TOP 40 Reputable Commercial Talent Agengies in Los Angeles

Wendy Alane Wright is a Hollywood Talent Manager with WAW Entertainment. Her clients have appeared in numerous national commercials, movies, webisodes, short films, and on television networks such as ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, BIO, Lifetime, plus many more. Previous to being a Manager and a Talent Agent at Burn Down Entertainment, she assisted many high profile Managers, Agents and Publicists in the careers of Neil Patrick Harris, Johnny Galecki, Sarah Michelle Geller, The Four Tops, The Bee Gees, Meatloaf, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Guttenberg, The Cranberries Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, and Neil Diamond. Wendy is also a Recording Artist, Actress, Author and Music Producer all  giving her a 360-degree perspective of the industry.

List of 42 Reputable Commercial Talent Agengies in Los Angeles

Are you interested in being in Print and Commercials? Great! I have compiled a list of 28 of the most REPUTABLE commercial agencies and agents in Los Angeles for you. First I will answer the basic questions.

DO I NEED PROFESSIONAL PICTURES?

Yes. You should get some professional headshots taken. My suggestions are Marc Cartwright, Stephanie Girard, Richard Wright, and Michael Helms.

AFTER MY PHOTO SESSION WHAT SHOULD I DO?

1. Create a Profile on LACASTING.COM

2. Upload your pictures to your LA Casting profile.

3. Create a Model Mayehm Account

Upload your pictures to your Model Mayhem profile

DO I NEED TRAINING FOR COMMERCIALS?

Yes. I suggest you take ON-Camera Commercial Acting Classes with any (or each) of the following teachers:

Judy Kain at Keep It Real Acting

Carolyn Barry

Terry Berland

ARE THERE MODELING SCAMS?

The agencies I have listed below are 1000% Legit. So start there.

Scams do unfortunately exist so be careful. NEVER give anyone money upfront! Legit Talent Agencies NEVER charge up front fees for any reason. If you are asked for money up front, simply walk away. An example of a modeling agency scam is when an agency claims to have work but they are really trying to sell photo shoots and modeling courses to aspiring models. A legit agency will only make a profit from agency commission off the work they book for you.

My company WAW ENTERTAINMENT talent management in Los Angeles is always looking for talented & beautiful kids ages 6-14 for Film, TV, Webseries and Commercials. If you live in Los Angeles or plan to be here for 2-3 months between Feb-July or Sept-Nov. submit headshots and Resumes to wawentertainment@yahoo.com

Please include: Photos of your child, age, height, weight, city and state you live in and a 30 second video of your child talking about something important to them. Sports, friends, school, food, movies etc. You can record the video on your iPhone, upload it to You Tube, mark video as unlisted and include the link in your email to us. If we are interested we will contact you. We want to get an idea of their personality. We look forward to reviewing your submissions.

LIST OF 40+ REPUTABLE COMMERCIAL TALENT AGENCIES

Abrams                                                             Jeremy Apody
AKA                                                                  Doug Ely, Julie Fulop
Amatruda, Benson, and Assoc.                         Kimberly Gola
Amsel, Eisenstadt & Frazier/Pinnacle              Gloria Hinojosa, Milton Perea
Angel City                                                         Mimi Mayer
Aqua                                                                  Courtney Peldon
Arlene Thornton and Associates                       Janet Tscha
Avalon Artists                                                   Craig Holzberg
Beverly Hecht                                                   Teresa Valente-Dahlquist
BiCoastal                                                           Greta Hanley
Bobby Ball                                                         Brandy Wilkerson-Caldwell
Brady, Brannon, and Rich                              Judy Rich or Pat and David Brady
Brass Artists                                                       Randy Cabrera
CESD                                                                 David Ziff, Carol Lynn Sher 
Clear Talent Group                                             Allison Sweeney or Raynard Pearson
Coast to Coast                                                   Hugh Leon
Commercial Talent                                           Neil Kreppel, Blair Taylor
Sonia Warren Brandon's Commercial Unlimited  
                                                                           Sonia Warren Brandon
Daniel Hoff                                                        Daniel Hoff

DDO                                                                   Marlene Sutton, Matt Taylor
DPM                                                                   Daniel P. Mulheran 
Envy                                                                   Daniel Mahan
First Class Talent                                                Cynthia Barry, Cheryl Jackson
Flick Commercials                                             Tina Kiratsoulis
Imperium 7                                                         Tracy Mapes
Independent Artists                                          Laura Fogelman
Innovative Artists                                             Marcia Hurwitz or Cher Van Amburg
Jana Luker Agency                                             Jana Luker 
Howard Talent West                                           Lynn Eriks
Jaime Ferrar Agency (JFA)                                Jamie Ferrar, Joey Robson
KMR                                                                  Cindy Kazarian, Mark Measures 
LA Talent                                                            Pam Loar
Lemon Lime                                                        Robin Harrington or Chaim Magnum
LB Talent                                                            Jackie Lewis
LW1                                                                     Sean Robinson
Mavrick                                                               Brad Diffley
M. Greene and Associates                                    Michael Greene
Momentum                                                          Garry Purdy

Osbrink                                                                Angela Strange
Paloma Model & Talent                                      Alyssa Brennan                      
Pantheon/Tag Models                                          Patricia Dawson or Tag Turner
Special Artists Agency                                        Alix Gucovsky
Sutton, Barth, Venari                                        Pam Sparks
Tilmar Talent                                                       Elton Bolden

Wild Models Talent Agency                                Kurt Clements

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HEADSHOTS

When emailing an agency send your BEST three photos. One full body, one great headshot, and bathing suit, athletic wear or business attire. Photos should be headshot size 8x10, or comp card. Be sure to send the photos "ATTENTION SAM JONES or whichever AGENT you are sending it to. Do not expect to get your photos back if you mail hard copies. 

 

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

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Dear Mr. Jones,

Hi my name is Lucy Stevens. I am an actress in Memphis, Tennessee. For the past 3 years I have been studying acting at the Horowith Acting Academy and I take on-camera commercial technique with Judy Kain at Keep It Reel.

I recently booked a commercial for Pet Smart and starred as Anne Frank in “The Diary Of Anne Frank” at the Alliance Theater. Attached is my Headshot and Resume for your consideration. 

I would love to set up a meeting with you see if I may be a fit for your roster.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Lucy Stevens

www.lucystevens.com

(555) 555-5555

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KEEP YOUR COVER LETTER SIMPLE

Keep your cover letter it that simple, to the point and professional. People do not need your life story, nor do they want to hear you begging for them to sign you. That will surely get your letter tossed in the trash. Remember, professional people want to work with other professionals. So always be professional. That means keep your personal life out of it. 

SEND YOUR RESUME AS A PDF

Make sure you attach your headshot and resume to the email or in the envelope if you are mailing it. Be sure your resume is sent as a PDF and not a word document, otherwise the words will come out all over the page and look terrible. That is not good first impression. NOTE: ALWAYS Email the email to yourself FIRST to see how it looks. Check the links, check the PDF. Check it over again before you send it.

  

GENERAL RULES OF THUMB

When attending agency appointments you must be on time. That means get there EARLY. Find your parking, bring quarters, give yourself plenty of time to relax and sit in the waiting room for 5 -10 minutes. Wear a minimum of makeup. Dress to impress. Leave your problems at the door! Meaning, come with a beautiful personality and warm smile. 

WHAT TO SAY DURING THE INTERVIEW

Be positive and up beat. Don't talk negatively about anyone or anything. If you have had bad experiences with managers or agents in the past do NOT mention them at all. Keep the meeting friendly and light. Be ready to answer where you have trained, what commercial acting classes you are currently in,  and be prepared to do a cold reading in their office. If you don't know what a cold reading is, or what commercial copy is then get yourself to an on-camera commercial acting class and find out. Agents are looking for trained professionals. Get trained and be professional in your meeting.

SIGNING WITH AN AGENT

Most agency contracts are 1 year, with an out clause at 6 months if you haven't been offered a legit job by an employer.

SHOOTING NEW PICTURES

Your agent may choose additional shots from your photo session and ask you to upload them to your La Casting and/or Casting Frontier accounts. 

WILL I EVER NEED NEW PICTURES

Likely. Over time your agent may ask for more headshots. Often agents will give you a list of reputable photographers they work with and ask you to shoot with one of them to get new pictures. This is standard. The cost will be between $300-$500.  

So this information should get you off to a great start on your commercial acting career:)

For more Talent Manager Secrets you can read my e-books:

I looking forward to continue to mentor guide you as you build a successful career in Show Business!

See you On The Red Carpet!

Stay Close to me...

Wendy Alane Wright

The Hollywood Talent Manager

www.secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com

wawentertainment@yahoo.com

Twitter: WAW_Wendy

Facebook: Secrets Of A Hollywood Talent Manager

Are Talent Showcases A Scam?

A parent recently sent me this email: "Wendy, I have a question. I've spent quite a bit of money on an agency in Memphis, TN to get my son into modeling/acting. I'm just wondering if things like this usually cost $ upfront or am I getting scammed? HELP PLEASE!"

HERE IS MY ANSWER: Parents, if you have a child you want to get into modeling or commercials, you should be able to send his/her picture to any talent agency for the cost of postage. If they are interested in your child they will ask to meet you and the child and evaluate their skill level, personality and your attitude. If all three are agreeable to the agency, they will typically sign your child to a 1 year contract. Next they will submit your child's picture to casting directors to try to get them auditions or casting opportunities. Sometimes they use the pictures you give them. Usually not.

They should not be charging ANY kind of up front fee. Period. Now realize early on, after they have been signed to an agency or manager, your child will need professional pictures to submit to casting directors. Typically agencies give parents a list of photographers they recommend you shoot with. Once you have chosen which photographer you prefer you go get professional pictures taken of your child. The agent would then look at them, pick a few of their favorites and use them to suggest your child for potential projects. Be wary of any agency that makes you choose a specific photographer or shoot with their photographer. Legit agencies don't care where you get the shots just as long as they are good and they can use them.

If your child is selected to do a project, you will be paid and the agent will be paid 10% of whatever you make. That is the only way it works. No legit agency takes upfront money, ever. Agencies are paid ONLY if your child works. 

There are vultures in this business preying on the dreams of parents and children who are entering show business. You can rely on me and my blogs to always guide you in the right direction. I would also like to suggest you get your information from these reputable sources as well:

CHILDREN IN FILM, BIZ PARENTS and HOLLYWOOD MOM BLOG.

Now that being said, there are showcases across the country that take place where a parent pays (sometimes handsomely) for the child to attend audition for managers, agents and casting directors. To be clear this can cost hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars. The event is to give children an opportunity to be seen by legit industry people. And yes, the person putting it on is making a profit from the event. Fees are involved here because Agents, Manager and Casting Directors are always paid hundreds of $$ to attend, so parents are charged so these people can be paid. And the space needs to be rented, food needs to be provided for the showbiz reps. The more industry pros they bring in, the more expensive the cost of the show case will be. Also the more kids that sign up, the more profit there is in it for the organizer. Some events are terrific some not so much.

Now many times a kiddo with talent, or a great look will be noticed by the professionals in the room and can get an agent, manager or even audition with a casting director. However, the majority of kids are over looked for a multitude of reasons including; the child is not talented enough, not practiced enough, not good enough, mumbles, doesn't sing in key, looks down the whole time, poor eye contact, etc. 

On the other hand…. a child may get chosen for representation if they have great look, do something funny in the reading, are cute, or quirky, different…or something about a child just appeals to a specific industry pro. Recently, I attend a great showcase with top agents, managers and casting directors. I saw about 75 kids and of them 5 amazing kids!  However,  MOST of the children needed way more acting training. I often follow up with parents of kids that I really am interested in managing. 

Remember though we see thousands of kids every year. We can always tell when a child is ready to be there. Parents never can tell. Every parent thinks their kid is special and ready for the big time. Do your child a favor, get them some acting lessons for kids and definitely some improvisation classes for kids so they have some training and can do better in the room with industry pros. Most kids without Improvisation training are too stiff. Stiff kids don't get agents and managers. And please, if you are not a professional acting teacher, do NOT coach your child on acting. You are more likely to mess them up rather than help. Get your kids into real acting classes with professional acting teachers who know what they are doing. Then your child will do much better!

So yes, showcases are paid events. Money exchanges hands in order for a child to attend. But signing with an agency should cost you ZERO $$. And if you don't have money to spend enrolling your child in paid showcases, just make a list of potential agencies, have some good pictures taken of your child and send them to child agents. You can even send a school photo. or take one yourself. Just be sure your child is clean, dressed nice and has great energy in the photo. No blurry pics, or runny noses, no kids hanging from a tree or upside down. Just straight forward, against a blank wall, looking at the camera, smiling, happy, friendly or even serious.

That alone could get you meetings with agencies without ever having to spend another dime. 

WATCH THIS VIDEO: Are Talent Showcases a Scam?

Here is my e-Book for PARENTS with specific instructions for how to get your child into the business:

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY $10

Wendy Alane Wright

The Hollywood Talent Manager

www.secrestsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com