Today, we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Christian.
Hi Tracy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a talent agent. I didn’t grow up wanting to be an agent, but it’s been my personality for my entire life.
I grew up with young parents who let me read anything I wanted and, at an early age, took me to all types of inappropriate movies. I think I saw The Man Who Fell to Earth when I was 4 or 5. Accessible art was all around me. My father’s friends were all singers, lyricists, musicians, writers, photographers… My mother was really into thought leaders and community service.
I grew up in fertile ground. The only person surprised about me working in entertainment was me. After more than 20 years in the business, I’ve represented the Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy winners. Many careers that I started from ground zero.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Well, my job is sometimes impossible. Artists come to me with a dream; my job is to make it happen for 10%. Many times, after I help make someone a star, they leave and move to larger agencies.
Thankfully, my reputation is solid enough that artists realize I can take them to the “top.”
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in “left of center” character actors. My dad used to say that you can’t teach height. In the same way, you can’t teach charisma.
Most of my clients have attended elite theater art schools like Julliard and Yale, and that work gives them a method to access emotion that people without training may not have. But the main thing needed to stand out.
Even when in the background, you can’t take your eyes off Jack Nicholson, Edie Falco, Tom Hardy, and Peter Dinklage. The first rule is to be a good, if not great, actor. The second is to be someone an audience wants to learn more about.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Think about what you can offer.
Join a theater company, intern, assist, become a PA… One of my former assistants knew I’d make calls on his behalf if he was a diligent assistant. We got him an agent, sent his script around, and he eventually sold the material. All from putting himself in the mix.
