VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[daveynate]

Got my first meeting with an L.A. agent later this week, and I was curious if there was a somewhat standard way these meetings go. I've had quite a few on-camera meetings, which sometimes include a cold read along with the talky-talk part, but I've never met with a VO agent, so I was wondering what I should expect.

Thanks!
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"If the shit fits, wear it."
Donald 'Duck' Dunn

http://davidgoldsteinvo.com

[Bob Bergen]

Kinda like saying you are going to an LA restaurant and curious what to expect. All restaurants are different, just like all agents are different. Who are you meeting with?? Not all offices are created equal.

The most important thing to remember is you need to bring something of substance to the table. In your meeting don't just share past jobs. Be specific about the jobs: the ad agencies, the producers, the casting directors, etc. The more buyers you bring to the table the more desirable you are to the agent.

You should also have a very clear and focused career gameplan. You don't want to go in just wanted representation and (or) just want to work/more opportunities. Specifically what are you looking for in your career? Voicebank lists every actor this agent represents. Know their client list and know what they are doing. If any of them are working on animated shows you wish to, or have worked with buyers you know, bring that up. This business is all about relationships. If the agent and you both have relationships with the same buyers, you are an easier sell. If you bring new buyers the agent doesn't know, you bring value.

This is a business meeting. Have fun, but bring something of value to the table.

[Philip Banks]

Serious answer. You should expect the meeting to be attended by 2 people neither of whom is really listening, BOTH of whom expecting to make money out of the other as they feel that is their right. Not a joke.

Take the above VERY seriously. Your exclusive focus needs to be exactly how you intend to make the agent money. If you do not know how you intend to do that, cancel the meeting.

A few years ago I had a conversation with Mark who, along with Phil, runs a management company. Four times in total, first very broadly and then specifically he told me exactly how much it would cost me to be managed by his company. I had no problem with the numbers at all. I then asked Mark, four times, first very broadly and then very specifically what his management would do for me. I meant money to him and quite rightly so. His company needed to earn their pay from me and I wanted to know how they proposed to do that, he didn't appear to know. Does that make his business a bad business or him a bad person? Absolutely not.

"When the phone rings will you go into bat for me?"

"Look. Pick a card any card. Don't let me see it ...."

Was that an answer? Most people believe it is.

[Bob Bergen]

Philip is right, it's all about business.

But after David clarified with me whom he was meeting with, I was able to give him additional advice. It's also about relationships and personalities. The people he will be meeting with WILL be listening. Intently. I know them well, and I know what they are and aren't looking for in a meeting with a potential client. Yes, bottom line is it's all about what you can bring to the table. But for this group, it's also about you, your passion. your drive, the fun you bring to your work and process, your creativity, etc. They love outgoing fun people that they want to spend time with as well as represent. Not all agents are like this, and if you go into an office who feels the contrary your exuberance might be a turn off.

So there's no one stop shop answer for what to expect with an agent.

[MBVOXX]

Interesting responses.
I had to shop for a new agent a few years ago due to my agent of many years passing away from terminal illness. The meeting with the agent I signed on with took two months to set and then lasted approx one minute... (I had preceded the meeting by emailing a 60 second demo, brief resume, plus a referral from one of their talents several weeks in advance). In our brief meeting he asked a couple of questions, told me what to expect from them, and then instructed his assistant to start sending me audition scripts. And that was that. Everything I had prepared to say, discuss, etc never made it into the conversation. The questions asked of me were on point and required brief answers. That is L.A. in a nutshell...be ready to respond concisely and not waste anyone's time. They emailed me all the paperwork, which I got completed and back to them immediately, and I received approx 10 audition scripts that same day. We've been actively engaged in a busy relationship ever since. And ever since then I don't think I've had a phone conversation with my agent that lasted more than 30 seconds or a text message that included more than 6 words. And I have zero complaints!

As someone else was saying, it's a business and it's all about making money ...
From their perspective, your marketability and what they estimate you can generate for the agency and contribute to their annual income, considering they'll only make 10% of what you make, is the criteria by which they choose talent.

Good luck with it!

[Bob Bergen]

I'm gonna guess the above agent is one of the few more corporate agencies in LA that has a vo department. Feels like WME to me. They are quite good! I was with them myself for a few years.

But they are one of the few top Hollywood power agencies with a vo department. WME has been around for decades and is a very suit and tie office, repping huge celebs, producers, directors, packaging major movie and tv deals, etc. And even though they do rep scale vo talent their more corporate culture does trickle down a bit to their vo department. This is not a bad thing at all. Just not the norm in the world of vo and vo agents in LA. The other powerhouse agencies with vo departments, ICM, UTA, CAA, etc., only rep celebs.

The majority of the vo agents in LA aren't as corporate. Their departments are just as strong, but their business models are much more personable and hands on, with daily communication via phone and (or) email. Their style is more career expanding/building, where the corporate culture is indeed more about dollars and cents. Yes, all agents are for profit companies. But the more corporate office day to day is just quite different.

Bottom line, each office is very different. One of the top vo agents in LA's philosophy is she won't rep an actor she wouldn't want to have over to her house for dinner. She demands that kind of relationship as she knows that's what's going to make for a better working relationship.

I think the most important thing I'm trying to get across here is that the majority of vo agents in LA are looking for a more proactive and personable approach from perspective clients. Don't expect something as corporate as WME when meeting with an LA agent. It is not the norm. And still each office is different. Some will make you audition in the booth. Most do not. Some take meetings with the entire department and the actor, some just have one agent meet with new talent. Some agents know before the meeting that they want to sign the talent. The meeting is just a formality. And some actors in this case totally blow it at the meeting by NOT being prepared, and the agent loses interest.

My advice for all agent meetings: be prepared!! If the agent isn't interested in what you are bringing to the table, so be it. But it's better to be too prepared than not prepared at all.

[MBVOXX]

I would agree with you on all points Bob. And you are perceptive oh wise one! Everyone is different so it's important to find a match that works for both and worth taking the time to meet with several.

[daveynate]

Follow-up for anyone scoring at home: this was a very L.A. meeting, as Bob has described. We spent the first 10 minutes talking about our dogs, as hers was in the office, then our newborns. Good vibes all around. She later sent me some audition scripts to read and send back, so she could hear my instincts (and probably make sure what was on the demo is the real thing). I have to be approved by the rest of the office, but, fingers crossed, it looks good.
_________________
"If the shit fits, wear it."
Donald 'Duck' Dunn

http://davidgoldsteinvo.com

[paulstefano]

Congrats, hope it works out.
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