Starting your career in Dayton, Ohio you should find yourself a good agent first and foremost. Reach out to the actor’s unions like SAG-AFTRA and ask for a list of franchised agents. It will be in your best interest to work with a franchised talent agency because any agency that is non-franchised may be more likely to be a con artist rather than a legitimate agency. You certainly don’t want to lose money on something that will end up delaying your progress in your career. A real agent or talent manager will never ask you for up front money, they get paid when you do.
Once you have found a list of talent agencies that you have an interest in, in Dayton, Ohio it is time to take your next step and start marketing yourself as an actor or actress. You will need to have your headshot, your acting resume and a one-page cover letter. Your mission at this point is to get a talent agent to agree to meet up with you in person to be evaluated as a potential client.
Your headshot should be done well so you capture the agency’s attention. Your resume should show how serious and experienced you are and your cover letter is your introduction. Always make sure you have the correct spelling of an agent and the agency along with the correct mailing address. To improve your chances of getting an agent quickly, you should mail your package to every union-franchised agency. The best time to wait is ten days, then start contacting each agency asking for a meet and greet.