Stop Whining. I mean, waiting.

I keep hearing people whining that all they need is someone to see their talent or believe in them.  I get it.  I totally do.  But it's not going to work that way.  So, this post is for the actors/writers/whoevers whose sole mission is to find an agent or an opportunity:

Statistically speaking, you aren't going to get an agent by a blind submission.  You probably won't get one from paid workshops and showcases.  You also aren't going to get an agent if you have no credits.  Furthermore, you aren't going to get a literary agent to read your screenplay if you have no credits.  They probably aren't gong to read your screenplay even if you HAVE credits.  Really, though, that doesn't matter.  You'll lose your mind if you view having representation as some huge milestone.

So, stop waiting.  Also, stop spending money on freaking workshops and seminars.  Maybe it feels proactive to take a course or workshop to learn someone else's secrets to success, but you're just delaying the actual work.  (*Not that there isn't stuff to be learned from people's workshops and seminars, but, unless you plan to actually USE the things you've learned...  You're wasting money.  There aren't shortcuts.)

For actors, having an agent isn't (automatically) going to get you auditions.  Casting directors already have their favorite actors.  The producers and directors have their favorite actors, as well.  Just because you have an agent, it doesn't mean you're getting through the door any easier.  So stop struggling to find an agent.  If it's that hard for you to get an agent,  then more than likely, it's going to be that hard for you to get auditions, also.

So, I guess my piece of uplifting advice is that you can do other things to keep yourself sane.  Create your own work.  Seriously.  As an actor, you all think you're great, right?  You all think you're great enough to work, right?  Well, where the hell is your evidence?  Credits, a reel?  You don't need an agent for that.  You need your own evidence before you get an agent.  It's not that hard to create your own work.  There are writers that need their work created.  There are directors that want to direct for their own reel.  Team up.  Put up your own short, feature, web series, whatever.  Submit it to festivals.  Do the SAG paperwork.  You can Taft Hartley yourself or others, get IMDb credit, build your resume and your reel, get experience, and make new friends all in one shot.  Guarantee you're a hell of a lot more valuable to agents when you're already working.

Don't forget that the people you want to hire you want MONEY.  Are you worth money?  Probably not if you have no credits and no reel.  If you're REALLY that talented, you'd have proof.  So, create your own proof.  And stop whining.  Please.

One last note.  When you do create your own work, we (I) don't need the twitter play by play and RT'd brown nosing convention.  Fucking obnoxious.