Getting Fired by Your Agent… What Next?

Hello, fellow actors. Welcome back to Casting Actors Cast — the podcast for actors,

from a casting director, who’s seen just about everything… including this topic.

Today’s episode is called: “Getting Fired by Your Agent… What Next?”

And if that title made your stomach drop just a little — congratulations. You’re human. Also, you’re not alone.

Let me start by saying something right up front, because I want to take the sting out of this immediately:

Getting dropped by an agent is not a career-ending event. In fact — and I know this may sound wild — for many actors, it turns out to be a career-clarifying moment.

Now, before you throw your phone across the room, stay with me.

Because today we’re going to talk about:

• Why this happens (even to very good actors)

• What not to do in the emotional aftermath

• How to regain your footing — professionally and psychologically

• And the specific, actionable steps you can take next that actually move you forward

This is not a “rah-rah, everything happens for a reason” episode. This is a practical, calm, grown-up conversation — the kind I would have wanted when I was starting out.

FIRST: LET’S NORMALIZE THIS

Actors don’t talk about getting fired by their agent.

They talk about:

• Signing with an agent

• Landing a big audition

• Booking something shiny

But they don’t talk about the email that starts with: “After careful consideration…”

Or the phone call that never comes back.

So let me normalize this for you:

Actors get dropped because:

• An agency restructures

• An agent leaves

• A department shifts focus

• The roster gets too big

• The industry contracts

• The actor’s materials don’t align right now

Notice what I didn’t say.

I didn’t say:

• “You failed”

• “You’re not talented”

• “You don’t belong”

Because those are emotional interpretations, not facts.

And here’s something you may not know from the outside:

Agencies are businesses first. Not moral judgments. Not artistic verdicts. Businesses.

Sometimes you simply don’t fit the current business model.

That hurts — but it doesn’t define you.

SECOND: THE 72-HOUR RULE

Let me give you one of the most important tools I can offer you today.

I call it the 72-Hour Rule.

If you’ve just been dropped:

• Give yourself 72 hours to feel it

• Be mad

• Be sad

• Be confused

• Vent to one trusted person (not six)

Then — and this is crucial —do not let the story harden.

Because what happens is this:

• Day one: “That was shocking”

• Day five: “What did I do wrong?”

• Day thirty: “This always happens to me”

• Day ninety: “Maybe I’m not cut out for this”

That story will quietly sabotage your next steps.

So here’s your first call to action:

👉 CALL TO ACTION #1:

Set a deadline on the pain .Put it on your calendar:

“I’m allowed to be upset until ___.”

After that, we move into strategy.

THIRD: WHAT NOT TO DO (PLEASE HEAR THIS)

When actors get dropped, I often see them make one of three moves — all understandable, all unhelpful.

❌ Mistake #1: Panic Submissions

Sending your materials to everyone immediately.

Agents can smell panic.Managers can smell panic.Casting can definitely smell panic.

❌ Mistake #2: Immediate Reinvention

“I guess I need new headshots, a new name, a new look, a new personality…”

No.Pause.

❌ Mistake #3: Disappearing

Going silent for six months out of shame or confusion.

Silence doesn’t heal careers. Momentum does.

FOURTH: THE HONEST SELF-INVENTORY (THIS IS GOLD)

Now we do something powerful — and calm.

We take inventory.

Not judgment .Not blame. Inventory.

Ask yourself — and write this down:

• What auditions was I getting?

• What was I consistently called in for?

• Where did I feel confident?

• Where did I feel lost?

• Were my materials actually doing the talking for me?

Because here’s a truth I see from the casting side:

Sometimes an agent drops an actor because they don’t know how to pitch them clearly.

That’s not an insult. That’s information.

👉 CALL TO ACTION #2:

Write a one-sentence casting sentence:

“I am an actor who is consistently called in for ___.”

If that sentence feels muddy — that’s your work.

FIFTH: THIS IS A RESET, NOT A REJECTION

Let me tell you something gently but directly:

The actors who rebuild well after being dropped are the actors who stop trying to “get back” what they lost and start building what they actually need.

That might mean:

• Sharper materials

• More specific branding

• A clearer casting lane

• Or even a short-term focus on craft and confidence

This is not starting over. This is starting smarter.

SIXTH: HOW TO RE-ENTER THE MARKETPLACE

Let’s talk about practical steps — not fantasies.

Step 1: Update Materials with Purpose

Not new for new’s sake.Ask:

• Do these headshots match who’s booking right now?

• Does my reel open strong?

• Does my resume tell a story?

Step 2: Build Momentum Without Representation

Actors forget this: Casting sees actors all the time without agents.

Classes. Workshops. Short films. Readings. Referrals.

Momentum is visible — even without representation.

Step 3: Reach Out Strategically

When you do submit:

• Be targeted

• Be calm

• Be honest

You don’t need to explain the breakup .You need to show clarity.

👉 CALL TO ACTION #3:

Create a 30-day momentum plan:

• One class or coaching focus

• One materials upgrade

• One outreach action per week

Small steps. Consistent steps.

SEVENTH: LET’S TALK ABOUT IDENTITY

This is the quiet part.

Many actors unknowingly tie their worth to:

“I am represented, therefore I am valid.”

That’s dangerous.

Your talent didn’t vanish with an email. Your experience didn’t evaporate. Your voice didn’t disappear.

Representation is a tool — not an identity.

And here’s the irony:

Actors who rebuild from self-trust often attract better representation the second time.

FINAL THOUGHT (AND THIS MATTERS)

If you’ve been dropped by an agent, I want you to hear this clearly:

You are not behind. You are not broken. You are not late.

You are in a transition.

And transitions — while uncomfortable — are often where clarity finally shows up.

FINAL CALL TO ACTION (THIS WEEK)

Do these three things:

1. Write your one-sentence casting lane

2. Choose one action that builds momentum — not panic

3. Speak about yourself like someone you’d want to represent

Because casting isn’t looking for perfection.

We’re looking for clarity, confidence, and consistency.

Thanks for spending this time with me.

If this episode helped you — pass it along to another actor who might need it today.

I’m Jeffrey Dreisbach. This is Casting Actors Cast .And I’ll see you next time.