Best Talent Agencies — For Beginner, Mid-Level & Professionals

Often aspiring performers and creatives think that getting an agent is the answer to getting their career going. While an agent can provide valuable mentorship and connection to opportunities, there is much you can do to get your career in motion before then. Taking your career into your own hands by getting all your basic “ducks in a row” is essential before reaching out to an agent. Below is a list of all the steps to have in place:

• Professional headshots, CV, writing samples or reel
• Your own website where you feature your best work, which you update frequently to show you are active
• Social media & your own YouTube channel for short films, demos, etc. 
• Attend showcases in your city
• Book as many auditions as possible!

Before even beginning a search for a top talent agency, make sure you have the basics in place. You need headshots, a professional website featuring your reel or writing sample and CV, and a YouTube channel or other types of social media where you are actively sharing your work and establishing yourself. Attend showcases, book as many auditions as you can on your own, and put your work out there in as many ways as possible. Who knows, you might even go viral on TikTok and have agents reaching out to you. 

When people in the entertainment industry think of the top movie talent agencies, they tend to think of the “Big 4”: Creative Artists Agency (CAA), William Morris Endeavor Agency (WME), United Talent Agency (UTA), and The Gersh Talent Agency. These are renowned as the best talent agencies in Los Angeles. 

CAA, WME, and UTA tend to be for big name talent who are already fairly established, and they are, frankly, mostly inaccessible to the aspiring newcomer. Gersh is a more mid-career agency that connects talent who already have a decent body of work with excellent opportunities that can help them take their career to the next level. But they, too, prefer to find talent via industry referrals and do not accept cold calls. 

As with anything in Hollywood, word of mouth and recommendations from someone you trust go a lot farther than a cold pitch. Therefore, although these are the top talent agencies for the bigger fish, and it is good to know their names, it isn’t likely you will be starting out with them. 

Aside from the Big 4, there are many other good agencies that can provide the stepping stone for booking gigs, getting auditions, and building your résumé. For beginner and mid-career talent, a talent agency that is more accessible can help accelerate your career path. with some info on their submission guidelines. 

Below is a list of the best talent agencies for new actors, or those who want to augment their work with background roles, voiceover, and more. 

Just remember, an agent from any of the best agencies is more likely to take on an artist who has already started the footwork for finding opportunities and establishing themselves on their own. Most of the best talent agencies for new actors below accept your press kit materials via email or snail mail, and several accept postcards and invitations to check out your performances.

Always keep in mind to double check their current submission guidelines before clicking “send”!