So you want to become an acting agent, huh? I hear ya. Agents and managers are the gatekeepers to Hollywood. Unauthorized, they will not let you through. Authorized, they’ll help you get into the party and get a great deal. But it’s not easy to become authorized. Here are the steps to take, plus a few tips and tricks to learn along the way. This is for those who’ve been told that their acting career isn’t going anywhere and need an alternative way to make money as an actor in Hollywood – rather than waiting for a big break.
So you want to be an acting agent in the film and television world, huh? It’s a great industry to break into and make your mark. Not only do you get the chance to meet new people on a regular basis and represent them as their agent, but also you get to be a part of a very fast-paced business that rewards those who are driven enough to go after their dreams.
How To Become An Acting Agent
Many performers in the entertainment industry find jobs with the help of a talent agent. These industry professionals help match entertainers with open positions, among other responsibilities. If you’re interested in becoming a talent agent, it’s helpful to understand the skills and training you need to work in that position. In this article, we explain what a talent agent is, describe what a talent agent does, provide the steps for becoming a talent agent, offer the average salary and job outlook for talent agents and highlight the skills needed to work as a talent agent.
Related: How To Write an Entertainment Industry Cover Letter (With Tips and an Example)
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What is a talent agent?
A talent agent, also known as a talent scout or talent manager, is an entertainment industry professional who helps performers and other entertainers find jobs. Besides helping their clients find roles or positions, they also often help direct their clients’ careers and develop connections with powerful hiring agents in their client’s specific field. Talent agents also handle a number of other related duties.
Related: 15 Filmmaking Jobs in the Entertainment Industry
What does a talent agent do?
Talent agents’ day-to-day job responsibilities can vary depending on the type of entertainer they work with and the number of clients they manage. Common job duties for talent agents across the industry often include:
- Identifying clients: Many talent agents hold casting calls or auditions to find talented individuals to represent. Some specialize in a specific type of entertainment, like music, while others represent entertainers in a number of fields.
- Understanding industry trends: Talent agents must follow industry trends to ensure their clients have the appropriate skills and training to find jobs.
- Training clients: Most talent agents take the time to work with their clients and help them develop and hone their skills, so they’ll be competitive in the audition market.
- Marketing clients: Another important duty for talent agents is marketing their clients to hiring professionals to help the client get jobs.
- Seeking job opportunities: Often, talent agents identify potential job opportunities for their clients and match them with the hiring professional in charge of the project.
- Negotiating contracts: Once one of their clients has a job offer, most talent agents help negotiate the performer’s contract to ensure it’s fair and appropriate.
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How to become a talent agent
If you’re interested in becoming a talent agent, follow these steps to start your career managing others in the entertainment industry:
1. Finish high school
Talent agencies expect their talent agents to have a high school diploma at a minimum—many seek applicants with higher education. While in high school, ensure you spend time working with the theater troupe, band, orchestra and other entertainment groups to understand how these organizations function and what to look for in a talented performer.
2. Earn a bachelor’s degree
The majority of talent agents attend college or university and earn a bachelor’s degree. Common majors for talent agents include marketing, business, communications and public relations. While pursuing your degree, it’s useful to take classes in your chosen performance area, like theater, film, dance or music to develop connections and learn to identify talented performers.
3. Seek an internship
Like many other entertainment professionals, jobs in the talent identification and development sector are often highly competitive. One great way to develop connections and build experience in the field is through a talent agency internship. Look for opportunities while you’re in your bachelor’s program or immediately following graduation.
4. Call agencies
Some talent agencies post open job positions on their website or on general online job boards, while others recruit talent agents exclusively. It’s often useful to call talent agencies and ask about job opportunities in addition to looking for positions online or through traditional means.
5. Develop your skill set
Talent agents must have a certain set of skills to do their jobs well. Much of their work entails identifying talent and communicating with other industry professionals, both performers and hiring managers. Ensuring you have the appropriate skills for the industry and can confidently deploy them when needed can give you a competitive edge when looking for a talent agency position.
6. Market yourself
Since the competition for talent agent positions can be high, it’s best to develop a personal brand and market yourself professionally and effectively to hiring agencies. For example, consider creating a personal website that highlights your education, skills, network and experience. You can share it with industry professionals when looking for a job.
7. Grow your network
Networking and developing professional connections is vital for working as a talent agent in the entertainment industry. You’ll need to know other agents and hiring professionals to get jobs for your clients. Attend professional networking events and seek to build positive industry relationships whenever you can.
8. Apply for positions
After you’ve identified a few potential positions, prepare a thorough application. Include all the requested documents and any supplementary materials you might have, like a link to your professional website, to help you secure a job interview and potentially a position.
Related: 15 Jobs in the Music Industry
Salary for talent agents
Talent agents often receive a competitive wage or salary for their education, skills and job duties. According to Indeed, the average salary for a talent scout, a synonymous job title for talent agent, is $57,868 per year. Several factors can impact the total income you can expect to make as a talent agent, including:
- Location: Many talent agents work in big cities like New York, Los Angeles or London. These talent agents often earn more than talent agents in smaller regions due to the cost of living.
- Employer: Some talent agencies have the means to pay their talent agents more than others, particularly those who work in the high-paying film industry with celebrity actors.
- Experience: Typically, the more experience you have working as a talent agent, the more money you can earn.
- Field: Talent agents in a field like film or music often have higher earning potential than those who specialize in theater or dance.
Related: What Is a Singing Career? 11 Careers in the Singing Industry
Skills for a talent agent
Hard and soft skills are both vital for talent agents. Specific skills aspiring talent agents should focus on developing include:
- Communication: Talent agents must be skilled communicators, capable of both making their own position clear and understanding the opinions and needs of others.
- Persistence: Finding clients and identifying the right jobs for them often takes persistence and resilience.
- Empathy: It’s important for talent agents to be empathetic of their clients, particularly during training, marketing and auditioning.
- Industry knowledge: Excellent talent managers know what the latest industry trends are and prepare their clients to succeed within those trends.
- Legal understanding: Since contract negotiation is a primary job duty for talent agents, some legal knowledge of contracts and contract law is important.
- Organization: Talent agents must stay organized since they work with multiple clients, hiring managers and organizations in the course of their work.
- Autonomy: Most talent agents must be able to work independently and manage their time effectively without direct managerial oversight.
