Q: What Do You Do If Your "Hip-Pocket" Agent Stinks?
Is my career in here?A: Remind yourself of Mazin’s Law of Representation.
“Hip-pocketing” is one of the more wretched maneuvers that talent agencies employ in lieu of having the actual balls to represent someone. By hip-pocketing you, you’re not really a client, they’re not really an agent, but if they happen to remember to send your script to someone and you get a job, then suddenly you are their client and they are your agent.
What a great deal. For them.
Often times hip-pocketed writers must rely on agents’ assistants to send their work out. This arrangement frequently results in your scripts ending up prioritized somewhere between “get lunch” and “screw that chick in the mailroom”.
If you’re hip-pocketed and you think you’re getting okay service, it’s fine. The agency may need some assurance that you’re worth their time. I’m not a fan of it, but I understand.
If you’re hip-pocketed and you’re getting bad service, you should have a frank chat with the agent (not the assistant…the agent). If that gets you nowhere, then you absolutely must move on and find yourself someone…anyone…who is willing to believe in you and represent you properly.
You should also qualify “bad agent” as an agent or manager who’s reputation around town is less than stellar. My first official representation offer came this past Spring, and it was very tempting to say yes right away (after doing the fruitless “hip pocket” arrangement with another manager for six months), but I did a little research and found creative execs around town had less than complimentary things to say about the competency of the manager, so I didn’t sign, and just last month I signed with a much smaller but well-respected up-and-coming manager and I haven’t regretted it one bit. In a lot of ways, your representation’s reputation becomes your reputation. Better to be a bridesmaid than a bride with an abusive groom :)
It took me a while to figure out what exactly was going on in that picture …
I think, even if you’ve written a great script, that it is incredibly difficult to find a great agent. Or even a good one.
I’m on my third agent and I’m still looking.
I agree. Writing a great script is not the Holy Grail. Getting a passionate, connected agent is.
Thanks PJ, I thought I was all alone for a moment.
Writing a great script is not the Holy Grail. Getting a passionate, connected agent is. i couldn’t agree more. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to rally the reps around a spec they aren’t 100% behind. Especially when other writers love it. I think Peter Guber said it’s a triumph of will, not of skill, to sell a script. Sucks when the skill’s there but the will’s not.
Does Mazin’s Law of Representation apply to managers? or just bona fide agents?
Miles:
Managers too. :)
C.
I know from experience. I’m currently in a “hip pocket” situation.
Oops.
While having an active, good agent is preferable, don’t underestimate the value of being hip-pocketed if the crappy manager/agent has a good assistant. My old boss Sloane hated a few of our writers that I liked and let me tell you— the ones that I liked got their scripts sent out WAY more often than the ones Sloane preferred. Oh, and that ‘screw the chick in the mailroom’ comment …cute. Insulting, too, but I guess in many cases, deserved.
Do like the blog, overall, by the way. Keep up the good work.
Excellent response by Assistant/Atlas (including the “Insulting too…”). I’ve had better chats with some assistants than their bosses.
Know any assistants who want to read a good comedy? ;-)