JOIN US FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SEEKING REPRESENTATION?
HOW CAN I JOIN TALENT+PLUS / LOS LATINOS AGENCY? (SUBMISSION POLICY)
Talent+Plus/ Los Latinos Agency welcomes all submissions. We are always looking for new faces. Since we are a commercial agency, we represent real people types in all categories (character types, corporate business, moms, dads, grandparents, college students, blue collar, athletic types, fashion models, hip/urban contemporary types, seniors, kids, teens), particularly minorities.
Our age minimum is 5 years and the oldest we presently represent is 85 years old.
Talent+Plus Agency is full service and represents all ethnicities and races (Caucasian, Afro-American, and Asian).
Los Latinos is the Hispanic Division and specializes in Latino talent. You do NOT have to speak Spanish to be represented.
Talent+Plus/Los Latinos Agency only chooses the most professional and marketable performers (models and talent). We receive hundreds of submissions for representation every month, but pick only a few of the most seriously motivated and dedicated professional people we call the “cream of the crop” in talent. They have “the look” as well as the skills and abilities that clients are requesting.
A talent agency is a supermarket of talent and must have a constant influx of new faces and “looks” to accommodate new trends in advertising.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEW PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME MODELS OR ACTORS?
In this business, you need to have a flexible work schedule. All of our represented talent have full time jobs but are able to take time off during the day to go to auditions and “go-sees” for print jobs or work on a booked job.
This is not a business that will provide you with a set schedule. Most of our auditions and jobs are confirmed only 24 hours in advance and we never know when we will be calling a performer.
There is no way to measure how much time you will need to devote to this industry, but your ability to be accommodating is required. You should not enter this business unless you are willing to give 100%, which includes training and packaging like a product with professional photos and resume.
Rejection is also part of this business. A model or actor is facing overwhelming odds since they are competing with, not only people within their own agency, but with talent from other agencies. Even the most beautiful and talented performers face a fair share of rejection. You should not take it personally or you won’t last in this industry.
You may go on 20-25 different castings and still not get a booking. But you need to “keep the faith” and be patient and wait for that one opportunity when the client feels that you are exactly what they are looking for to cast in their project.
Do not enter this profession only because you want to become rich and famous. You should be motivated by a love of performing and being a part of an interesting, challenging industry, enjoying the opportunities and the people you meet along the way.
HOW DOES TALENT+PLUS/LOS LATINOS AGENCY WORK FOR YOU?
If you “make the cut”, we will promote you to the fullest extent with all of our resources and client contacts to develop a profitable business partnership.
If we accept you into the Agency, you are not only representing yourself, but you are representing Talent+Plus/Los Latinos Agency, a business that has earned the esteemed reputation of being the oldest, successful agency in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A talent agent represents actors and models and gives them an edge against an industry that tries to minimize and criticize their “look” and talent and deflate their hopes. The late, great actress Colleen Dewhurst once said that “an agent…gives the actor and model a sense of stature and dignity…the agent believes in your work when you are certain you will never work again…the agent gives the actor and model access, opportunity and support.”
Having a reputable, experienced agent makes the performer look more professional and gives them an edge in auditions over a non-represented talent. The agent is busy seeking auditions and go-sees for high paying jobs for their represented performers. They are submitting talent photos and resumes, videos, demo reels, voiceover CD’s to clients and convincing them that they MUST SEE and audition their talent or better yet, directly book them without an audition or "go-see" for a print job.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE BUSINESS WORKS?
Casting agents, producers, directors, ad agencies, photographers and companies contact me when they have a casting need. They tell me what they are looking for - ethnicity, race, gender and age range, etc. Then I send them headshots/resumes of talent who match their casting criteria. The client evaluates the submissions and then decides if they want to audition someone, set up a “go-see” for a print job or directly book them for the job without seeing them in person.
We set up the auditions/go-sees and/or bookings, making sure that all details are coordinated flawlessly. Talent+Plus/Los Latinos Agency “runs a tight ship” and all our models and talent must follow the rules of the industry to maintain the high standards we require for a mutually successful and profitable relationship.
Once a talent is booked, we receive a commission from them which is a standard rate throughout the United States. Agents receive 10% on a union job (SAG/AFTRA) and 20% for a non-union job.
HOW DO YOU FIND OUT ABOUT CASTING CALLS AND/OR BUSINESS LOOKING FOR TALENT?
Every day the phone rings with castings. Ninety percent of the jobs we work on are from repeat business. Occasionally, we solicit a company we have not previously worked with if we find out that they are seeking talent for a new casting project.
Since we have been in business for so many years, our name recognition and reputation draws clients to us to utilize our services.
WHAT IS YOUR SUBMISSION POLICY?
Talent+Plus/Los Latinos Agency ONLY accepts submissions through the US postal service.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept submissions via e-mail (unless agreed upon beforehand). Despite the efficiency and speed of e-mail, it can still be unpredictable. Because viruses are lurking just behind the next attachment, we will only accept submissions through the postal service. If you are serious about being represented by Talent+Plus/Los Latinos Agency, then please carefully follow our submission guidelines.
SEND ALL SUBMISSIONS TO: |
Talent+Plus/Los Latinos Agency
Gail Jones - Director
318 Rhine Court
Salinas,Ca. 93906
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NO HAND DELIVERED SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED
WE DO NOT HOLD OPEN CALLS IN OUR OFFICE.
NO DROP-IN APPOINTMENTS ACCEPTED.
If you do not follow the instructions, it could negatively influence our decision to work with you.
We only consider talent that live in Northern California, within 2 hours of San Francisco. We cannot seriously consider submissions from Los Angeles, out of state or out of the United States.
There is no fee to join Talent+Plus/Los Latinos Agency. However, a commission is collected once a job is booked. This is how all talent agencies work in the United States.
Please follow the submission guidelines listed below:
- For talent and models who DO have their professional photos, send a current headshot or zed card and resume and dated cover letter with a self addressed stamped envelope.
- The dated cover letter should include your home address, email address, home phone number, work phone number and cell phone number. Also, list your date of birth and age.
- For those people who DO have a current resume of any acting/modeling experience, your resume should also include training and special skills. Current sizes should also be listed. For women - your height, weight, hair and eye color, clothing sizes, bust, waist, hips and shoe size. For males - suit, shirt (neck/sleeve), inseam, waist and shoe size.
- If you do NOT HAVE a professional photograph, DO NOT INVEST IN PROFESSIONAL PICTURES until you meet with your prospective agent who will advise you on how to market yourself with the perfect headshots and portfolio pictures geared toward the commercial industry.
- In lieu of a professional photo, send a color digital snapshot. Send 2 photos if possible: a close up face shot (smiling), and a full body shot (non-smiling). Do not send your only copies unless you do not want them returned.
- Photograph against a plain light colored wall.
- Wardrobe suggestions for your photos are upscale casual and professional business attire for adults. Minimal make-up for women and no distracting jewelry. Hair should be nicely styled.
- For children, casual play clothes are fine. Solid colors in red, blue, green or purple, lavender, hot pink fuschia work well.
- If you DO NOT have a resume because you are new to the industry, send a dated cover letter (with your photos) listing your name, address, home phone number, work number, cell phone number, and e-mail address. List your statistics: height, weight, hair, eye color, clothing sizes and shoe and (shirt, neck, sleeve, inseam, waist for men) and (bust, waist, hips for women). Also state your birth date and age.
- DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE WITH THE CORRECT POSTAGE.
WILL I RECEIVE CONFIRMATION THAT THE AGENCY RECEIVED MY SUBMISSION?
Due to the high volume of submissions we receive daily, we are unable to confirm that we received your submission.
A response from our agency usually takes 2 weeks. If you do not hear from us in 3 weeks, then we may be holding your materials for future consideration. After that time, you can call our office at (831) 443-5542, Monday through Friday (3:00 PM to 5:00 PM) and we will give you an update of your status and a phone evaluation.
WHAT WILL MY CHILD NEED TO GET STARTED IF THEY ARE ACCEPTED BY THE AGENCY?
It is required by the State of California labor laws to obtain an Entertainment Work Permit from your local Department of Industrial Relations/Division of Labor Standards. The work permit is free and is needed only until they are 18 years old. The entertainment work permit must be renewed every 6 months and it is the responsibility of the parents to remember to renew it. You must send a copy of the entertainment work permit to the talent Agency to keep on file.
There will always be a studio teacher on the set of productions and they will NOT accept any excuses if the parent did not bring the child’s Entertainment Work Permit.
It is also required that all parents whose children work in the entertainment industry open a “Coogan Bank Account”. It is mandatory that parents or payroll companies put 15% of the child’s gross earnings in their Coogan Account until the child is 18 years old.
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