unique opportunity for actors in particular. Many can become self-made this way by gaining large amounts of followers or even paid subscribers.

You could create a low-budget sketch comedy show or some short-form films with you as the lead. Social media is critical to promoting yourself as an actor and getting noticed.

If you've already done an impressive job of promoting yourself, an acting agent is much more likely to work with you.

Get professional headshots

Get headshots from a professional photographer. This can be expensive, but it's well worth it. Your headshots will be used when trying to get an agent, as well as on acting auditions.

Move to Los Angeles or New York

These are by no means the only places you can become an actor, but in terms of getting an acting agent, these are your best bets.

If you are ultimately looking to break into TV and Film, Los Angeles is probably still the surest route. If you want to act on Broadway, you need to move to New York City.

In addition to being the main locations of acting agents, both of these cities also have an immense amount of acting resources that you can utilize.

Contact small agencies at first

There are many small acting agencies where you can find hungry agents ready to take on new and impressive talent.

If you somehow have a connection to a larger agency, like CAA or WME, of course, utilize it. However know that if you are just starting and happened to somehow get an agent at a large agency, that agent is going to put a higher priority on their established clients versus you.

Smaller agencies are looking to build careers, not retain large acting stars. That's why these are your best bet for finding an agent without any professional acting experience.