How do you become a casting agent?

I want to become a famous actress, but dont have alot of money for an agent. how do i get noticed?

• My biggest dream is to become an actress, but i dont have alot of money for an agent and all the good casting calls are so far away. What do i do to become noticed to be a famous actress?

• Answer:

  Understand this, you don't "PAY" for an agent. You hire an agent and he only gets paid if he get's you paid. A good agent will get you better paying jobs, so he'll get paid more money. Any agent who needs "$$$" for his start up fee's is just pulling your leg. A real agent knows he can make money with you so he comes to you. He'll ask if he can represent you, and will ask for a few copies of your head shot to send out. He may not even have you sign any contracts right away, he may wait till he get's you your first paying job (to see if you're worth his energy). How to get noticed: First get acting lessons. Even if you think you can act and your friends all tell you you're a great actor. But you aren't just learning the acting disapline, you're also networking with other young actors to getting the scoop on agents, scouts, and auditions that are coming up. There is also comfort in the shared experience so make friends there. Second, join an acting or comedy troup, or even your local community theater. Get experience improvising and performing infront of people. Don't forget that your school might have an acting club too. Join it if you haven't already. If your school doesn't have one, start one! Talk to the principal about it. It wouldn't hurt to join local beauty contests and talent shows either. Next, I would have suggested that you get your headshots done, but because you sound very young, your "look" will be changing alot several times over the next few years. So it can get very expencive to keep up with the changes. But you still need current head shots, right? So keep up by taking current pictures with a regular camera, pick the best one of the bunch and print a few 8x10's (as they are needed) at your local one-hour-photo or at Wal-mart and staple your resume to the back. It'll only be a few dollars at a time this way and you won't be stuck with 497 prints you've already out grown. So long as you look like your headshot when you turn it in, is all that matters. And remember, you're young and just starting out, much isn't expected from you yet but the effort shows through. Take it with you whenever you go to acting classes, auditions, etc. Your headshots are your busness cards! Hand it to anyone who's interested in your acting skills. Finally, finish high school and plan on college! Why? Because wanting to be an actor and finally becoming an actor are two different things. Believe me, an Oscar nominated engineer beats out an unemployed high school drop out any day. Besides, do you think the jokes about unemployed actors working as waiters sounds funny? It's not. Too many young people don't plan ahead and don't have a back up plan. Go to college on either coast, where the auditions are. Go to auditions! Any and all of them that you hear about. Even if you don't really want it or think you're right for the part. Even if you know you're not going to get it. Why? Because it will become more routine and make it easier for you to audition for the parts you do want. And don't be dissapointed by not getting parts. Dissapointment is the nature of the beast so get used to it. Also, by going out so much, your headshots will have been seen by more casting agents and directors. If you can impress them, they may keep you in mind for other roles or other projects. Finally, don't be afraid to turn down an acting job. Some seedy agents will get you really good auditions at first, most won't pan out to much though because there is alot of competiton out there. But your agent wants to get paid! And he'll send you out to some seedy jobs that only require "other talents". Remember, don't put anything on your resume you'll end up being ashamed of later. I hope this helps, break a leg.