Recently a voice talent asked me for advice about landing an agent. This is what I told him …  

Once you answer those questions and determine that pursuing an agent at this point in your career is worth it, order the latest issue of The Call Sheet. It lists all of the agents and their submission criteria.  

Now let's take my above advice and turn it into a "landing an agent" checklist:

Most aspiring voice talents think they need one immediately, and that is never the case. You need an agent once you achieve a certain level of success and want to be considered for projects you can't get on your own.

If you want to be more successful in a certain genre (most often commercials, but also animation and a few others) you need representation that will submit you for the projects you want to get cast.

3. For which part of the country/world do you need an agent?

Usually you're only allowed to have one agent in a 50-mile radius. Make sure that geography lines up with your genre needs. For example, if you want high-end animation work, landing an agent in the Los Angeles area is a good idea.

If you do, most of the time you're not allowed to be submitted for projects by other agents. Read the exclusivity clause VERY CAREFULLY.

There are agents and studios in pretty much every metropolitan area. If you can't or won't commute for auditions and recording sessions, that will have a big effect on your choice of agent.

Many agents represent union talent, non-union talent, or both. Don't waste your time (and the time of the agent) submitting if they won't cast union/non-union projects.

8. Did you follow ALL of the submission criteria in The Call Sheet ?

The best way to never be considered by agent is to ignore the submission criteria. That will prove to them immediately that you can't take direction and therefore are useless to them.

This is not the part when I say "don't give up" or "don't take no for an answer" cliche crap. I have submitted to agents who loved me and my demos, but had too many people on their roster who sound like me. That is not a bad thing! It just means there isn't room for you on their roster right now. Be sure to stay in touch and follow-up in six months or so.

Pinning your hopes on one particular agent is, in my opinion, starving-artist-like and unrealistic. There are many small agencies out there who can get you good work and ensure you are paid well.