The most important thing for you to do is to be committed 100 percent to just being YOU. If you’re 5’4” you aren’t going to be a runway model. Own it! If you haven’t studied acting, you aren’t going to land plum acting roles. Own it!

The level of mixed feedback you’ll receive from people working in this industry is borderline insane. In one day you could hear you’re too skinny, too fat, too short, too tall, too EVERYTHING! Don’t ever change yourself to be more “marketable” because by the time you do, the market will have changed. Sure, basics help. A good hair cut, a devotion to building craft, staying fit, a shower. (That last one was a joke.) Right now, more than ever in my decades of service, producers are looking for ALL ages, types and ethnicities. That’s one of the reasons we focus on a more well-rounded, commercial look.

“Perfect” is out. The world wants you to be you. We support it!

There are three key ingredients to being a reputable agent:

#1 Ethics– I’m 100 percent ethical when it comes to handling client/talent negotiations. Each Leighton talent is paid promptly and accurately for their time and expertise. One of the reasons my agency has continually flourished is through the high level of customer service.

#2 Contacts– The Phoenix market has grown tremendously over the last decades. I went to high school with some of the people who own advertising agencies. By placing my logo on your resume, you will immediately be recognized as someone who’s established and connected to the roots of Arizona's entertainment industry.

#3 Experience- As the senior established agent in Arizona, I can say with confidence that no one has my years of experience locally. I have negotiated more local and national contracts than anyone in the state of Arizona.

We are not a franchise, nor a company that has traded ownership over the years. When it comes to client relationships, consistency is key. Every local advertising agency, which are the primary high paying clients for actors and models to target, has worked directly with us for more than four decades. That longevity makes a huge difference.

Yes, of course! Your agent is a liaison to the top advertising agencies, photographers and casting directors in the market. We’re in the business of first impressions. You should immediately feel welcomed.

We do not.

In the past, none of the established agencies charged fees. We all took pride in being fully commission-based, meaning we only made money when our actors and models worked. Times have changed across the industry.

Some agencies now charge their talent annual and/or monthly maintenance fees. Think about it: if an agent represents 500 people and each pays $20 a month for that representation, that’s $10,000 a month minimum to that agent. Would that agent be as motivated to hustle for those clients? I believe not.

Leighton Agency Inc. is not a fee-based firm.

Arizona is a very small market that typically only provides part-time, supplemental income. Rather than money being your motivating factor, strive to create moments. That’s what we’re doing by helping fulfill creative visions for our clients. Remember, acting and modeling aren’t about you, they’re about the client. Serve their needs, and you’ll be successful.

Rejection. You hear “No” much more than “Yes,” especially in the beginning. If you don't have thick skin I suggest staying out of this field.

Arizona is primarily a commercial market with commercial print and acting opportunities for clients including banks, resorts, homebuilders and casinos. Additionally, there is industrial work such as educational projects for universities and online education institutions.

Yes, you can. And there are agents that submit on these castings. However, as an agent, my primary objective is to give you good business advice. If you want to work in New Mexico as an actor, move there. It’s a better business decision. Let me explain why this is the case regarding outside markets:

#1 New Mexico’s casting directors prefer in-person auditions. Self-tapes are accepted occasionally, but if you look at the booking statistics they predominantly choose local New Mexico-based actors.

#2 You have to consider the financial cost. If you choose to audition in person you will need to pay for your own travel to the Albuquerque area. And since most castings require a callback, you’ll need to pay for second trip to New Mexico. Then, if you book the job, again, you’ll need to pay for a third trip to New Mexico along with your own accommodations. If you add up gas and lodging, most of the time you will be negative several hundred dollars even if you book the job, and there’s no guarantee that’s going to happen.

#3 Series regulars are cast out of L.A., not New Mexico. Unfortunately, you likely won’t be in the mix for those big contracts.

No, my primary focus is helping Phoenix’s top actors and models build their local network. I do have contacts in major markets including Los Angeles and New York, but I’ll be frank: similar to New Mexico, if you want to work there you need to move there. While I tell talent to consider this a part-time job in Arizona, I have undoubtedly represented more full-time working actors and models locally than any other agency. And that’s because I focus 100 percent on the Arizona market.

This is an interesting topic. We are one of the top-grossing agencies in Arizona. And I think not collecting annual or monthly fees from our talent reinforces that statement. We FINALLY started an Instagram account. Here’s the catch, it’s NOT for clients, it’s for TALENT.

Suppose you’re a producer working on a multi-million commercial campaign. Would you rather search the hash tag #actorslife or #azmodel to find a reputable talent whom you can trust to be professional (show up on time, be prepared and deliver a quality product), or simply call the oldest, most-established talent agency in Arizona and get a direct connection?

It’s true that talent believe an agency is busy if that agency’s social media account is popular. But the reality is I’m focused on building relationships with reputable clients, not posting on Instagram. We DO share a very small portion of what’s happening now to meet talent demands, but it hasn’t helped a single actor or model secure a high-paying job to date. Truthfully, if not treated with caution, social media can hurt you more than it can help you.

The key is preparing yourself for the various array of audition requests starting with a basic answer to the question, “Tell me about yourself.” Other skills needed include improvisation, cold reading, etc. The best way to prepare is to expect the unexpected and LISTEN to the direction you are given. To be a great actor or model, you must be a great LISTENER.

You should plan on making an initial investment for professional marketing materials. That is NOT paid to the agency. You pay this to a third party. Depending on your focus you will need:

-A new headshot or modeling portfolio

-Voiceover demo

-Ability to self-record for voiceover auditions

Most importantly, you should have a positive attitude and be professional: show up early (“on time” is late) and have a flexible schedule. Remember, you represent Leighton Agency as much as we represent you. Every time you go to an audition or job you need to be professional, prompt and prepared.

No. The state of Arizona does not require work permits for children to work.

Unfortunately, child actors and models with missing teeth and braces aren’t in high demand in the entertainment industry. I recommend focusing on the development of their craft through acting classes and theatre during this transition.

We recommend a minimum age of five years old. Sometimes six or seven is even better. Here’s why: As the oldest, most-established talent agency in Arizona, we’ve helped develop hundreds of local child actors and models. And this is probably one of the most common questions we face. The answer is entirely subjective as each child’s development is unique. It’s imperative to remember that child actors and models will be expected to audition without parent supervision. They will be expected to communicate with adults and do as they’re asked to fulfill production demands. Most children we sign have basic reading backed by excellent memorization skills. And remember, they will be subjected to positive criticism.

Voiceover is a craft. First you must develop your acting. Then, you should learn how to self record auditions that you can submit as an MP3 to Leighton Agency. We review and submit them to clients seeking your voice type.

We highly recommend MyVoiceWorld.com as an affordable, self-paced, online voiceover school that will help you navigate commercial, promo, animation and narration opportunities as a voice actor.

We recommend Headshots and Cold Brews. Their studio is next door to our office!

Networking is as important as training. Learning from, and working with, local casting directors will undoubtedly help you do both.

Both actors and models should always take three copies of their headshot and resume. I recommend keeping a small supply in your car. You never know when an opportunity might arise.

I proudly represent almost all of the top acting school owners in Arizona. In alphabetical order these include: The Artist’s Den, Dearing Studios, Howey Acting Studio, JesterZ Improv Comedy and Verve Studios. The local universities have excellent acting/theatre programs as well.

Actors train, models test. Acting and modeling are both crafts you have to continually develop. When finances permit, I recommend an ongoing class, and/or testing with local photographers. And models, if you can, learn the basics of acting. The big money comes from being able to do both. Look at all the models who sustain. They become actresses or hosts and brand their own lines.

Remember, Arizona is a small market so our auditions aren’t consistent. You need to make sure you are 100 percent ready every time you audition. Most on-going accounts come from a single random audition.