Did Shakespeare even have an agent even?

February 23, 2006 11:23 PM

Looking for an agent for my playwrighting.

It's about time, but I need some suggestions. Even though I'm in Minneapolis, which is a terrific theater community, it's not precisely the epicenter of literary agents in the U.S.

I have a good résumé as a playwright, my plays are produced a few times per year throughout the United States, including twice in New York (with a third on its way). I've got a Web page for my work (just posted in projects). I feel I've done as much as I can on my own as a playwright, and now I need professional management.

Any suggestions?

posted by Astro Zombie to media & arts (9 comments total)

Suggestion #1: Considering applying to be an intern at this year's Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, March 7-April 8. The festival always gets a lot of press attention, so you might make some good connections.
Suggestion #2: Delete one "even" from your post title.
posted by rob511 at 12:14 AM on February 24, 2006

But would that even be correct English even?
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:19 AM on February 24, 2006

Ummmm, since I started my comment with "Considering applying... ," how the hell would I know?!
posted by rob511 at 12:49 AM on February 24, 2006

Astro --- I think the best way to do this is through a combination of networking and cold-calling. In your theater work, do you run into agents? If so, pitch yourself to them. Do you run into more well-establish playwrights? Talk to them, ask them who their agent is, etc.

Similarly, have you tried finding out who handles the work of playwrights whose work is similar to those? I'd find out who those people are, cold-call them, and pitch them.

Last question: Is the work of playwrights who are similar to you sold in bookstores? What percentage of playwrights in the US publish and sell enough work that they have agents? I'm sure Eve Ensler has an agent, but then the Vagina Monologues has sold like a gazillion copies. Unless there's a substantial market for productions (with royalties) or sales in bookstores (with royalties), there won't be agents.
posted by alms at 7:21 AM on February 24, 2006

Just a note: it's "playwriting". The person is a playwright. A potential agent might notice this usage.
posted by zadcat at 7:59 AM on February 24, 2006

Zing! And yet the spellcheck didn't catch it.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:16 AM on February 24, 2006

Maybe drop a note to Miss Snark? Another notion is that you might try broadening your writing to include other forms. Theater is almost like asking for an agent for poetry. Hate to be the bearer of snarky news. . .
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:31 AM on February 24, 2006

I have learned a lot about literary & television agents at the library. There are tons of books about the habits, expectations, and care & feeding of agents at the library.

Much of it written by agents who don't want to keep answering the same kinds of questions or throwing out the same kinds of inappropriate queries day after day.
I'm just getting some success in television and I wanted to understand the culture of the industry, especially in ways that will help me make good relationships, and especially money. The library has been really reliable.

There's got to be the same sort of stuff for the theater world.

Look into trying to get a work produced in the New York Fringe Festival or other theater festivals. Hundreds of plays by hundreds of companies go up in a short period of time. I have a friend who ended up with a good agent on the strength of his first produced play that he submitted to the Fringe. He now works full time in TV & Film.

Hell, now that I took a look at your blog, why don't you just wait until The Great Plains Theatre Conference (Congratulations!) and make it your mission to know who you want to be your agent by the time the conference is over? Once you know who the right person is politely, and in an industry appropriate manner, dog them until they say yes.
posted by putzface_dickman at 12:13 PM on February 24, 2006

Good suggestion. Maybe I can get Albee to give up the name of his agent.

GIVE IT UP, ALBEE!

If not Albee, maybe somebody else will have a suggestion. I've noticed that some playwrights are weirdly protective of their agents, and respond very defensively to queries.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:44 PM on February 24, 2006