LA agents: what do most agencies look for?

Question:any LA agents out there that can give me any tips on what i should put in a submission to an LA agency? tips? what do most agencies look for in a 13 year old girl? i'm 13 but petite and most people tell me i look younger than 13. so do i have any hope on getting with an LA agency for acting? acting is the part i like, submissions is the part im having trouble on.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: any LA agents out there that can give me any tips on what i should put in a submission to an LA agency? tips? what do most agencies look for in a 13 year old girl? i'm 13 but petite and most people tell me i look younger than 13. so do i have any hope on getting with an LA agency for acting? acting is the part i like, submissions is the part im having trouble on.

Well, I'm a producer/Director from L.A. and Vancouver, and have plenty of experience with agents since I had one when I was 13-15, after searching frantically for about a year, I got just an interview, and was turned down. I eventually got my way into the acting scene when I got a little bit more experience. Agencies still haven't changed a bit.

There is so much you need, mostly experience.

How much experience do you have?
What does your resume look like/how extensive is it?

The thing that mostly catches agents' attention nowadays, is the demo reel.
What does yours look like? How long is it? Is it professionally edited?

Do you live in metro LA, or LA county? (this is a big difference to agents)

Do you have a ride to all of your auditions? Can you miss an hour or two of school once a week?

(these are all questions agents ask you)

Also you're going to want to choose an agency that is well established, this will help you in two ways;
More established agencies know the more established casting agents and directors, thus getting you more auditions and better auditions.

Because agents come and go like the tides of Santa Monica, and agents just out of film school or just starting out often go under in less than a year, many are even unfit to handle an agency and are not certified by any board, they simply tell you they are an agent.

There are also several types of agencies,

Principal actor agencies,
Acting/modelling agencies,
Extras agencies,
Commercial agencies,

And the sizes of agencies,
A small boutique agency?
Or a Disney affiliated agency?
-The difference?
Boutique agencies handle independant projects aswell as features, meaning your face could end up in a film festival as well as on the big screen. Also, the larger agencies offer less one-on-one client time due to more clients. Thus leading to more auditions with 10,000 kids, as opposed to less auditions with 500 kids, take your pick, they both have their drawbacks.
I usually tell actors that are not sure of which agency to go with to choose the boutique agencies.
Boutique = Oscars,
Disney= Teen choice awards,
Kids from the oscars last forever, whereas teen choice kids are a dime a dozen, and ALSO come and go like the tides of Santa Monica and are replaced by new fresh teen faces each year.
With the teen agencies, they pretty much make sure your career is over once you hit 24.

To find a suitable agency, check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) If they agency you are contemplating is nowhere to be seen? Better forget about them all together.

Anyways, there is so much more to be explained, that I can't put all down on here, so if you have any more questions feel free to Private message me. :)

Your marketability. It's about money and if they can't market you they work and get nothing in return.

You're going to need a parent and transportation available at all times in Los Angeles, be willing to travel to location (that will be provided) and have the ability to buy a Union card if requires $2,500 in one payment.