Agents & Representation

THE PLAYWRITING SEMINARS > BUSINESS > AGENTS

'An agent asked me why I 'limited' myself to writing about Latino themes. He felt that I knew and was able to tackle 'more mainstream subjects'. I thought about this and realized it wasn't a matter of writing about what I knew -- I was basically writing about what I loved.'

-- Luis Santeiro

Good agents are worth far more than their weight in gold to playwrights. For novelists and Screenwriters, having an agent is essential for production or publication. Publishers and Film producers assume you're probably not worth a serious read if you don't have an agent. But most Literary Managers don't expect a playwright to have an agent. That's because of the way this business works . . .

If a major regional theatre wants to do a production of your play as part of it's mainstage season, go for the agent as soon as you're offered a contract. If you've delayed doing it, that's also the time to join the Dramatists Guild.

And don't sign that tempting contract until you have the Guild review it for minimum DG standards. More than a few playwrights have been burned by neglecting this step.

Once you have a first production, the best sources for agents willing to look at unsolicited plays are . . .

• The Dramatists Sourcebook from the Theatre Communications Group.

• The Resource Directory that comes with Dramatists Guild membership.