The holidays are here and LA actors are scrambling to find gifts for their representation before everyone leaves on vacation. But what can you give to your agent for the holidays? How do you show thankfulness for a year’s worth of auditions without breaking the bank? We are here to help you brainstorm about what to get your reps that will help you build a personal relationship with them this coming new year. Read more here in “Help! What Should I Get My Reps This Holiday?”

First think of what you have in common.
I remember bonding with my NY commercial agent at our very first meeting over our mutual love of new makeup products. So when signing time came, her birthday month, and then the holidays – It was easy to choose some of my favorite products I thought she had to try or just give her a Sephora gift card so she could stock up on her beauty essentials.

What do they admire about you?
Does your manager always say he wishes he could cook Southern comfort food like you? Try a basket full of ingredients with a printed out recipe for your famous macaroni and cheese. If your agent always love your brightly colored yoga clothes and practices herself, why not a gift card to a nearby studio with a great gift shop?

What do you admire about them?
I had an agent’s assistant who always knew the latest indie rock darlings about to make it big. So an itunes gift card was the natural gift giving solution to my holiday dilemma. If you love your agent’s fierce shoe collection, you can do a Bloomingdale’s gift card. Or why not be even more creative and get some beautiful shoe bags to keep their prized heels safe when traveling?

Think of their lifestyle.
Are they a single, order Thai every night of the week bachelor or a suburban family man? What’s good for one may not be good for the other. Good old alcohol may be best suited for the first so he can bring it to a holiday party with him straight from work. But something to share with the family may better suit the second. Last year I got one of my agent’s a gift of amazing gourmet olive oils. He loved to cook for his family an dI knew he would appreciate something other than the obligatory wine.

Remember what’s generic for one may be perfect for another.
A few years ago I gave my agent’s assistant candles. One of those generic gifts you get when you don’t know what the heck to buy. But what made this gift personal was the fact that he always talked about his smelly roommates. We laughed about this multiple times when I was waiting to record voiceovers in the booth. So a card saying “Wishing you a brighter smelling new year full of roommate-less weeks!” made it perfect.

What if you don’t know them well at all?
It’s certainly trickier to buy a meaningful gift for someone you have no idea about. But there are some crowd pleasers that are almost always well received. Holiday treats for the office to share are sweet. Bonus points if you can actually make incredible French macaroons yourself. Edible Arrangements fruit art creations are a healthier option too. Coffees and coffee accessories are loved by almost every over worked assistant. And let’s face facts, no Los Angeleano will ever turn down a gift card for gasoline to help make their morning commute less stressful.

If all else fails, give them something that represents you.
I may not know much about my new agent yet, but they know I’m from a big Italian family, so I made a huge gift basket full of delicious Italian staples and snacks to send to the office. Cost Plus World Market has awesome gift baskets for a great price. You can build your own customized, or order a fab pre-made one. My reps also know I work with children on the side. So in the past I’ve even made a donation in their name to a charity that teaches the Arts to at risk youth. I made donations through World Vision, but you can put a personal stamp on a donation gift by choosing the charity that means the most to you!

Happy shopping and break legs!
Megan