Agents represent performers and creative team members who work across the disciplines of Film, Television (including Commercials), Radio, and Theatre. They also supply Artists for corporate and private events. Their clients may include Actors, Singers, Dancers, Walk Ons or Supporting Artists, Stand Up Comedians, Variety Artists, Presenters, Choreographers, Designers and Directors.

What is the job?
Agents find work for their clients; they co-ordinate their contracts, and secure appropriate deals for them. They represent a roster of all types of performers, and cultivate relationships with industry decision-makers in order to persuade them to use their clients. They negotiate deals, and act as 'midwives' for the whole process. They also support and guide their artists' careers.

Agents must keep up to date with what's happening in the entertainment industry, and find out what productions are in development, and which have been given a green light. They must also cultivate and maintain relationships with venues, hirers, producers and other employment creators throughout the industry. Much of their time is spent establishing and maintaining relationships, using contacts to source work for their artists.

They supervise contracts, and negotiate fees for all types of work, keeping up to date with industry rates and industrial agreements, and acting as a buffer during contractual negotiations, even when artists are initially approached directly. Agents also look for new artists to complement their existing roster, and help them to develop their careers, usually by promoting them initially for work in all areas.

Typical career routes
Agents come from a variety of backgrounds, and it is difficult to pinpoint specific career routes. Some start by working in junior roles within Agencies, or as performers or work commissioners. They may have worked in HR departments in other industries, or they may come from totally different backgrounds.

Essential knowledge and skills
Agents need excellent social skills, especially the ability to make good contacts within the industry, and to maintain them diplomatically and tactfully, without becoming a nuisance to them. Good communication and linguistic abilities are required, in order to market their clients persuasively and succinctly to hirers.

They also need business expertise, and must be able to negotiate effectively. They should know how to conduct research, and how to keep up to date with industry developments. They need patience and good listening skills, combined with strong organisational and administrative abilities.

Key Skills include:

good negotiation skills;

Training and qualifications
Industry experience and knowledge is the key to becoming a successful Agent. No specific qualifications are required, but a business background is useful, especially in sales. Some Agents may begin their careers in an Assistant role within an agency, and learn on the job. The main qualification is the ability to develop and maintain a range of industry contacts, requiring the good judgement acquired by experience of working in the role.

Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Skillset's and the UK Film Council's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future, a network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film. For more information, please log onto the Skillset website.

Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. Browse Skillset's website for links to our network of training partners, information about training and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database. Finally, Skillset Careers is the UK's only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit www.skillset.org/careers.

Websites
- Equity is the trade union representing artists across the whole spectrum of arts and entertainment, and offers representation, specialist knowledge and advice for its members and student members on work in Film, Television, Radio, and other Live Performance.

- The Agents Association(Great Britain)

- info@thepma.com

- BBC offers a wealth of information about careers and training in the media. - BBC Talent runs talent spotting schemes

Publications
- The Stage newspaper is the entertainment trade weekly, includes recruitment advertisements, useful links, and 'how to guides', such as finding an agent or drama school.

- Contacts is published annually by The Spotlight, and provides details of all aspects of the entertainment industry.

- Writers' and Artists' Yearbook, a guide to markets in all areas of the media; published annually by A & C Black, London.

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Agent - Film,TV & Radio

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