Top 10 legit agencies in NY?

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 1:27am

Was chatting with a friend the other night who is moving to NY. We were talking about agents and we came up with a good question. Who are the top 10 legit agencies in NY? Not ones that he or I would necessarily be able to be represented by, not good ones for fresh actors to NY or people with no credits. We mean the agencies where someone sees their name on your resume and people go, wow, you are with a great office, you must be good. The ones where it's hard to get a meeting with them because maybe I'm not good enough or don't have enough credits. The ones who represent the best actors on Broadway and on tv and film. Would love to hear people's thoughts.

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 10:56am

Any thoughts?

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 11:12am

CAA
ICM
WMA
Endeavor
UTA

are generally the top five (although I believe UTA does not have a NY office)

Probably Gersh next.

Then maybe Paradigm, The Firm, Innovative, APA, Broder. (Although again I think The Firm and Broder are both L.A. based only.)

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 11:26am

Do CAA and ICM have offices in NY?

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 11:36am

yes

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 7:56am

While certainly the biggest, some people question whether or not CAA, ICM, WM, Endeavor are truly top "legit agencies"...many "legit" (i.e. theater) artists get better service (and don't get lost on the roster) with independents such Bret Adams, Penny Ludtke, Abrams, Gersh, Bauman Redanty, Buchwald, Henderson-Hogan, KSA, and many others who emphasize theatrical work instead of discouraging it for higher paying (thus larger commissions) TV and film work.

I have lost count of the number of times a large agency has said "no" to theater work because they think their clients can do better elsewhere - even if the "elsewhere" doesn't always materialize.

And it is nice to be with an agent who remembers your name - and actually might talk to you occasionally when you call. Unless you are a superstar, try that at CAA, ICM, or WM!

Of course, unless you ARE a superstar, you probably won't be signed by CAA, ICM, or WM in the first place. But many who are, actually keep their smaller original theatrical agent as well to handle that aspect of their career separately - rather than signing with the behemoth agency in "all areas".

Updated On: 6/29/06 at 07:56 AM

Posted: 6/29/06 at 8:10am

AAA (Abrams Artists Agency)

[Al Dente]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 8:35am

DBA (Don Buchwald and Assoc.) is home to many theater favorites who can/do cross over to other mediums. So is the Gersh agency. IMO, they are two of the best bicoastal mid size agencies. If you go to IMDB "pro" (it's not a free service), it lists agency contacts. Many actors have it listed on their websites as well.

The mistake many actors make is leaving their "smaller" agents for a WM, CAA and then you never hear from them again.

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 9:46am

True, true- if I were a theatre artist I would probably want to be signed with Gersh or Abrams, (or George Lane over at CAA), but the OP asked "The ones who represent the best actors on Broadway and on tv and film," and if you're throwing tv/film work into the mix then I do think you have to start with the traditional 'big 5' when creating a 'top 10' list.

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 11:24am

Kazarian Spencer & Associates.. is that what it's called? I know they rep. a ton of Bway people including Seycon from Wicked.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 12:31pm

Yes, that's what it is called.

And true, when Lori Swift came aboard KSA as an agent a couple years ago, it really gave this already good agency a terrific boost in NYC. They are also strong in LA.

Posted: 6/29/06 at 3:51pm

In my opinion,here are the top four:

1 -CAA
2 -Endeavor
3 -WMA
4 -ICM

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 4:13pm

And after the "big 5" there are these slightly less big 5.

Gersh
DBA
Paradigm
Abrams Artists
Innovative