Agents and agencies can be a really great thing.  They can also be of very little help. It truly depends on what it is you’re ultimately trying to accomplish.

“I want to be the next big movie trailer voice over person, will I need an agent?”

Probably so.  You’ll also need to make sure you have high quality demos, proven experience and great connections!   My suggestion:   if you’re just starting out, don’t worry about an agent right now.  In fact, don’t worry about anything.  Just enjoy learning, practicing and having fun trying to develop a new talent.   Focus on developing your skills and perfecting your craft before you worry about the business side.

If you truly feel like you’re past that point and you’re just having trouble securing work, it might be time to check into an agency.  There are hundreds and thousands of agencies out there.  Knowing which is the right one is never easy.  In fact, I won’t even begin to tell you which one is the right one for you.   All I will say is I find it best to start local.   Find an agency in your home town where you can actually meet, shake hands and talk with the agent or someone from the agency.  Talk to your friends, co-workers and other VO professionals to see if the agent/agency has a good reputation.  Only then, should you consider working with them.

If you eventually find an agent or agency you’d like to work with, that can be very helpful in securing further work, but make sure they NEVER charge you up front for representing you.   Only work with agents that are non-exclusive and take percentages of the work you do.  So you don’t ever have to pay them, unless you get paid.

Good luck!