Roles and Responsibilities of Talent Agents
The main job of talent agencies is to find work for their clients. Talent agents can send clients on auditions, set up meetings, and negotiate contracts. An agent has two sets of clients: the “talent” and the “buyer”. The buyer can be a casting director or production company.
Richard Lovett – The Powerful Agent
Richard Lovett is considered the most powerful agent in Hollywood. He took over as head of CAA in 1995, at 41. He’s credited with the success of many leading actors in blockbusters.
How Talent Agents Operate
It is important to remember that talent agents generally get paid 10 to 20 percent of what their clients make. In California, it is illegal to charge money to represent talent. Legitimate agents and managers make money from commissions. A talent agent has to spend time looking for jobs for clients. He looks at online lists of projects in development and reviews production notices. Talent agents arrange lunches and dinners with producers and casting directors to get information on new projects. Once he finds a potential match for a client, the agent discusses it and gets the client’s reaction.
Finding Clients
The main job of talent agencies is to find work for their clients — actors, writers, directors, athletes, and other creative professionals. Talent agents can send actors on auditions, set up meetings, and negotiate contracts.