FURTHER INFORMATION

What is an actors' co-operative agency?​

• An agency run by the actors it represents, who take it in turn to work as lead agent in the office

• Co-operative agencies started in 1974 in the UK

• The Actors Group began in Manchester in 1980, the first co-op agency established outside of London

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Benefits

• You get a valuable insight into how the industry works, learning more than you would in a management agency

• This way of working builds vital skills for newcomers and also gets those returning to the profession up to speed

• You can choose the work you do, without feeling that you must agree to every job or risk losing your agent

• You are a member of a team, and you always know exactly what is going on in your career

• The commission paid goes into running the business, not to pay an agent

 

Co-op agencies operate in the same way as management agents

• Use the same systems to access casting breakdowns

• Submit actors for jobs and confirm audition details

• Advise actors on their careers and CV 

• See the work of their actors and potential new members

• Publicly celebrate and promote our actors on social media

• Negotiate contracts and fees and chase late payments if needed

• Take commission - our top rate is currently 15%, and lowest rate 4% for work actors find themselves. This money is used to cover the agency running costs

 

More about us

• There are no fees to join The Actors Group, which some other co-op agencies charge

• If you are offered representation, you will be trained to work as an agent by a mentor and other team members

• Scheduled around acting jobs and other work, you'll run the office for a few days arranged on a 6 weekly rota

• We hold meetings to discuss aspects of running the agency and make decisions together

• You may take on a specific role working with other members – for example, joining our social media, new applications or finance teams

• We try to see each other's work as much as possible, as well as productions we are invited to by potential members

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Please contact us if you have any queries not answered here or on the CPMA website cpma.coop