The meeting took place in the conference room with Donna and the four other agents that handle all of the actors. I felt so relieved that Chris was there with me as my cheerleader and indispensable "wing man." How intimidating would it be to sit alone in front of five agents who are trying to discern whether you are talented, experienced, or deserving enough to warrant their time and energy in representing you? Fortunately for me, the whole experience felt more like a conversation than an interrogation because Chris is well-versed in the art of small-talk. They talked about their colleagues in the industry, the current lack of new original scripts, even the latest soccer scores (during which point I was trying to pretend I wasn't entirely lost). The meeting lasted almost an hour, and I had the opportunity to shine and be myself within a conversation that wasn't entirely focused on my professional credits or specific goals for my career.

Thanks to my NYC agent and my saving-grace-manager in LA, I now have a new agent in Hollywood that is excited to be a part of my team! Within an hour of leaving the office, Donna called Chris to express her interest in signing me as a new client, and invited me to bring in some head shots and fill out the necessary paperwork. Now that I have an agent just in time for pilot season, let's hope there are enough new television scripts to warrant some auditions. And what did I learn through this agency interview process? Well, with some silver shoes, a brilliant wing man, and a thoughtfully refined handshake, everything else becomes a breeze.

Arielle Jacobs, My Rising Star
		About the author:
		Arielle Jacobs originated the role of Gabriella Montez in the world premiere musical production of High School Musical, and went on to star in the first national tour of this blockbuster hit adaptation.
	Read More >>