American Psycho

For years the goal of an entertainer was to find an agent.  Then when you finally get one, letting people know who it is, was a little like that scene from American Pyscho when they all compare business cards....

Instead of comparing type and paper...it is who booked who.

So you can imagine my shock when the first time in a quarter century I heard form my actor friend Dave, "why should I pay an agent when I can go direct?" 

So when I stopped choking and picked myself up off the floor, I looked at him and said, "Really?" "How much time do you have to chase down auditions and send out your information?"  Dave works 5 days a week and the last time I had a commercial for him he turned it down because he had to work.  He agreed that it was a good point. 

Twenty-five years ago the only way to find an actor was in a filing cabinet, my filing cabinet. Or on slots on my wall.  Now the beauty of the internet has brought everybody and their brother who wants their 15 minutes of fame, into the giant pot.  It's like open season.

The roles that professionals were once offered are now offered to lesser actors at a fraction of the price.  Why?  Well, maybe because we the general public accept things like YouTube as entertainment. 

Five years ago a small local production would have paid about $1000.00 per Non-union model/actor for a days pay.  Today this is what I found from a similar small production:

TALENT & CREW - DAY RATES

Actors & Talent

$200-$500 Actors (costs vary based on experience)
$20-$100 Extras 

 Fifteen years ago I would bring models into NYC at that time I was hearing that they were seeing a lot of the same models...I ended up booking a lot of clients because of it.  These days due to the internet and easy access I see submissions coming in from all over...ahhhh the internet.  Agents are there to make sure the client are getting a professional, not someone off the street.  We spend time and money developing talent.  Most clients understand the difference.  Those are the clients I wish to work with.

So my answer is this: Really good talent is represented.  When all of this craziness changes, agents will still be here comparing type and paper.

Post Script:  Dave ironically paid for lunch.