One thing I always say, when actors email or ask me at speaking engagements whether they should meet with this agent or that manager, is: “Always take the meeting.”

Yes, there is a certain amount of research you can do about your potential new business partner before agreeing to meet up (thank you, Google, and thank you, actors who post about your experiences in your blogs or on message boards), and you may find information that makes you think a meeting would be a waste of time. Should you go anyway? Many times, yes.

Here’s why. One, the stories you read on the Internet or hear from others in acting class might not be 100% accurate. People exaggerate when telling stories. They’ll talk about an agent who was slightly rude and suddenly it’s “the most horrific experience of their lives” (and now they’re in therapy because of it). They’ll talk about having had to wait for ten minutes and now it’s “an entire day of sitting in a cramped waiting room” with dozens of other hopeful actors. They’ll talk about the above-average client roster the agent has but describe it as “filled with stars” when the storytelling begins.

Also, what is a bad fit for one actor might be a great fit for another. Yes, even the “sketchiest” of agencies out there has clients who get out there and book. So, it’s working for someone, somewhere.

The only way to know for sure that you’re choosing to sign or not sign with an agent (should the offer be made, of course) for your OWN reasons is to develop your OWN opinion. And that starts with taking the meeting.

Next, there’s the “practice factor.” If you’re not terribly confident in your meeting-taking skills, taking a meeting with someone your research has shown is already someone you won’t want on your team could be beneficial for a few reasons. You’ll be able to practice your meeting skills. You’ll not be terribly nervous, since your advance research has shown that this isn’t going to be a good fit. You’ll be able to reflect later on where your meeting skills were strongest and where you need work. Then, when you meet with someone you can’t WAIT to sign with, you will be capable of having your best possible meeting, because you’ve practiced.

Okay, but is it a waste of time to meet with someone you have no intention of signing with? I don’t think so. I mean, of course it CAN be (more on that in a moment), but if you go into the meeting thinking, “Great. An opportunity to meet someone else in the industry. See for myself what this guy’s about. Learn about how he does business and what his job entails. Share with him what I’m about and what my goals are. Learn. Have fun,” you’re probably going to come out of it feeling more in control of your career than if you declined the meeting outright.

Obviously, if you have already determined that this particular person is not someone you’d want on your team (both by reviewing what you’re looking for and any information out there about this candidate for partnership) AND you’ve had enough experience with taking meetings that you don’t need the practice OR you actually would have to rearrange your schedule significantly in order to drive alllll the way out to wherever in order to “practice,” “learn,” and “know for yourself what this person is like,” I can see saying flat-out NO to the meeting.

Just like you get to the stage in your acting career where certain breakdowns are less appealing (or you stop going to auditions for copy, credit, meals projects because you’ve transitioned to only doing paid work now), absolutely there’s a time when “Always Take the Meeting” doesn’t mesh with where you are. But if you’ve got the time, want the practice, are open to learning more about this crazy business, and the stakes aren’t as high as they’ll be when you’re in the position to meet with your dream agent, it could be an opportunity to do something other than “hope you get signed.” Demystifying another relationship, another person’s role in the industry, a bit about your own goals and representation needs could be a great way to spend an hour!

Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!

Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000953.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.