The Agency-Actor Relationship Unplugged

Here's something you should know about franchised talent agents and agencies. When members sign on with an agency, whether that means signing on with multiple agencies as a nonexclusive freelance talent or signing exclusively with one agency, they are hiring that agency to further their own career, to help negotiate and obtain jobs for them. The talent agent has a fiduciary duty to put the member’s best interests ahead of the agency’s. In this case you, the member, are in control of your career decisions, although of course you may lean heavily on your agent’s years of experience and knowledge of the market and work available.

The legacy SAG and AFTRA franchise agreements (still separate for now) spell out various rules to protect members and regulate your relationship with your agents. Some of the most important rules include the following:

• Agents can only collect a 10-percent commission for all jobs they book, whether they are union jobs or not.
• An exclusive franchised agency agreement can only last 12-18 months in a new relationship, and up to three years for clients that have been previously represented by the same agent. The performer can decline to continue under an agreement if the agent fails to book work for the performer within a 90-day period.
• Agents can be disciplined for such rule violations as failure to promptly turn over members’ monies or advising members to break union rules against working for nonsignatories.

These are but a few of examples of protections for performers. Although you are never required to hire a talent agent, should you choose agency representation, the union requires that you work only with franchised agencies for work under union jurisdiction.

The member in turn owes their agent professionalism:

• Keep your headshots/contact information up to date. If you change your look, change your headshot.
• Promptly pay your commission. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
• Show up at auditions and sessions on time and well prepared.
• Provide your agent with the hours you work and all relevant job information. Contact your agent should you believe anything on your employment contract may be in error.

As always, if you have any questions about working with franchised agencies, please contact me at the Local office at timothy.ogren@sagaftra.org or 651-789-8990 ext. 14.

List of Current Twin Cities Franchised Talent Agencies

SAG & AFTRA Franchised
• Allensworth Entertainment Inc.   
• Meredith Models & Talent Agency 
• Moore Creative Talent Inc.  
• Wehmann Models & Talent Inc. 

AFTRA Franchised
• Caryn Models & Talent Agency