It's been suggested that I get an agent. Firstly how would I get one and secondly, why would I need one? From a very naive writer!
Agent - How, why, where?
I think you need to have produced something good.
It's like Catch 22.
Was at a comedy writers festival recently.
When you have something to sell, but be warned you probably don't
Many agents, for scriptwriters, like you to have come with a recommendation from someone they know. Maybe not all, but many. The best thing to do at first is to target producers and prod companies.
One of the main benefits of having an agent is that obviously everyone will read your stuff.
Does anyone out there who does comedy for a living actually get by without an agent?
In a word: yes.
I think Bill Murray is agentless, isn't he? I'm sure I read that there's a number that people ring with offers and he picks up the messages as and when.
Yeah, Bill Murray is notorious for not having an agent and a night mare to get hold of.
Although there are examples of people just dropping scripts through actors doors and they sign up, ie Geoffrey Rush in The Kings Speech.
Quote: Ben @ May 30 2011, 11:08 PM BSTDoes anyone out there who does comedy for a living actually get by without an agent?
Yes, me.
Actually quite a lot of stand ups make a decent living without having an agent, I think a lot of it depends on what you want an agent to do. If you just want them to book you gigs then, effectively, you are paying them to do something which you can fairly easily do yourself.
Quote: Chappers @ May 30 2011, 9:53 PM BSTI think you need to have produced something good.
It's like Catch 22.
Actually producing something good is probably not as difficult as having it accepted.
Quote: Tony Cowards @ May 31 2011, 9:05 AM BSTYes, me.
Actually quite a lot of stand ups make a decent living without having an agent,
Sure, but obviously it helps to have one if you're a writer as opposed to a live performer. Not that you can't do well without one.
Contracts are a bit of a nightmare.
You'd certainly need some advice - an agent gives you this as well as trying to get you work.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ May 31 2011, 10:32 AM BSTSure, but obviously it helps to have one if you're a writer as opposed to a live performer. Not that you can't do well without one.
True. Sorry I was just responding to the question about making a living from comedy without an agent.
I was at a seminar about comedy which involved a talk by several commissioning type people and they basically said that they only take submissions from agents, so yes, when it comes to writing it's almost impossible to get work without an agent.
It's certainly not impossible. It just depends what sort of writing work.
Quote: Lazzard @ May 31 2011, 11:34 AM BSTContracts are a bit of a nightmare.
You'd certainly need some advice - an agent gives you this as well as trying to get you work.
Also selling stuff overseas and the like and dealing with differing format options and rights. And taking you out for nice lunches.