A Tale of Two Meetings.

So.... Last I blogged, I wrote about the lengthy agent submission mail out that I had done in October.  Art thou curious for a follow up?

After over 70 submissions by mail and email, I received four phone calls from agencies interested in meeting me. (side note: I've been told this is actually a good response, given that I am just starting out and am unknown.  Crazy, eh?)

One of them was interested but had a very full roster already but liked my look, and wanted me to resubmit in January.  Nah, not a good sign. 

Another made a meeting and rescheduled twice, I have still yet to meet them.  Tsk, another red flag.  

See, I have the idea that signing with an agency is like choosing a boyfriend.  You have to read the signs and trust in Higher Powers because in this industry, it's all about relationship.  If there's no mutual love and respect, it won't work.  Dramatic?  Well, yeah.  

So then there were two.  I had gotten a call from this one agency fairly quickly after my mail-out, and after some finagling of my travel schedule (ahem, I had to wait til I was actually in town and not working), I put together the perfect 'meeting agent' outfit, big girl pants included, and strolled into the building pictured above to have my very first agent meeting. I was actually not very nervous, which surprised me, especially considering I had to wait for a while.... oh and I had tight jeggings on, cutting off my circulation and subsequent oxygen supply.  Oh, you didn't know jeggings are the new 'big girl pants'?  As in, bigger girls shouldn't wear them?  Consider this a first hand news delivery.  

Despite the tourniquet pants, the meeting went well.  I felt like myself, making jokes, faces, and laughing a lot with the two agents in their office.  We teased each other and I felt like they got me.  The owner of the agency even gave me a huge hug as it was over and said he already loved me.  Scene: me pushing through glass doors with gigantic dopey grin. 

Ok, so that was good.  But every Hollywood story has a villain, right?  Well I certainly found mine.  This other agent I met with, should have been ignored from the start.  When he called, he already kinda weirded me out.  Without telling me what he was calling me for he just said his name and asked if I wanted to come meet him.  I don't memorize agent names, so I was really confused.  He also wouldn't give me an appointment time, but had me call every morning I was free to inquire if he was available that afternoon.  nonetheless, I felt like it wasn't smart to just sign with the first agency that offered me a contract so I arranged to meet with this other guy.

First of all, his office was a wreck.  If hoarders ever does an LA agent episode, I'm nominating this guy.  Everything was covered in dust, he had piles of crap everywhere, and the leather couch in there was worn and dirty.  His leather jacket was the same, and his fly was down.  He was talking on the phone when I walked into his office and didn't even acknowledge me.  In fact, he continued to answer his phone the entire time I was there and made no apologies about the interruptions.

But this isn't even the worst part.  This guy was a grade A B-TARD. From the beginning, he was arguing with me on everything, making crude comments about people including but not limited to: "Why do so many young Filipino girls date ugly old men? Are they ALL that money greedy?  and, "I'm from Texas.  Only gay guys play basketball", and "My daughters are always competing.  One of them is prettier than the other, but I still don't get it".

I know, right?  But it's still not even the worst.  I already knew that this guy wasn't going to be one for me.  I was so uncomfortable I had turned on my 'bad blind date' mode.  I was stiff and polite, trying to just get through it and get the hell out of there.  Before I had the chance, this guy laid into me.  He asked me if I thought I had the potential to get a leading role.  Of course, I said yes.  I think that I have the ability to interest and entertain people, and to carry a storyline.  I really do.  That's why I'm here.  Apparently, he didn't agree.... and boy did he tell me about it.  He said that he doesn't think I will book roles unless I lost quite a bit of weight.  He said that my headshots are deceiving because he thinks I look much heavier in person and even asked me if I have gained weight since they were taken and if they were edited to make me look thinner.  He THEN speculated that perhaps it was the way I was sitting and made me stand up and turn around to get a better look.

Listen, I know I'm no Rachel McAdams.  My body is a work in progress and there is still much work to be done before I will be content.  Im not the ingenue and will never be a sex symbol, which I am more than okay with.  But I do think that the entertainment industry has room for all 124 pounds of me, and that I have potential that extends beyond sex appeal.  I'm not looking for the bombshell roles.  I want to make people laugh, cry, and think.  In addition, I also believe that the industry is changing and even if Melissa McCarthey were the only example, I think she's enough.  She's phenomenal and even if I were to gain another fifty pounds I would do if it came with her talent.

So yeah, that happened.  Of course, I felt like crap about it for longer than I'd like to discuss.  However, I didn't allow myself to wallow in it forever because I know that this kind of nonsense has happened to thousands before me, and will surely happen to thousands after.  Plus, this will be a good story to tell Barbara Walters someday.  This I believe: self pity gets you nowhere.