Mallory Levy, DDO Artists Agency
From Kat: Mallory was my first real buddy in the agency world. She’s everything that you would want in a friend and in an agent. She’s genuine- both when she praises you and when she has to shoot you straight. She’s inspiring- both in the way she’ll lift you up when you’re down and the way she’ll attack her business. And she’s funny- whether that’s making you laugh at the mundane or need to blow off steam after a long work week.
I admire her for many different reasons that I think you’ll be able to see in this interview. She’s climbing mountains quickly, while still leaving room to change course and make the smart decision. We’re catching her at an exciting time in her growth at DDO, so we’ll let her take you into the world of those who hit ‘submit’.
Mallory! We’re honored to have you launch the Agent portion of our blog. Would you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?:
Hi! My name is Mallory Levy and I am the director of the Youth Division at DDO Artists Agency in New York. I have been with DDO for almost 2 years now (wow). I work on everything for the kiddos (TV, Film, Commercial, Theatre, a little bit of print). We also have a great voiceover division that covers my kids as well as the adults. I’m from a lil old town called Long Island, New York = I lived on Long Island until I went to college up in Albany! Once I finished up college I moved to Manhattan and have been living in NYC ever since (well more specifically Long Island City) shoutout to my neighbors Kat and Peter.
You went to the University of Albany….Can you tell us how you ended up there and how it impacted your career?
So, when I graduated High School I didn’t really know what I want I wanted to do! I had been involved in theatre my whole life so I knew my passion would be in the entertainment world, but I was never focused towards anything specific. When I got to Albany, I majored in something super generic (business) which I hated, then switched to communications…which I also ended up hating! I finally ended up majoring in Sociology, which is basically the study of people. All the while minoring in theatre. My second year into college my friend Kait and I decided to start a musical theatre association, primarily because Albany didn’t offer musical theatre as a major. We wanted people who were passionate about MT like us to have an outlet for their creativity! Starting the club was probably my biggest accomplishment at the university as well as what I learned the most from. Not only did we put together three full scale musicals during my time there but we produced, cast, and directed all of them. I learned the most valuable tools about business, marketing, self-starting etc from the club.
What led you to become an Agent? What were the things you did in the first year to help you start out?
I had applied for an internship on Entertainment Careers (plug for Entertainment Careers that website is INVALUABLE- I promise they didn’t pay me to say that) at a casting agency right out of college and landed a gig at Barbara McNamara casting working on extras casting! The biggest show they worked on exclusively was casting the extras for 30 Rock. We would receive the strangest specs to fill for that show. Female balloon artists, people who could walk on stilts while juggling etc. Walking in to this internship, I had ZERO idea about the Agency world. I would deal with agents every once and a while at the internship and I was super curious as to how that world worked. The only agent I knew was Ari Gold from Entourage ; ).
After about 2 months at Barbara McNamara I was connected through a family friend to the team at Innovative Artists. They were currently filling two positions, assistant to the beauty division and mailroom associate. I had about four different interviews with the team. I literally laughed at the HR women when she told me I was being considered for a mailroom position because I had NO idea that role actually existed. In reality, that is typically where ALL industry professionals start in this world. Goes to show how little I actually knew about all of this. I was lucky enough to snag the assistant position and it all snowballed from there!
In my first year, I worked with models exclusively for commercials. Although it was only 7 years ago, the market for beauty commercials was SO different. A model could easy make $125k on one beauty campaign. It was an extremely lucrative division to be a part of. Nowadays, the beauty world has changed so drastically it’s basically impossible for a model to make a living on commercial work. I learned SO much from working at Innovative. I was an assistant to two agents who were SO incredibly different. Looking back it was so great to have worked for such two different agents because I was able to take what I respected and admired from each and apply it to how I agent today. It showed me that two completely different agents could find success in this business working basically opposite.
Was there ever a moment where you questioned this career path? If so, how did you get through that time?
100%. More than one moment FOR SURE. I think that’s normal though. I seriously question this business when I run into people who aren’t genuine. I really try to run my business with integrity and honor and when I see people who are shady, who cut corners, or who will step on whoever to get to the top, its V frustrating. I understand that it’s probably the case in most industries but our business is SO cutthroat. I think unfortunately, people will backstab you or say things behind your back and make you seem like you’re not doing the right thing to get ahead. At the end of the day, this doesn’t really benefit anybody. You don’t look good gossiping and talking about other people and obviously the person you’re speaking about won’t look good. I try to lead with as much positivity as possible because I think at the end of the day people see right through you in this industry. The good ones know who are in it for the right reasons (Bachelor quote for the win). At the same time I have met so many amazing people along the way which pull me back in every time.
What’s the most important thing you’ve done in your career so far?
I guess seeing potential in a kid and perhaps being the ONLY person who sees that potential. Nurturing that talent, believing in them and then finding them success is the best feeling. It’s so important to believe in talent you feel passionately about no matter where they come from. The saying “it’s who you know” truly applies to this industry in both positive and negative ways. I could care less where somebody comes from. If I find a client off the street and think they are talented, girl you better believe that kid is going on my roster! Everybody enters our office on an equal playing field.
You are a rockstar and work on theatre, tv/film, commercials, and print. Can you talk about the biggest differences when working on them? What do you prefer to be negotiating on?
Commercials are a really quick turnaround. I get a breakdown and its cast and shot within two weeks. TV/Film/Theatre is a super drawn-out process. We may not find out about callbacks or bookings until months later. It makes it difficult to get kids excited about the tv/film/theatre because they like that instant satisfaction of a commercial or VO booking. They get to see the finished products very quickly and the process tends to be way easier.
I personally prefer to negotiate theatre jobs. Theatre is my passion, it is what I did my whole life. Unfortunately for kids, theatre isn’t as prominent as the other categories.
At the onset of your career, what was the definition of success you were aspiring to achieve? Now, where you are at, how do you describe your success?
My idea of success at the beginning of my career was that I needed to be an agent at one of the top three agencies in the country. That was going to be my pinnacle of success. I started this career so young that for me, if I played my cards right, this was something that was totally attainable down the line. Since then things have TOTALLY shifted for me. I’ve worked at two really large agencies and have also worked at two smaller/mid-size agencies. I really like the idea of having the independence and the freedom to grow and develop a division at a smaller or mid-size agency. You don’t really get that freedom with the larger agencies. There is a hierarchy and you better believe you follow their rules to a tee. You don’t necessarily have that creativity. Whereas with midsize agencies you are able to agent as you see fit. In my situation right now, If I feel like a certain tactic or way of agenting works better for me I am able to test the waters and kind of develop. So right now, my definition of success is growing this division, building our roster, having them be successful, happy, and being able to say that we have a thriving business.
What’s something you wish you had done or wish you had known earlier?
I wish I hadn’t let certain people I’ve worked with or for in the past affect how I feel about the industry. I didn’t like working with people that made me feel like ‘because I disliked them, i disliked the industry.’ I had to take a step back and think to myself... “Do I hate this because of this person or do I hate this because of the actual job”. When I really thought long and hard or left those people to go somewhere else, I realized that I love this, I know I love this, I just allowed those people to negatively affect me. I wish I had been able to say to myself ‘don’t allow those people to dictate how you feel about the industry or allow them to tell you how good you are at what you do.’ Those people aren’t here to build you up. They have their own insecurities. Whatever negativity they spew at you is probably just insecurities they have with themselves.
Are you at the top of your mountain?
No, I don’t think so. I think I don’t give myself enough credit for what I have accomplished thus far. I am VERY hard on myself. I always feel like it’s never enough. “Should I have already done something, should I be working that extra hour, should I have called that person to pitch again, etc, etc”. I think stepping back I have to give myself credit for what I have done and where I have been so far. If you overthink the “what ifs” you’ll end up in a negative spiral. There is definitely still a lot to do and there’s a lot of room to grow. I see a lot of really cool things down the line for myself in this industry. There is always room to grow. But I am also proud of all my accomplishments.
RAPID FIRE!
Favorite Broadway show of all time: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
TV show that you love: Friends….duh
Favorite music on your commute: Show Tunes or Podcasts specifically Armchair Expert
Any other obsessions?: My Dog Luna. She is an inspiration to us all. So confident and doesn’t give a damn about what ANYBODY says = ) TV, Cooking, Food, Theatre
Social media is ________: A necessary evil
Religious, Spiritual, or nah?: Nah
Actor-ism that frustrates you: How much room do I have to write? JK. Comparing their career to their friend’s careers.
Call or Email?: Depends on the situation. I hate getting 6-page emails. If it’s a quick thing like a book out or confirm totally email me. If it requires a conversation, get on the phone!
Biggest beef with the business: 1) People who refuse to change with the times. 2) People who aren’t open to new ideas or the ideas of others 3) People who do things in a shady way to try and get to the top
Favorite part about working at DDO? I love the freedom I have to grow the division. I love that we are current with all the really cool ways of marketing our clients on social media. We just implemented some great new programs for social media. Check us out: DDOKids (shameless plug). Social is the main way people research agencies and learn about them so I love how ahead of times we are with it.
If you have kids, will they be child actors? NO
Hardest part of being an agent?: Competition babayyy
I get inspired when _______: I get super excited about a client. When I see a kid at a showcase or workshop and they just have that X factor. That is so exciting
Anything you’d like to promote?: OUR INSTAGRAM!!!! DDOkids. My personal Instagram sucks… It’s basically playbills and my dog so don’t bother following me there.
Interview by: Kat Hargrave