The struggle to get started in the entertainment industry in Raleigh can be a bit daunting if you don’t understand the basics to getting started as a model or actor in the area. One important thing to start working on is how agencies work in Raleigh and what key components make up an agency and why they work for you and it is better to have an agency backing you as you start your career. You should also understand that agencies don’t just specialize in one thing, there are sometimes agencies that will just specialize in modeling and working with models too or you may come across an agency that has a really good eclectic mix. It is good to look at the agencies in Raleigh and narrow down your choices so you can make the best choice for your career.
Granted, as you start learning about agencies you will find that there are many ways that an agency submits actors and models to their clients in Raleigh. Usually when a client has the need to hire in some talent for a production or shoot they will contact an agency that they have worked with in the past and at that point the agency will then give them all the headshots and resumes they have of available talent looking for work. Clients tend to return to the agencies that they have already established an actor or model base with and that they trust. Sometimes they will also send out the composite or reel of that talent too in Raleigh.
You should also know that many agencies actually keep a database that their client base can search in Raleigh that contains all the high quality photos or reels of actors or models that they are working with and are available for work in Raleigh. The images that the client is looking for typically will be the images of the talent that display that talent's commercial appeal in high resolution photos or even well done reels. Reels in this industry are usually video compilations of the actor or models best work that they have done since the start of their career in Raleigh or any other cities they have worked in.
The client is not just looking at your photos or other talent’s photos though when they are looking into casting someone or looking for a good model in Raleigh. They also like to see if the actor or model understands what is expected of them when they are placed for a booking or audition in Raleigh. Being a pretty face will only get you so far in the industry as they want to also see if you understand how to move and pose in front of a camera. Anyone going into acting or modeling should have the skills and talent to be confident in front of the camera otherwise this will make it harder for your agent to market you in Raleigh.
You should have good runway skills as a beginning model even, and actors are expected to be able to execute any cold reading, commercial or improv that they are asked to do in front of possibly 50 people with skill and confidence in Raleigh though you may have to audition in front of even more people if it is a huge casting call event.