Agents & Managers

Although agents and managers perform many of the same functions, they are not interchangeable. This section explains how each one works and where their responsibilities differ.

Many aspiring actors—and parents of young performers—assume that agents and managers perform the same job. While they share the same goal of securing auditions and bookings, they play somewhat different yet equally important roles in building a successful acting career.

Both agents and managers develop and maintain their own professional relationships with casting directors, film, television, and Broadway directors, producers, and executives at television networks and film studios. These relationships are an important part of creating further opportunities and advocating for the talent they represent. The expression, “It’s all about who you know,” matters here.

What You'll Discover

Both agents and managers actively submit talent for auditions, pitch actors to casting professionals, and work to secure employment. When they represent the same actor, they work as a team—expanding opportunities and increasing the actor's visibility throughout the industry.

Agents are licensed professionals who negotiate employment contracts, protect their clients' business interests, and maintain relationships with casting directors, producers, studios, and networks. They specialize in submitting talent for auditions, go-sees (print opportunities) and studio meetings, securing work and ensuring fair compensation and professional working conditions. Agents work directly with casting directors.

Managers focus on guiding an actor's overall career while also pursuing auditions and bookings. They help develop talent, prepare actors for representation, coordinate career strategy, communicate with agents, and ensure every opportunity to support the actor's long-term goals. They actively submit talent for auditions, go-sees and studio meetings. A manager is often the driving force behind an actor's career development, while working closely with agents to maximize opportunities. A manager typically introduces emerging talent to various agents once the manager feels the actor is, “agent ready.”

In This Lesson You'll Learn

• That both agents and managers actively seek auditions and bookings.
• The key legal and professional differences between agents and managers.
• How these professionals often work together to strengthen an actor's career.
• The truth about contracts, commissions, exclusive representation, and industry standards.
• The common mistakes actors and parents make when seeking representation—and how to avoid them.

Why This Matters

The entertainment industry is built on relationships, strategy, and teamwork. Understanding how agents and managers complement one another will help you make informed decisions and recognize quality representation. Whether you're pursuing your first representative or preparing for the next level, this lesson provides information that can save years of trial and error.