Episode 6 / Richard Leavey, an agent with Collective Agents
/Richard Leavey, an agent with Collective Agents, describes how a collective of agencies works, the advantages of a collective representing not just actors but creatives across the whole entertainment industry, the state of play in the industry today and how actors should approach their headshots.
How Does Being A Collective Work?
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"Own your insecurities. I knew that my biggest insecurity back then became my biggest selling point, my strength."
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How Does Being A Collective Work?
So the best thing that I love the most about Collective Agents is we are many agents under one umbrella. But we all have our separate lists. So if you would never speak to any other agent other than the one that you signed up with. So, it's that boutique feeling of having one-on-one connections, relationships with your agent, but you do have the power of everyone in that office behind you. I can help somebody with their contracts, they can help me with my contracts. I like that we always know what's going on. We have a very good creative agent within the within the umbrella and they look after musical directors and set designers and, you know, these people are being AV checked months before breakdowns are going out for actors. So I'm there listening and being told this information which you know if I was Richard Leavey Associates on my own I wouldn't have that power. So I love Collective for that reason.
Is There A Strength In Representing Creatives Across The Industry?
But it's nice to have it to have that within Collective Agents because it just means I'm always hearing what's going on and like I said before if I was on my own, if I was my own entity, I wouldn't know that information. So it means that I can start sort of having conversations with people before breakdowns might have come out in Spotlight, that kind of thing. So I find that really handy and it's we're a close-knit company. We really get on. We've really got each other's back. So I love that about Collective. I feel I have power. We're power in numbers, but I still have that direct relationship with my client list. Yeah. Australia, we have agents. We have connections in Australia, New York. Again, it's just always nice if we have a client going to New York, things might differ slightly to how we work here, so we can get that advice knowing that our client is safe and and we're positive that they're going out there with a clear view.
What Is The State Of Play In The Industry Today?
So, I think, you know, it's always been a really difficult industry. You've always had to really fight. Very little comes easy. So you know, I think actors need to really ask themselves questions before they go in for meetings with an agent. For instance, you know, what do I need? What am I looking for? What am I wanting to achieve? How how do I want my agent to work? There's no - I always say there's no schooling to be an agent. You kind of learn your way as you go. I had a couple of agents as an actor and I found my person. So, I like to think I agent close to how he did with me because that's when I thrived. That's when I understood myself more. I believed in myself more. But you know, some people might not want that kind of relationship. Some people want to be told where to go, what to do. I believe it is a relationship and there is a conversation to be had. The more I know about my client, the better I can do my job. And you know, every client is different. So, some peoplewill really push for that relationship and others prefer to keep it separate. You know, and we have a lovely time and we meet up for our meetings or a coffee or I see them at a press night. But some people do need a bit more nurturing, especially the early side of their career. I think choosing an agent right now is is really important. What do you want to do? Do I want to go and travel the world? Do I want to stay in London? Do I want to be on screen? Do I want to be on stage? You've got to really understand these questions. I get a lot of young grads come in and they have their their list of questions. Yeah. They come in with a list of questions from their faculty that they've been advised to ask and some of the questions they're just not needed. It's got to be personal. What is your journey going to be? And that might change within 5 years. But you know we're lucky. We've built we've built a brand at Collective Agents. We've worked really really hard and we are lucky. You know we - our success rate of getting people in the room is so high. It's very rare that we really struggle but that's because we work really hard. We understand our clients. We don't just put everyone up for everything. We try and really nitpick and make sure everyone's getting put in for the right thing, not just for the sake of it. And you know, I speak to casting directors nearly every day of my life. And you know, not everyone works like that. People are just, you know, put them in, put them in, put them in. But actually trust your agents process. You might not be in for 10 auditions in one week. You might be in for three auditions in two weeks. But they'll be the right one for the artist as opposed to being in the room for the sake of being in the room.
What Should Actors Think About When It Comes To Headshots?
Headshots are the first thing a cast and director sees before you even walk into a room. They are vital. And there are some bad choices out there. I can't stress enough, especially maybe slightly younger people. It's so simple. It's like people overthink it and they need to look a certain way. We all know what you look like. Anyone can see my face as what it looks like, not what I maybe see in the mirror or what I might post on Instagram. You know, everyone can see me fully and headshots need to represent that. They shouldn't be overly made up. I don't want fake eyelashes. I don't want contoured cheekbones. I want to see the person. Because that - you are the person that they're going to meet. So, I think less is more. If you are a really friendly young person with balls of personality, I want to see that in your photo. I don't need you looking at, you know, I want it to be authentic always. And unfortunately, I see a lot of people spending money on these headshots and when they have their final edit that they haven't asked my opinion on, and I know I'm going to struggle getting them into the room. So, it is absolutely vital. Your headshot is the key to your door, if you like. But again, just know your brand. I wish I'd known my brand 25 years ago when I was graduating because I was told what to do and I didn't listen. I thought I knew me better. So I was walking into rooms not really fully understanding myself as a full-rounded performer and I tried to blend in and I tried to be a lad and I tried to, just yeah, I was acting but in the wrong sense of the word and as soon as I got my brand everything clicked and I started to work. Oh, I owned my queerness. I owned my my figure. I owned that I wasn't going to be a big muscle man in Chicago. But what could I do? I could do the shows like Priscilla and La Cage and you know that kind of vibe. So as soon as you know your brand, don't overthink it. You will be fine. But own your insecurities. I knew that my biggest insecurity back then became my biggest selling point, my strength. So you know, again don't get overly edited photos. That's your face. If you have a dimple, if you if you have something slightly quirky, use that to your advantage. that might book you the biggest commercial going and you get a huge buyout. So I say know your brand, own it, don't overthink it, and that is your selling point.
How Do You Find The Right Headshot Photographer?
So finding your perfect headshot photographer isn't that difficult. We have the internet everywhere now on our phones. So look at actors that you aspire to be or what careers they've had. Look at where they've had their headshots done. It's very easy to find. You just type it into Spotlight. And then go and stalk a few websites of, you know, your top three or four photographers. What draws you to to that person. Do you like the lighting? Do you like the way it's photographed? I don't think again you need to overthink it. And ask your agent. Always ask your agent because we will have a list of good, wonderful photographers that will make you feel comfortable in the room I've got three to four headshot photographers that I know as soon as they land in my inbox, they're all going to be amazing and there's going to be a guaranteed top two or three, four, five, however many they want to pay for. But again, just don't overthink it.
And also my personal opinion, I know it's hard for some people, but try not to think about saving money too much because sometimes the difference between £20 or £30 can be a huge difference in the package that you receive at the end of it.
