"Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick, do you think I need an agent?"

We get that question at least fifty times a week and there is no definite answer. The first thing we tell anyone who asks that question is, "Having an agent will not necessarily guarantee you a job, a better job, more money or a better position. It might, but there are no guarantees in this business." Secondly, and this is a hard soul-searching question you need to ask yourself. HOW GOOD ARE YOU? This is a tough one!

The vast majority of TV journalists are good, solid, average professionals. They cover all of the W's and the H's. They get their stories right and factual and won't cause a lawsuit for their station. They are probably even pretty nice people, but when 6:00 or 7:00pm rolls around, they bolt from the station to see their friends or meet at the local pub! In other words, they, like so many others in this business are just AVERAGE.

Hiring an agent is not a magical way of taking average or mediocre talent and selling them up to a better job. There are no miracles in television news. Having an agent, even a `designer' agent doesn't fool a News Director. It doesn't work that way. Cream still rises to the top! We'd also like to point out that the larger agents do screen potential clients and do not take-on every individual seeking representation from their agency.

The need for an agent depends on many facts and circumstances. For younger folks just starting out in the business, it depends on what you want. Most contracts in small markets are best negotiated directly and without help. Telling your news director in Duluth, MN that your New York agent is flying into town is overkill. That News Director will probably suggest that you apply for a job in Chicago where agents are more, but not always, welcome!

If you want to move up in the ranks, it can be very helpful to work with an agent that has the staff, experience and reach to locate a job. Most talent in mid-sized and larger markets either have a representative or might be well served to get one. If you're in a larger market and a contract needs to be negotiated, it is best to have legal assistance of some kind whether in the form of a contract attorney or an agent who understands the market's idiosyncrasies. It should be noted that there are a few folks who want to handle their own negotiations, and some of them are effective even in large markets. This is not necessarily the rule.

The best way to approach an agent is the most simple and direct one. Start with either a phone call or a friendly and informative letter enclosing a resume and tape. Awards, distinctions, articles by or about you or other biographical information is helpful. One agent told us that an introduction via a mutual friend of yours and the agent or respected executive is very helpful and beneficial to the initial process. Treat an agent like a potential employer, showing your best work up front. For example that PERFECT audition tape you constructed after reading our guide on preparing and improving audition tapes!

Obtaining an agent is an individual choice and often circumstances dictate the appropriate time. The decision to hire an agent needs to be viewed as one of the most critical decisions of your career.