Is my Agent any good?

Alex is the Managing Director of major UK talent agency InterTalent. He represents his clients alongside overseeing the agency's creative strategy, day-to-day operations & acquisitions.

Jun 12, 2025

Hi! Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to Dealmakers since I launched in June 2023. We’re 2 years on and thousands of people who have taken the time to read all about the different facets of talent management. Please share Dealmakers with anyone you think might be interested. If you are not already a subscriber, please sign up for free (or paid if you want a whole lot more) and join everyone who receives Dealmakers straight to their inbox.

All of my previous blogs about being a Talent Agent can be found here.

I joined the speaker lineup for the inaugural SXSW London this week. SXSW has grown into one of the most impressive festivals in the world. It’s where film, music, and tech collide and is packed with panels, premieres, performances and game-changing ideas.

I was looking at the list of speakers on the SXSW London website and even just the other Alex’s involved included top-level people in tech, dance, art, law, retail and even Alex James from Blur. It's the ultimate festival for creatives and innovators, and it was amazing to join the most insane speaker lineup.

I spoke with so many people, but it was a conversation with one person in particular which stuck with me and prompted my next topic. I was chatting to an actor and he was giving the good, bad and ugly of his career and then came the question I have been asked thousands of times: ‘Is my agent any good?’

I get this question a lot. From friends, acquaintances and strangers… and I hate being asked because there are so many layers. Unless you are sitting there day in/day out as a fly on the wall in your agency's office, then it’s very hard to answer that with any facts.

The truth is that it’s nearly impossible to separate how good someone is at their job (hard work, talent, knowledge etc… all the good stuff I wrote about here) and getting results. Like most industries, we’re in a results based business. Results are the crucial marker in how you feel about your management. Normally, when someone asks me this question, it’s because they’re not getting the results and they’re trying to work out why.

Given I get asked this question a lot, I thought I would lay out the things you can take into consideration to work out if your Agent is actually 'any good’ (or, to be more professional, the ‘right fit’)… or not.

Let’s go! ⬇️

Quick note before we dive in: if you're asking another agent whether your agent is any good, just know that the answer might come with an agenda. If someone I’d like to sign asks me that question, I’m not exactly going to gush about how brilliant their current management is. If they’re asking me, it’s because they’re already not happy, and I’ll 100% say I can do a better job because I believe I can. On the flip side, if you’re not keen to represent the person asking you, then you’ll probably give a more unbiased view. I’m usually quite positive about their current agent, as I know how hard it is to be an Agent and get results in this industry.

Anyways, let’s dive in. ⬇️

✅ Roster
Have a look at their roster. Who else do they represent and do you rate those people? What work do their other clients get? It’s important to see if their other clients are talented (in your eyes) and do great work. The roster is a clear sign of an Agent’s credibility and ability. You want to be part of a roster of people you rate and respect, and they’re doing the kind of work you’d like to do. If your Agent can get it for them, then they can potentially get it for you too. At least, you know they know the right people. It’s a relationships business, and checking out who else is on the books is a clear indicator of whether they have strong relationships. You want to be in good company! Being the most successful person on the roster is probably not very useful for you.

✅ Reputation
Do your due diligence. This is one to do before signing with an Agent… but try and talk to other people and get a view. Do people know them? Respect them? This business runs on strong relationships, and it’s important to get strong feedback from others. I wouldn’t ask their ex-clients though. Usually ex-clients are that for a reason and can give their own skewed view. Every Agent has ex-clients so you have to take that with a pinch of salt. I’d talk to those who deal with the Agent professionally day in, day out.

✅ Ideas
A great agent doesn’t just suggest you for jobs, they bring ideas. They’re your creative partner as well as management. Do they help you to see through the chaos and confusion of this industry? Are they strategic? Smart? Offering real creative insight? Do they know their stuff and have a strong understanding of the latest goings on?

✅ Honesty
You need someone who’ll tell you the truth, not just agree with you. If you have an Agent who agrees with every single thing you say, then that’s not ideal. We’re there to be truthful in the pursuit of success. Are they pushing you when you need pushing, calling it how it is, or do they just nod along? The best agents manage your expectations, not your ego.

✅ Professionalism
How do they write emails? Spelling? Grammar? Their tone and professionalism. You can tell a lot about someone by how they communicate both in writing and verbally. When someone is sloppy in communication, there’s a real chance they are sloppy at work too.

✅ Best Interests
Not every offer is the right one, even when the money’s big. The best management is one that appreciates everything is important, from creativity to fees, but ultimately suggests the best thing for your career, no matter the money on the table. That also extends to who else they put you in front of for the benefit of your career - PR’s, Lawyers, Financial Advisors, Accountants, Photographers, Stylists - are they always giving the right person for you, not just their usual go-to person or friend?

✅ Busy
You don’t want someone who’s always free for a chat. I know that might sound crazy but an agent with too much time on their hands probably isn’t in demand. The best ones are busy: taking meetings, closing deals, attending events, and networking. If they’re out there creating momentum, you’ll benefit from those conversations. An Agent who isn’t busy and can take hour-long calls at the drop of a hat means they are not having enough conversations for the betterment of your career.

✅ Communication
That said, busy shouldn’t mean invisible. You want someone responsive. Urgent gets handled fast, and everything else within a day or 2. I hear horror stories of Agents not replying for weeks, or sometimes ever. That’s not ok.

✅ Trust
This one’s instinct. Do you trust them with personal thoughts and information? Your doubts, your fears, your future, your financial situation, your relationships? A great agent is a private and confidential sounding board. You are being represented in life, not just in your career.

✅ And of course… results
We’re in a results business. You can have a lot of great attributes, but if there are no results it’s a concern. Just to flag, by results, I don’t mean getting jobs. Results in this industry means auditions, meetings, being in the mix, highly considered, spoken about. You can’t guarantee anything in this industry, especially not ‘getting the gig’ so having an all or nothing view is not healthy or realistic. Results mean that working with your agent enables you to be highly considered and in with a chance more often than not.

Ultimately, the best thing you can do is have an honest conversation with your Agent about any concerns you’re having. They will explain what is going on behind the scenes, and like any partnership there are good and bad moments. The key factor is if you believe in each other, trust each other and agree on the steps needed to achieve goals in the long run… BUT I hope this gives you an idea of what you should consider if you’re wobbling.

Share Dealmakers with Alex Segal

📥 I would love to hear from you. Any ideas, thoughts and feedback via alex@intertalentgroup.com are always most welcome.

Please subscribe if you haven’t already (we offer free and paid options, depending on your preferences) and share with your friends.

See you next time.

Alex