Acting Agent vs. Manager: What’s the Difference?
Whether you’re new to the acting industry or a seasoned professional, understanding how to best navigate and advance your career can be a challenge.
For this reason, it is not uncommon to seek external support through professionals such as an acting agent and/or manager.
But how do you know which of these to choose and are they really so different? Can you have one without the other or is it best to engage both?
In this guide, we’ll delve into the differences between an acting manager and an acting agent, looking at their expertise, responsibilities and more. So you can make the most informed choice and support your future success as an actor.
Defining Individual Roles
Both agents and managers play crucial parts in an actor’s career trajectory. While there may be some crossover in what they do, in reality, they each serve distinct purposes and offer unique services.
Acting Agent
An acting agent, also sometimes referred to as a talent agent or theatrical agent, is a professional in the entertainment industry who represents actors and helps to secure opportunities for them.
Acting agents may work independently, but more typically work for talent agencies. Serving as a go-between, they handle communication with casting directors, producers, and other industry professionals on behalf of their acting clients.
Negotiating contracts and actively securing employment opportunities for their clients is their specialty and primary responsibility.
Manager
Conversely, a manager is more focused on and skilled in providing career guidance, strategic planning, and personal representation to actors.
Unlike agents, managers do not negotiate contracts or seek to procure specific job opportunities for their clients.
Instead, they focus on developing their clients’ careers through a variety of measures.
This may look like offering guidance on career decisions, developing a branding strategy, encouraging better networking, and setting out long-term goals with a plan for achieving them.
Setting Them Apart – Key Differences
To better demonstrate how each of these industry professionals operates and how they can support you, we’ve outlined some key differences below.
Representation & Negotiation
Acting agents can be highly beneficial in helping an actor secure job opportunities. They generally have a vast network and valuable connections with casting directors and production companies.
Leverage these relationships, they can increase your success in booking auditions, make you aware of unique opportunities and help you to secure roles. Experts in negotiating contracts on behalf of their clients, they are also best placed to lock in better remuneration and favourable conditions on set.
Managers are less concerned with hunting down job opportunities and will rarely be involved in contractual negotiations. Their goal is to guide you to success through other measures, marketing you well, helping you set goals and strategise the next steps.
Scope Of Services
Acting agents specialise in the business side of an actor’s career, they want to maximise your earning potential and are less concerned about whether this aligns with your goals or career development.
It’s all about securing you work and getting your name out there as much as possible.
While managers also want your visibility heightened, but will often be more selective about how this is achieved. They’re much more focused on image and how this plays into your long-term success.
Invested in you on a more personal level, managers often provide more emotional support than an agent, taking a hands-on and holistic approach to your overall growth in the industry.
Qualifications & Regulation
In Australia, acting agents and managers do not require any specific qualifications or licensing to operate. They are, however, regulated by state laws and industry bodies.
This means that they must adhere to strict legal, ethical and professional standards regarding things such as commission rates, fee structure, payment deadlines, superannuation, taxation and more.
As per the Entertainment Industry Regulation Act 2020, how these regulations are applied will depend on exactly which services or responsibilities the agent or manager offers to you as their client.
Payment Structure
Acting agents typically earn a commission based on the income generated from the jobs they secure for their clients. The standard commission rate for acting agents in Australia is 10% though there can be variations to this depending on your specific agreement.
Managers may also operate on a commission-based or flat-fee structure, although their fees are not as closely regulated.
As per the legislation, a performer representative which refers to both managers and agents, can only charge additional fees if additional services are provided and a formal agreement has been entered into.
It should be noted that joining fees, audition fees or retention fees are not permitted to be charged by either of these representatives as outlined in the Entertainment Industry Regulation Act 2020.
Better Together? The Benefits Of A Collaborative Relationship
Ultimately, as each of these industry professionals performs quite different roles, collaboration between the two can be necessary for an actor’s success.
The merging of both skill sets can facilitate a comprehensive or more holistic approach to achieving success as an actor, leading to more strategic career decisions, better opportunities, and greater career growth for an actor.
Just as we have talked about in past articles regarding agencies and managers, selecting representation with a proven history of success and a willingness to work with others is essential.
Should you find yourself with an agent and manager who cannot agree or work together effectively, it is recommended to resolve this as soon as possible for the benefit of your career.
What This Means For You As An Actor
So where does this leave you as an actor who is unsure whether representation is necessary or undecided as to whether to choose an agent or manager?
It’s no secret that to thrive in the dynamic world of entertainment, actors will, at some point, need to rely on the expertise and guidance of professionals such as agents or managers.
Knowing which is best suited to you will usually come down to an evaluation of what is happening in your career at that time. While many actors begin with an agent to gain better momentum, if you are already on an upwards trajectory in your career, a manager may be the best option for representation.
No matter which you choose, at some point it is advisable to engage both an agent and a manager as they work best in collaboration with one another.
With the right team in place, navigating the complexities of the industry with confidence and clarity becomes far easier to achieve. Heping to position actors for long-term success and greater fulfilment in their careers.
Prepare For Success At Every Stage With The Actors Pulse
Wherever you are in your career as an actor, The Actors Pulse is an ideal place from which to gain valuable guidance, expert advice and further advance your skillset.
With the support of our highly experienced team of acting coaches, you can best position yourself for success and make yourself a sought-after talent that both agencies and managers will be keen to represent.
Learn important information regarding industry standards, your rights as an actor and other essential details alongside a comprehensive curriculum designed to help you thrive.
We equip you with the technique and training needed to confidently undertake a variety of roles and navigate the challenges this industry represents.
The leading school for the Meisner Technique in the Southern Hemisphere, we offer unmatched education and opportunities for our students.
Call 0414 475 515 today to learn more or to book a place in one of our popular course offerings.
Billy Milionis is one of the few Australians to have ever studied under the legendary master teacher, the late Sanford Meisner. Billy has also studied story structure and scene analysis techniques with John Truby and later at UCLA. He has also spent several years doing improvisation in Hollywood with the L.A. Connection. In addition, he trained in the technique of Stella Adler, Practical Aesthetics and Lee Strasberg’s method.