Studio B4, 3 Bradbury Street, London, N16 8JN
Tel: 020 7241 0077 Fax: 020 7241 2410
alpha@alphaactors.com

FAQ - Performers
Here are some of the questions we are frequently asked at Alpha Personal Management.

Q: What is a Co-Op Agency?
A: Primarily a group of actors who come together to represent each other in the casting marketplace. All members must be able to commit regular time and energy to the co-op. This means living close enough to London in order come in to our office and act as agent for the other members at least once a week and in addition possessing basic office/computer skills.

Q: How can I join?
A: We accept submissions from professionally trained actors from NCDT/CDS colleges OR Actors who have worked within/are working in the profession (i.e. paid work with recognised companies/directors and not purely profit-share roles).

We also require all candidates to have full Equity membership (or student moving to full asap) and have to have their details listed in Spotlight each year.

We do not accept submissions from people working within the walk-on/extra/amateur fields. Please do not be tempted to "pad-out" or enhance the credits on your CV, it simply brings the integrity of the remaining content into question. "your attached CV should tell all the truthful facts about your experience and skills and your photo should look like you." (Sophie Marshall, The Actors' Yearbook 2006).

Q: What if I am in a show that is a profit share?
A: If the profit share company is recognised and/or you feel confident that the role and production are of a sufficient professional standard to show your skills to good effect then please do send an invitation along with your 10x8 and CV.

Bear in mind that first impressions count, so be discerning with invitations/show/voicereels that you send to any agents or casting personnel.

Do not be offended if an agent attends anonymously or leaves at the interval - unfortunately it is a fact of the industry and can be for any number of reasons (time constraints and to avoid pressurised encounters after the show to name a few).

The important thing is that you have made them aware of your work. If they get the opportunity to attend, like what they see and need to follow up your submission, they will get in touch. A follow-up letter of any good reviews you receive is perfectly acceptable.

Alpha Personal Management require at least two weeks’ notice to attend a performance.

Q: Isn't it a bit of a catch 22?
A: Please remember all agencies require 'market ready' actors whose skills they can sell to the industry. An agency's reputation would be damaged by sending out clients who are untested (have not trained/have no real professional work experience).

Casting Directors trust that submissions from agencies will be appropriate. Agents therefore need to ensure that their clients have all the necessary skills to perform to their best abilities when called to a casting/get the job. It is harsh but at the end of the day professional acting is a business and actors are the product.

Q: Will you return my photo/CV/showreel?
A: If you supply an SAE (correct postage for your documents) we will return your property after we have evaluated your submission.

Q: How do I become a professional actor?
A: We would suggest that you find out exactly what the acting industry will demand of you before you spend a lot of time and money training.

It cannot be emphasised enough that the reality of a 'jobbing' performer (actor or actress), is not the same as being a drama student, famous actor, celebrity or 'wannabee'.

We would urge you to speak to any professional performers that you know in order to discover the everyday reality of the job. If you don't know any or have never spoken to a performer how can you hope to realistically understand what the industry requires?

Essentially, enjoying the craft of acting as a hobby, as an audience member or even through speaking to drama students will always make acting seem very exciting and enticing but none of these encounters reveal the harsh realities of the acting industry, which performers have to work in.

When you factor in the expense of attending drama college and the likelihood of paid employment afterward, choosing to be a professional actor needs serious consideration. As Lynn Gardiner stated in her Theatre Blog in The Guardian (June 2010) '...it is also a concern that many of these courses offer their students little in the way of career advice and development. After taking their money and providing the requisite teaching hours, the courses simply send students out to sink or swim.'

Please consider this when pursuing your 'dream' and deciding which college (if any) to attend. As the saying goes...the best way to turn your dreams into reality is to...wake up. The acting world is not a meritocracy based on your talent alone. Social skills, networking skills, physical attractiveness, previous industry connections/experience and the ability to support yourself, whilst not working or whilst taking part in non-paid acting 'work', all play into whether the industry is willing to employ your product. Passively expecting to be 'discovered' is a naive and very expensive waste of your precious time.

Attending drama college is a short and single part of a much bigger picture. Drama colleges and the professional acting industry work independently of each other with some cross-over through visiting tutors and the audience at the graduation show. There is no guarantee that training for 1, 2 or 3 years will result in anything more than the occasional bit of work and lots of student debt. If you are considering university - notice how many people in powerful positions in the theatre trained at Cambridge or Oxford, despite the fact that neither offer any training in acting or directing. In essence, choose your training carefully and be aware that the industry tends to likes young, beautiful and motivated actors not naive people who wait for their talent to be discovered.

Have you auditioned for the National Youth Theatre or National Youth Music Theatre? These two prestigious institutions have been the starting point for many household names today. They offer training, experience and exposure that could prove very useful when trying to establish acting credentials. Another opportunity open to young actors in London aged 17-30 are the Masterclasses at the Haymarket Theatre.

A crucial difference to take note of is that being an actor is not the same as an actress. There are differences in the number of jobs available to each and there is also the matter of actresses having more difficulty in working past the age of 40-45.

In order to get as much exposure to different opinions and experiences before trying for college contact your local theatres to see if they run any youth theatre groups where, in addition to getting to act, you may be able to contact/talk to professional performers/other industry professionals e.g. directors/casting directors. Also consider asking if any actors/actresses from your local Equity branch meeting (held monthly around the country) would be willing to talk to you at a youth theatre group or via your school careers office. It shows real motivation and this is an excellent personal habit to develop - actors need a lot of motivation.

The Stage (printed weekly) keeps you informed of developments within the business as a whole. Another publication to read is Theatre Record (fortnightly), which keeps you up to date with what is going on in the world of theatre across the UK. Visit your local library to access these if you can't afford to subscribe. If you are going to join the profession it is advisable to know what is happening in your (future) industry.

Bonnie Gillespie's website and blog (although focussed on the US acting market) has some fantastic information about the kind of (non-acting) but essential research work actors need to do consistently. This clarifies what you could be doing in order to be as focussed and market ready as possible, giving your career the best possible chance.

Useful books:
- An Actors Guide to Getting Work by Simon Dunmore
- The Actors Yearbook by Simon Dunmore
- Make Acting Work by Chrys Salt

You can also visit the Spotlight website for other useful information

© 2008 Alpha Personal Management