One of the most commonly asked questions amongst aspiring actors is ‘Do I need a talent agent?’. The answer is a tricky one, partly because some actors are fully capable of finding work without one while others still need to learn the business of acting. The other reason is because there is another option there, a manager. So what’s the difference between a talent agent and a manager? Do actors need both a talent agent and a manager? Let’s take a look at the differences between the two, and what talent representation means for your acting career.
What Is a Talent Agent?
The requirements vary slightly by state, but in California a talent agent is someone who has a license and works through a talent agency. The legal definition of talent agency is “a person or corporation who engages in the occupation of procuring, offering, promising, or attempting to procure employment or engagements for an artist or artists, except that the activities of procuring, offering, or promising to procure recording contracts for an artist or artists shall not of itself subject a person or corporation to regulation and licensing under this chapter. Talent agencies may, in addition, counsel or direct artists in the development of their professional careers.”
Here are some of the finer details-
- A talent agent can legally negotiate your contracts
- They have a roster of clients
- Talent agents make money through commission, but the amount also varies by state. For talent agents in California the maximum is 20-25% of the earnings you receive through the work that they find for you, whereas one in New York caps off at 10%. Commissions can also come from holiday pay, location pay, fitting fees, and audition overtime
- Agents typically specialize in a type of client (actor, writer, musician, etc) but also sometimes specialize in categories of work (commercial, theater, film, voice acting, etc)
- Agents need to adhere to labor regulations outlined by a union like SAG-AFTRA or the Directors Guild of America, depending on their client’s profession
What Is a Talent Manager?
A talent manager is typically defined as someone who handles the administrative side of your career, offers guidance, and is in charge of business management but really it’s a bit of a blanket term. Talent managers don’t require any kind of license so there are some things that they’re legally not allowed to do. Further, anyone can be a talent manager – that’s not to say anyone should be a manager, of course. If you hire a manager make sure it’s someone that you trust with your financial well-being. We all know at least one horror story about a child actor whose career was mishandled by their parents and they never saw any of the money that they earned.
- Managers legally aren’t allowed to negotiate your contracts or book work for you, but they can offer advice on specific contracts or career advice in general
- They can also offer advice on your income and other financial matters, like any investments you have
- Talent managers can make money through commission or salary, it depends on the arrangement
- Managers usually work with only one client at a time
- Managers handle your schedule, from making appointments to making sure you meet any deadlines
- Part of managing your career means finding any staff that your team needs, so your manager could find an agent for you. They can also act a liaison with an agent, lawyer, publicist, etc
Which Is Better?
Neither, technically speaking. Both have their advantages, and a few drawbacks. For example, having a manager with only one client means a lot of one-on-one time, but their fees tend to be much higher. Agents have industry connections that the average manager might not, and a good agent can help you ‘graduate’ from their boutique agency to one of the big four- Creative Artists Agency (CAA), William Morris Endeavor (WME), United Talent Agency (UTA), and ICM Partners. However, agents don’t have time to develop new actors, and it’ll be hard to find a good agent to plan your acting career strategy with if you don’t have assets like a demo reel or headshots.
Should I Get An Agent and a Manager?
That depends- are you ready for both? Are you even ready for one? There’s a lot of groundwork you’ll need to cover before you’re at that point, and few will consider you if you don’t know your ABCs- assets, brand, and craft. If you can package that and communicate your strategy, then it might be time to start looking!
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