JOIN BROOD

We often receive calls from prospective clients, asking "if our books are open". It is our view that an agent should always have their "books", and eyes (!), open for new talent, so in that respect our "books" are always "open".

This does not mean that we want to be swamped with applications from new, prospective clients, though. Currently we receive something like 400 applications per year, more than one for every day of the year, and a good 380 of those are turned down.

If you are thinking of applying to us, please make it clear to us why you are applying;

Most of our clients are professional actors, trained at the main drama schools. We do consider actor applicants who have not had a 3 year, formal training, but if you have nothing on your CV, or if performing a complex Shakespearean monologue for us would be a major trial, then you are probably not right for Brood. If you are a recent drama school graduate, we are unlikely to take you on without seeing your work. Anyone applying as an actor must be a member of Spotlight. www.spotlight.com.

If you are a working actor who needs to change agent, for some reason, you can approach us in the strictest confidence. We will want to know your history with agents. We tend not to lose our clients, so it is important, in considering you, that we know you are a "stayer", not a "hopper".

You will see that we also represent Models, who may have a background in fashion, photography and screen Extra work. To be considered as a Model, you need to be absolutely gorgeous, and have a very good number of professional photographs, with different looks, close up face and full body, including swimwear/underwear. We sometimes take on beginners, as long as you have the photographs!

HOW TO APPLY

Please email us at broodapplication@aol.com. We much prefer emailed submissions as it is more environmentally friendly and costs nothing.

If you are an Actor, attach to your email, your Spotlight View PIN number or your CV and a variety of small jpeg headshots. Actors with Showreels on Spotlight will be considered more favourably than those without.

If you are a Model, attach your CV and a variety of professional face and body shots, small jpegs only.

All emails we receive (and can open), are replied to. When we are very busy, because we want to consider all applications properly, it takes us a few weeks to reply.

When we do reply, if we are interested in you, we may wish to come and see you in a show, or we may call you in for a meeting. All Actors will be asked to audition, and all Models will need a professonal portfolio.

WHAT WILL WE BE LOOKING FOR, IF WE MEET YOU?

If you are called in to meet us, we will be looking for talent, but not just talent. There are many very talented people who are not successful, so what do you need to carve a successful career?

We like our clients to be hungry for success, to market themselves as much as we do, and to produce top quality promotional materials. If your photos are not very good or you have no showreel, why would a TV casting director want to meet you?

Appearances matter in our business, so the more thought that has gone into your "look", the more you are likely to be noticed. No-one is physically perfect, but we are in the business of fantasy and illusion, so we always pay more attention to striking looking actors and models with wow factor. To be fit and healthy, with great skin, hair and teeth, will put you ahead of some of the others.

Personality is part of the magic mix. We like to boast that we like, almost love, all our clients. Every time we meet them we want to have a good feeling, so that we hope they can have the same effect on all Industry people who meet them. Come to your meeting with your personality. This is not as daft as it sounds, as some people forget theirs!.

Be willing to learn. No matter where you are in the business you can always learn new skills and receive advice. If we suggest ways in which we feel you can develop yourself, please take them on board. We want everyone to be a success, so all suggestions made are for constructive reasons.

Audition pieces. If we ask for audition pieces, choose something you know well, and that reflects your playing type. It may sound common sense, but it is surprising how many auditionees pick pieces from a monologue book and adopt a foreign accent.

If you score on all of the above, and if you do not clash with the playing type of any of our existing clients, we may well be able to offer you a place.

SHALL I APPLY?

Having read and understood all of the above, if you believe that you are suitable for us to consider as a client, please send us your CV and pictures. We look forward to receiving them.