For those with agents and managers

[Anonymous Writer One]

Just curious on this one.

How long after you signed were you able to get work? Were you satisfied with your first agent/manager, or did you have to move on elsewhere?

What should I expect from a manager (no agent, but just got a manager).

I'm very new to this so I have absolutely no idea what to expect down the road.

Any advice would certainly help.

Regards

[JakeSchuster aka Ostroff]

A good agent (so I've been told, and as I've learned from experience) has a good story editor on board and is very proactive in terms of your current and future projects and in general career terms. My story editor gives me tons of notes and works with me until a script is ready to go out.

[Jack0902]

I signed with my agent in October, and he optioned my first script by March. I then signed with my manager this past September, and he and my agent together appear to have worked out an option deal for my second script. (I say appear to have because my agent is currently negotiating the $$$ with the producer's lawyer, and although it looks like a go, I don't count on anything until I see a check.)

I have been very happy with both my agent and manager. Both of these deals have been in the five figures for the option price, plus various talent signing bonuses, set-up bonuses, final purchase prices in the mid-high six figures, etc. Considering they have been able to do that with a non- WGA writer, who doesn't live in L.A., I have been impressed. In addition, both have a list of producers/studio creative execs who asked to meet me and with whom they're going to set up meetings when I fly out in January.

I think you should expect different things from an agent vs. a manager. An agent will sell your stuff once you have stuff to sell. Both agents and managers should be able to get your scripts into the hands of people who can do something with it. (whether that be producers or studios, etc.) In addition, a manager should be out there generally "promoting" you as a writer-- getting people to read your work so that they become interested in wanting to work with you some day. A manager should also work with you in developing ideas, and should work with you on developing any scripts you have written.

Hope that helps.

[JakeSchuster aka Ostroff]

A moment of self-correction. I wrote:
A good agent (so I've been told, and as I've learned from experience) has a good story editor on board.

I mean, of course, "a good manager". Agents, as you've rightly said, do the selling; managers are much more proactive in terms of career and writing.

[PurpleCurtain]

How long after you signed were you able to get work? Were you satisfied with your first agent/manager, or did you have to move on elsewhere?

What should I expect from a manager (no agent, but just got a manager).

I landed my first assignment about five months after signing with my first agent.

That was almost five years ago, and I am still with the same agent.

I only recently signed with a manager, and what I expect from that relationship is someone who will actively help me develop new material and/or be available to give extensive feedback on assignments. Ideally she will also introduce me and my work to producers and executives who aren't already familiar with me, but my agent has done an amazing job of getting my work read and getting me meetings all over town, so I'm not depending on the manager for this sort of thing the way I would if she were my only rep.

Given how fickle the marketplace can be, it would be a mistake, I think, to expect the agent or manager to make a sale or get you a job within a certain amount of time, especially if you're a brand new writer with no resume and no contacts of your own. A more reasonable and healthier thing would be to expect the rep to get your material out there, to get you meetings (meet and greets and/or assignment meetings). Because when it comes right down to it, even the best agent or manager in the world can't really get you work--they can get your material read, and they can get you in the room, but after that it's up to you.

Best of luck!