Becoming a professional actor is one of the hardest and confusing professions any person can take on. However, once you learn the tricks of the trade this business you will find that the difficulty of this indsutry will greatly reduce. Yet there are some aspects of this business that remain confusing to even the most seasoned of actors. One of these questions that every actor/actress comes across is, “What is the difference between a Talent Agent and a Talent Manager?” Well, the answer to this is quite simple as well as slightly difficult. But before we can explain the main differences between the two, we must first describe each of their functions in order to gain a better understanding of their individual duties and responsibilities to you, the actor.
First off, let’s discuss the main responsibilities and duties of the Talent Agent. The talent agent has been around for many years, and their involvement within the lives of the actor hasn’t changed much since they’re creation. The main function of the Talent Agent is to secure auditions for their actors, as well as help manage their career from a small flourishing one to a very successful one.
All legitimate talent agents are usually SAG Franchised, which means they follows a set standard of rules that are regulated by the Screen Actors Guild, or SAG. All Talent Agents take a commission from the work they find you. You will NEVER have to pay an upfront fee with any legitamite talent agent. The average commission agents take is 10%, however it can go up to 15%, however, anything higher than 15% should be frowned upon.
A Talent Agent is a very integral part of every actors life. If you are looking to take your career to a more professional level, you WILL NEED a talent agent to get you there. However, what makes a talent agent different from a talent manager? It would seem that they would have the same job, and would be equally as important, wouldn’t it? Yet, this is half-true, and half-false. They do have a similar job, and that is to make sure their clients (you, the actor), get as much work and make as much money as possible. However, the manager’s job is quite different from that of the talent agent, also, having a talent manager might not be the wisest choice for you – just yet, anyways.
As a Talent Manager, you will do just that, manage every aspect of your clients career. You will work closly with their talent agent, however, you will have specific duties that are unique to the management side of entertainment. Unlike a talent agent, a manager usually will not search out auditions. This doesn’t mean that you will never get an audition through your manager, however, the likelihood is very slim. Basically what a manager will do is help organize every aspect of your career, ranging from setting up interviews with radio stations, magazines and newspapers, as well as guiding you through the correct steps to help you become successful. A manager will help take your career to the next level, when you’re ready
Another aspect that makes managers different from Talent Agents, is their commission. It is common for a manager to take 15 to 20 percent of your earnings. You will never have to pay a manager out of your pocket, just like you will never have to pay a talent agent anything from your pocket, until they find you work. Yet, when you have an agent and a manager, it can become quite expensive, which is why not very many actors have both. In all actuality, very few actors really need a manager and an agent when they are first starting out. The only reason why you would need to hire a manager is when your career hits a certain level that requires more than two people to manage. This is when you will need the assistance of manager as well as your agent.
Now, I hope you have a better understanding about the differences between a talent agent and a talent manager. They both are very integral parts of the entertainment industry and the actors career, however, you as the actor must know when it is appropriate to hire a manager. Remember, keep your goals clear, have constant communication between you and your agent/manager, and make sure to always have fun!
