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Talent Manager Duties and Responsibilities

Managing talent involves a variety of duties and responsibilities, The following is a list of the most common Talent Manager duties and responsibilities, which we put together after analyzing over a dozen Talent Manager job descriptions.

Scout and Evaluate Talent Talent Managers have to have to understand what constitutes good talent in their industry. Depending on one's industry, evaluating talent could mean holding actor auditions, going to theatrical performances, listening to demo tapes or reading written material.

Sign and Pitch Prospective Clients Talent Managers are responsible for convincing prospective clients that signing them as a Talent Manager will help the client reach their career goals. This involves doing deep research on prospective clients and using strong interpersonal skills to build rapport.

Create Marketing Strategies for Clients Once Talent Managers sign a client, the next order of business is to create a marketing strategy designed to get their clients more gigs and generate more buzz. This involves collaborating with the client and other members of the client's team.

Find and Land Deals for Clients In some industries, such as the writing industry, the Talent Manager also functions as the Talent Agent. This involves finding openings that match their client's skills and then setting up meetings to negotiate deals and sign contracts.

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Talent Manager Skills

The role of Talent Manager is one that requires mostly soft skills to succeed. The best Talent Managers have what almost seems to be a sixth sense for spotting good talent. They are also excellent communicators. Talent Managers have to be able to build rapport and establish trust to land clients, as well as to get gigs for their clients. Below is a list of the skills aspiring Talent Managers must have to obtain employment.
  • Evaluating talent using industry-specific knowledge
  • Creating and delivering pitches to prospective clients
  • Using Client Relationship Management (CRM) software to keep track of communication with clients and decision makers for client opportunities
  • Creating and implementing marketing strategies for clients
  • Collaborating with other members of client's team to propel client's career
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Talent Manager Education and Training

Although there are no official education requirements for Talent Managers, a bachelor's degree in marketing, management or public relations is advisable. During their education, Talent Managers learn talent acquisition techniques, contract law, negotiation techniques and other relevant areas of knowledge. Industry certifications include Talent Management Certified Professional ( TMCP ) and Talent Acquisition Strategist (TAS).
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Talent Manager Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median salary for Agents and Business Managers, which includes Talent Managers, is $62,080. Those in the top 10 percent make over $194,810, while those in the bottom 10 percent earn below $27,290. This wide salary range exists because part of a Talent Manager's compensation is a commission percentage on their client's contracts. Those who represent higher-level talent make much more in commission than those who represent lesser-known talent.
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Talent Manager Resources

Check out the list of additional resources below to learn more about what a Talent Manager does and what they need to know.

Talent Managers Association - Founded in 1955, the Talent Managers Association is dedicated to the professional development of Talent Managers in a way that raises the ethical standard of the industry. They have a regular newsletter that covers industry trends and also have several conferences and networking events every year.

Association of Talent Agents - Founded in 1937, the Association of Talent Agents has over 100 talent agencies who have corporate membership. Together these agencies represent most of the talent in the entertainment industry. The news section on their website has the most recent news on anything related to the talent management industry. Although Talent Agent and Talent Manager are different positions, their website still has good information for Talent Managers.

Secrets of a Hollywood Talent Manager

- This blog is written by Wendy Alane Wright, a Hollywood Talent Manager who is also CEO of WAW entertainment. She parlayed her 16,000 hours of experience in the recording studio into a career in managing and developing talent.

Hidden Talent: The Emergence of Hollywood Agents by Tom Kemper - In this book, Kemper explores the history of Talent Managers and Agents. It explores how they first came on the scene in the 1920's and took hold in the 1950's. It's a great read for those interested in the history of the industry.

Representing Talent: Hollywood Agents and the Making of Movies by Violaine Roussel - This book goes behind the scenes and provides a deep-dive into the role Talent Managers and Agents play in getting a movie made. It is an excellent read for those who want to learn more about the daily life of Talent Managers.

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