Why Do I Need a Talent Manager?
Lots of effort goes in to finding an agent when pursuing showbiz, but when it comes to managers, many parents are either confused about what role talent managers actually play or are unsure if they even need one in the first place.
We're here to tell you that talent managers play an important role in the entertainment world. But like anything, talent managers aren't for everyone. Knowing more about managers will help you decide if your child should seek this type of representation.
So, to start, what is a talent manager?
A talent manager engages in career direction and the overall management of a client's career. He or she advises, councils and acts as a liaison between the actor and the people with whom they do business (agents, public relations, etc).
If you're just starting out, having a talent manager can be a great asset for helping you find an agent. However, the decision to seek the guidance of a talent manager should also depend upon which area of the business you are entering (music, film, print). Print models, for example, are very rarely represented by talent managers. Also remember that while agents must hold an agency license, managers do not hold this type of license and are therefore not permitted to negotiate rates of pay or employment contracts.
Talent
managers, like agents, work on commission. Their fee is paid in
addition to an agent's fee, so if you choose to be represented by both
an agent and a manager, you will pay an average of 25% of your gross
income in fees. Add these fees to the trust account deposits and tax
withholdings and your income is cut in half.
If a Talent Manager isn't licensed like an agent, how do I know they are reputable?
To start, many good managers are members of the Talent Managers Association (formerly known as the Conference of Personal Managers, but the name was changed in 2001) and therefore have agreed to abide by a code of ethics which states that members may not receive a commission exceeding 15% of the artist's gross income and that they may not charge for things like letter writing, photographs or listing the artist in a publication or registry.
Another way to see if a talent manager is reputable is by searching them in our Member Directory and reading the ratings and recommendations of other parents and industry pros. If you already have an agent or manager, be sure to rate and recommend them so that other parents can benefit from the information you provide about your experience.
To search our Member Directory for Talent Managers
