The term "Talent Manager" is one of the most misunderstood, and confusing professions in entertainment today. Most artists and performers simply do not grasp the difference between the role of a professional Talent Manager and that of an agent and that of a third-party booker. The confusion is easy to understand, since there are so many people on the Internet (particularly on Facebook, Twitter, and other similar sites) who promote themselves as Talent Managers. But are they?
A good professional Talent Manager is the >trusted< leader of The Team, the "quarterback" — the one person who really sees, and OVERSEES — the BIG picture, "the vision" — not only for today and tomorrow, but the one individual who strategies passionately and preps the client for two, five, ten, fifteen years and more down the road.
Remember... Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or small, has its stages of drudgery and triumph. A beginning, a struggle, and a victory. A good Talent Manager doesn't deliver instant gratification (generally gained by more impulsive behaviors). Instead, the Talent Manager believes that the skill of giving preference to long-term goals over immediate ones (known as deferred gratification "or patience") is usually considered a virtue. That's because the Manager is, among other things, the Think Tank for the entire team, with the strategic know-how to connect the dots (dot-by-dot-by-dot) for your career development. They are the single most important professional who will invest in you with their time, energy, ethics, creativity, integrity, and experience.
Keeping in mind that no two clients (and no two projects) are ever alike, a Talent Manager is the strategic leader, the one who oversees performers and their projects, focusing in on every aspect of the actor's or writer's or entertainer's career. The Talent Manager cultivates the soil and chooses which seeds to plant for success. Oftentimes, a Talent Manager can open doors for talent that a talent agent cannot do. That is why an artist or entertainer signs with a Manager for the long journey, for it is the Manager who dives into unchartered waters and rides out the storms to bring exceptional TV, film and stage projects to fruition.
Mapping out the client's career course, a seasoned Talent Manager is the behind-the-scenes go-to, and backbone, to all TV, film, stage, entertainment, and literary projects. The Talent Manager working in entertainment should aggressively market the agency talent, their creative concepts, and all the agency's innovative projects, ideas and packaging, while directing (sometimes redirecting, revamping, and reinventing) the talent forward through the entertainment maze called Hollywood. Talent Managers also help to insulate performers from being exploited; they handle the client's marketing and promotion, itinerary, review booking submissions, TV and film offerings and contracts; they also hire and fire agents and bookers; meet with potential investors, and work to shield the client from the day-to-day stress of celebrity that is encountered as they go about their business. A dedicated Talent Manager is loyal, consistent, always inspiring, emotionally positive, a strong motivator, and a technically skilled (and cross-trained) negotiator. Rather than criticize the client, they constructively critique. At every turn, a solid manager should have the client's back, never "rubber stamping" agreements that need to be fine-tuned.
Talent Managers need to be principled and passionate about not only their work, but their client's.
A good professional Talent Manager is the >trusted< leader of The Team, the "quarterback" — the one person who really sees, and OVERSEES — the BIG picture, "the vision" — not only for today and tomorrow, but the one individual who strategies passionately and preps the client for two, five, ten, fifteen years and more down the road.
Remember... Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or small, has its stages of drudgery and triumph. A beginning, a struggle, and a victory. A good Talent Manager doesn't deliver instant gratification (generally gained by more impulsive behaviors). Instead, the Talent Manager believes that the skill of giving preference to long-term goals over immediate ones (known as deferred gratification "or patience") is usually considered a virtue. That's because the Manager is, among other things, the Think Tank for the entire team, with the strategic know-how to connect the dots (dot-by-dot-by-dot) for your career development. They are the single most important professional who will invest in you with their time, energy, ethics, creativity, integrity, and experience.
Keeping in mind that no two clients (and no two projects) are ever alike, a Talent Manager is the strategic leader, the one who oversees performers and their projects, focusing in on every aspect of the actor's or writer's or entertainer's career. The Talent Manager cultivates the soil and chooses which seeds to plant for success. Oftentimes, a Talent Manager can open doors for talent that a talent agent cannot do. That is why an artist or entertainer signs with a Manager for the long journey, for it is the Manager who dives into unchartered waters and rides out the storms to bring exceptional TV, film and stage projects to fruition.
Mapping out the client's career course, a seasoned Talent Manager is the behind-the-scenes go-to, and backbone, to all TV, film, stage, entertainment, and literary projects. The Talent Manager working in entertainment should aggressively market the agency talent, their creative concepts, and all the agency's innovative projects, ideas and packaging, while directing (sometimes redirecting, revamping, and reinventing) the talent forward through the entertainment maze called Hollywood. Talent Managers also help to insulate performers from being exploited; they handle the client's marketing and promotion, itinerary, review booking submissions, TV and film offerings and contracts; they also hire and fire agents and bookers; meet with potential investors, and work to shield the client from the day-to-day stress of celebrity that is encountered as they go about their business. A dedicated Talent Manager is loyal, consistent, always inspiring, emotionally positive, a strong motivator, and a technically skilled (and cross-trained) negotiator. Rather than criticize the client, they constructively critique. At every turn, a solid manager should have the client's back, never "rubber stamping" agreements that need to be fine-tuned.
Talent Managers need to be principled and passionate about not only their work, but their client's.
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