Whether you’re an anchor for a national network or a meteorologist in the smallest market in the country, you should be able to easily access your TV news talent agent. What’s more, he or she should be getting right back to you.
Yet, as the industry grows and expands, an emphasis on TV news talent agent accessibility seems to be less and less of a concern. Especially with newer agents.
This is why it’s important to hire an agent with decades of experience who grasps the importance of being your support system every step of the way and helping you grow your career.
Talent Placement Is Only Just the Beginning
An increasing number of agents feel that once they place talent, their work is done. This is the case regardless of whether the talent is in a major, medium, or small market.
In reality, it’s at this point where they should be going into the next phase. And a good TV news talent agent is going to foster a creative relationship at this juncture. If your agent isn’t asking you to send him or her your work at least once per week (preferably twice) and offering written critiques, then you should start looking for another agent.
Additionally, if your agent insists on communicating only via email and never takes a phone call, this is also a red flag. It is impossible for an agent to properly coach you on your work and go over what needs to be done to make you better through an email.
Your Agent Should Be Telling You What You NEED to Hear
There are those in the news business who believe that their agent should be kissing butt while telling them everything they want to hear. And if you’re not interested in forwarding your career, you can certainly have that. But a good agent will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear.
For example, your ideal agent should be doing preliminary coaching on writing your voice and tracking your elocution. He or she will also stress the importance of on-camera presence and what you may need to change in regard to hair, make-up, and clothing.
That may sound harsh. But an agent with experience and connections knows that a vice president, news director, or general manager at a station doesn’t want to see someone out covering a tornado in a designer dress or a two-piece suit with a tie. They would encourage you to get out those high boots instead and show a willingness to get your hands dirty and your feet wet.
And while your agent should be willing to offer this level of coaching, he or she should also be transparent enough to tell you if you could benefit from a TV talent coach to help you hone areas where you may be struggling. Again, this is not an indictment. Rather, it’s an indication of how much your agent cares and wants to see you succeed.
Anything less just isn’t worth it.
Yes, TV News Agent Accessibility Is Crucial
When seeking representation, TV news talent agent accessibility and willingness to coach you should be at the top of your list.
And be sure to look into their retention rate too. Agents who truly care about the success of their clients are going to have higher retention rates than those who don’t. So it’s a tell-tale sign.
To get a sense of what such a caring and highly experienced agent looks and sounds like, contact us today. We promise you won’t regret it.
