What do talent agencies do

Agencies are looking for actors that they believe will book jobs. When casting directors are casting a film, TV show, or commercial, the casting directors ask the agencies to submit actors that fit the profile for the project. For example, if Disney is casting a new television show, and they want a fun, energetic teen to star in the show, Disney will ask the casting directors to hold auditions. The casting directors then notify the agencies that they are looking for a fun and energetic teen.

Next, your agency sees the casting notice and submits you for the job because you are a fun and energetic teen. After you audition and book the job, your agency negotiates your money contract, so you can get the best results possible. For this service, the agency takes a small percentage of your earnings. Your talent agency becomes a partner in your professional acting career.

No reputable talent agent or talent agency will want money from you until you work. If you are having fun in your acting classes and love acting, it might be time to consider if you want to start doing real commercials, TV shows, or movies.

If that is something that interests you, getting a talent agent is a good early step. While each is a top talent agency, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Now let's get into their main function and what they really do you know, besides screaming into their phones. Beyond setting up the occasional coffee meetings for clients, talent agencies perform a wide variety of functions for their clients and the agency at large.

A few of them include:. Talent agencies come in many different shapes and sizes. Some talent agencies specialize in a niche area, such as voice over talent, writing talent, or commercial directing, while others run the full gamut. CAA talent agency is one of the largest talent agencies, employing several thousand talent agents with a roster of A-list talent like Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Jennifer Lawerence.

Often talent agents at CAA will only consider signing well established artists. Formed in when Creative Management Associates merged with International Famous Agency, ICM represents a number of high profile television showrunners and writers including Vince Gilligan and Shonda Rhimes , making it a powerhouse in television packaging.

Blige, and Eddie Izzard. In , Paradigm talent agency planned a merger with United Talent Agency that was ultimately called off. However, mergers, acquisitions, and name changes like this are common among talent agencies and clients and agents are constantly leaving one talent agency for another. And more importantly, which do I need? The simple answer is both.

Many people will say managers provide career guidance while agents primarily are concerned with landing you your next job. And while that may be true, the distinction between the two is a little more complicated. In California and many other states, talent agents must be licensed and individual talent agents must work for one of the many talent agencies.

This is because talent agencies negotiate and sign contracts for clients. As far as how to obtain a talent agency license goes, requirements differ by state. Unlike agents, managers do not need to go through this same licensing procedure and they are not able to negotiate or enter into employment contracts on behalf of their clients. In addition to an agent and a manager, you might also need an entertainment lawyer.

You might try cold calling or emailing with your headshots, resume, a writing sample, or your reel attached. Almost all talent agencies keep careful call logs of every incoming call; however, due the high volume of emails and phone calls talent agencies get everyday, these unsolicited submissions are unlikely to end up anywhere other than the spam folder.

In general, a talent agent acts as a middleman between talented creative types and those that are looking to hire them. Many talent agents start building their networks before they even start their careers, and they keep adding contacts throughout their careers. They keep a list of these contacts handy for whenever their clients are searching for work.

Many creative types seek out talent agents on their own and may be required to audition, or otherwise prove their talents. For instance, authors might send a completed manuscript to an agent, while musicians may send a demo CD. Talent agents can then screen these individuals based on their talents, working with the most promising ones. A talent agent might also go in search of new talent as well.

For example, he might go to theater productions in search of actors , or he might attend small concerts in search of talented musicians. He will also apply to jobs on behalf of his clients. He must then help each of his clients work out the terms of their contracts. A contract may include basic information such as how long the job is and the pay rate, along with other information like what is expected of the artist as well as the hiring entity.

A talent agent will also help work out any disputes between the creative talent and employers, should they arise. Although formal education is not always necessary when pursuing a talent agent career , it is highly recommended. Minors in areas like music business or film production can also help you collect contacts and help you learn more about these industries. An internship is also another common step that most individuals must take when pursuing talent agent careers.