Right out of grad school, I was hip pocketed by a pretty fancy boutique management company. Truth be told, I wasn’t ready for those kind of reps back then.
These managers had high profile clients on their roster—which meant they had great relationships with agents, casting directors, studio execs, and production companies.
But they didn’t really have the time develop talent. They were basically throwing spaghetti at the wall with me and hoping that something would stick.
Still, I felt honored to be chosen, to share a roster with some incredibly successful actors that I admired. . I put a lot of pressure on myself and spent most of my time trying to prove to them that they had made the right choice in repping me. I was in a constant state of anxiety—afraid that they would drop me at any moment.
My very first audition was for a series regular role in a comedy pilot. As I was reaching my car in the parking lot post audition, I received a call that I was invited to a producer session the following afternoon.
I had no idea what that even meant. I had never had a TV audition before that day. The managers didn’t take the time to tell me and I was too afraid to ask.
Walking into that room full of producers was a blur. Somehow, I managed to be charming and made them laugh. But it didn’t go anywhere. How could it? Betting on an unproven talent without even a co-star credit would’ve been a wild move on their part and I definitely wasn’t ready for that type of on-set responsibility.
Still I felt like things were off to a great start with these managers.
The next meeting they arranged for me was with a VP of Casting for a major network. A general—remember those? They don’t happen as much anymore.
It was exciting to get to go on a lot and be escorted to a fancy office full of posters from some of my favorite TV shows. I shared my story. She listened warmly. I walked away with my complimentary small water bottle in hand not quite sure what that meeting even meant. I was never called in to audition for anything that network was producing and I didn’t know how to leverage that contact and didn’t stay in touch afterwards. They have since retired.
Stil, I continued to get pretty great auditions—mostly series regulars and guest stars.
But I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know how to audition for TV and each casting office felt like a new puzzle I had to solve—something that would make more sense after getting my ADHD diagnosis.
One time, I prepped all night for a procedural audition, practicing my sides with my phone camera. But when I got to the casting office, there was no camera. It was a just pre-read. I had never even heard of those before. The thought of having to prove myself to the casting office before they even pressed record shook my confidence, and I bombed the audition. It would be years before that office called me back.
Frustrated with how TV auditions were going, I started to really lean into LA theatre.
I did theatre shows back-to-back—working with playwrights who were writing for TV. Every month, I sent email updates to my managers about which casting directors had been in the audience or what TV shows the playwrights were staffed on, hoping they could use that info to pitch me for future TV roles.
But nothing was happening for me on the TV front. After that first producer session, I never got another callback while repped by them. They never sent me on another comedy audition, which really confused me.
When I tried to advocate for myself, suggesting we focus on comedy auditions, they told me I should consider moving to NY to work with playwrights who were writing for TV—but that’s exactly what I was already doing in LA.
When I reminded them of the relationships I’d built here and the updates I’d been sending, one of them sighed and, with a condescending tone, said, “Oh yes… your emails.” Like they couldn’t be bothered to read them because they were too long.
That was the moment I knew I had to leave them.
It was scary, but I moved on to a smaller agency with a more hands-on manager. I stayed with them for a couple of years, then went through two more managers before landing my current one.
Looking back, here are 3 lessons I hope you take away from my experience:
Don’t put your reps on a pedestal. They’re your equals, working alongside you to achieve your career goals. Don’t be afraid to reach out, ask questions, check in, schedule quarterly meetings, and set goals together. This is part of running your business. If they chose to work with you, it means they believe in you. Quit putting extra pressure on yourself to prove you belong. You are enough.
You have the final say in your career path. They might offer suggestions, but you’re the ultimate decision-maker. Just because they say you need to cut your hair. move to New Mexico, or go fi-core to book a job that doesn’t mean they’re right. At the end of the day, you have to stay authentic to who you are and do what’s best for you.
Know when it’s time to go: It’s rare to stay with the same rep your entire career. The truth is, you’ll likely outgrow them at least once. I know that might sound crazy, especially if you’re still searching for your first agent or manager. But remember: the only constant in this industry is change. So, how do you know when it’s time to move on? It’s different for everyone, but it often starts as a quiet, uneasy feeling in your gut that builds to anxiety every time you talk to them. Trust your instincts and when the time comes find reps who align and support your vision. Just because it glitters, it doesn’t mean it’s gold for you.
I’m not going to lie, my first five years in LA were rough. The learning curve from student of acting to working actor was steep. But I don’t regret it—it led me to where I am today. I love my current reps. They get me, root for me, and make me feel seen and heard. And that’s the kind of reps I wish for you.
If you are looking for support on your career journey, check out our Bridge for Actors course program to help you bridge the gap from student to working actor. Alyshia and I put everything I wish knew back then, so you can be more equipped to meet the opportunities that might come your way.
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