Grindings #002: Done Gone and Got an Agent
When I moved to Los Angeles I had one main goal set for myself, and that was to get an agent within the first year. Despite some bites and leads, it didn’t happen. This past week however – 16 months after moving here – it happened. I succeeded and signed with a commercial agency on Thursday.
How did it finally come to be? Well after doing an agent showcase – you read for them and they share feedback – through Aaron Kreb‘s Workshops in November, one of three agents in attendance liked what I had to offer and asked that we meet. She quickly responded to my follow up email – something agents and managers never seem to do – and scheduled a meeting for this past week.
I arrived to the appointment at the boutique agency which has been in business for 20 years and the agent from the showcase asked I do a commercial read for her colleagues. After they all laughed at my reading – in a positive way – we kicked the tires around in some casual conversation and then they asked me to join their roster of talent. I accepted.
Here we go. We comin’!
It is a big step, one that shouldn’t be trivialized, and as is such I was sure to take a moment to revel in the achievement. Ultimately though, it’s a small upward move on an otherwise massive mountain and now it is back to business. I will continue to do what I did to get me here, submit myself, take classes, et cetera, but hopefully now I have some good people in my corner that can get me out more and get me more opportunities to be seen.
This past week also included me booking / shooting some print work from a self submission, which was as interesting one to say the least. Turns out billboards and promotional print campaigns for films and television aren’t exactly what they seem, and I may or may not be a part of one in the future. It was an easy / quick shoot, with solid pay. Beforehand too I was able to meander around Playa Del Rey – pictured above – as I got across town early.
‘Twas a great week for the actor me.
Mike ‘Box’ Elder is an aspiring actor and comedian. He enjoys trying different kinds of hot teas. Follow him on Twitter @mikeboxelder.
