Around the city of Philadelphia there are many different ways to submit talent and models to casting directors and clients around the Philadelphia area. Clients like to work with agencies that they have worked with before and built a reputation with. When they have a need for new talent or people to hire in on a production they will reach out to their trusted agency to see what models and talent they have available to cast in different jobs. An agency will look at their talent roster when they have received a request from a casting director and select talent that match up with what the casting director is looking for; at that point they send out the talent’s theatrical headshots and resume. In some cases the agency may even send out the actor or model’s reel or composite too. If you show that you are dedicated and driven; an agency will invest their time with you.
Many Philadelphia agencies keep a database so they can showcase their talent to clients with ease. A typical agency database in Philadelphia will have high quality photos of their talent along with headshots. There is an understanding that clients naturally want to see high quality images, commercial quality images or a reel of that. A reel is a video compilation of the talent or models best work. If the client or casting director finds a model or actor that they are interested in they typically request that actor or models digitals in Philadelphia. Having a database helps make the process for getting actors and models jobs in Philadelphia much easier and helps streamline the process for casting directors too.
Casting directors in Philadelphia may actually see your photo in one of these databases and have interest in your skillset and looks. They are not however just looking at your photos and making some crazy judgment call based on those factors alone. They like to see that the talent presented in the database are aware of their expectations as an actor or model too. It can make things much harder as you start your career if you do not know how to pose or move in front of a camera; you can not be uncomfortable in front of a camera at all. If you are, this may not be the career for you, find something else that will be more comfortable for you. Casting directors are looking for talent and models that are ready to go or ready to audition the moment they step on set in Philadelphia.
Philadelpia casting agents place a huge importance on taking in talent and models that are able to walk into a booking or audition and need little to no director from themselves or the photographer. It is also recommended that you have good runway skills too if you are looking to start a modeling career in Philadelphia. As an actor in Philadelphia you will be expected to show up to an audition on time and to have a monologue or two already handy; while also being able to execute a cold reading, commercial or improv with solid confidence.
As you begin your search for a good agency to work with in Philadelphia there are some things you should be aware of as you start this journey. Avoid agencies that seem to have just popped up overnight; that agency may not have the reputation to fit you and they may in fact be a little shady. A proper agency will have a reputation that has been built up over time and have an obvious dedication to the field and your success in the entertainment industry. As you start talking to agencies in Philadelphia; be aware if it seems too good to be true it may in fact be too good to be true. They should never ask you to pay a web fee to them and you should certainly not be paying them any fees to get your Talent ID purchased or have monthly fees to upload your own photos and headshots to their web database in Philadelphia.
Good experiences make the relationships between talent, agencies and clients in Philadelphia. In the entertainment business time is money; so a client will never work with an agency that seems sketchy or doesn’t have an already established reputation. Make sure that when you go in for your interview with an agency make sure to take a trusted friend or even your acting coach and ask many questions. As a model or actor working with that agency you should feel comfortable and not have any questions on how invested the agency is with your career. They should have the same dedication to your career as you do.
