<< All Blogs

What Is the Difference Between a Talent Agent and a Talent Manager?

By The Up-To-Date Actor, April 25, 2022

Are you unclear about the difference between a talent agent and a talent manager? A lot of people mix up the two. Read on to learn about the differences between talent agents and talent managers, including their roles, responsibilities, and how they can help grow your career.

What Do Talent Agents Do?

Talent agents have a rather specific job: to find the best roles for their actor clients. Once your talent agent has found a role for which they think you would be well-suited, the next step is to get you an audition and put you in front of the right people at the right time.

Talent agents typically work for talent agencies and are licensed by the states in which they practice. Most talent agencies are franchised with the entertainment unions and guilds, which gives them the legal right and ability to solicit employment for their clients and to negotiate contracts once their clients land roles. Agents may also submit artists for work through major casting sites that not all managers have access to.

A talent agent may choose to work on an exclusive signed contract for a 1-year period or may work as freelancers. Bear in mind that talent agents have a roster of clients within the entertainment industry, so their personalized attention may differ from that of a talent manager. Also note that talent agents are paid in commission, the standard of which is 10% for union roles and 20% for non-union bookings.

What Do Talent Managers Do?

The role of a talent manager tends to be more personal than that of a talent agent. Talent managers or personal managers may be professionals who are part of the National Conference of Personal Managers but they may also work solely without any affiliation. In fact, a talent manager could even be a close friend or family member who knows you, your abilities, and will fight for the best interests of your career. Talent managers aim to help performers advance their careers; they help navigate media exposure, public relations, project production, contracts, and finances.

As opposed to a talent agent, who will probably have a long list of clients, talent managers typically have a smaller roster of artists they represent. Talent managers devote their full attention to coordinating the multiple facets of a performer’s career. From scheduling interviews to making sure that you get paid for every job you book, your talent manager is there to keep you working for the long run.

Great talent managers will work alongside talent agents to get their actors roles. They’ll also introduce actors to important contacts within the industry to help secure auditions and additional work. Managers typically sign clients for 1-3 year contracts. They usually get a 15% commission on each booking but can go as high as 20% (in addition to the 10% actors pay their agents).

Key Differences Between Talent Agents and Managers

There are several main differences between a talent agent and a talent manager:

• Level of involvement in the actor’s career
• How management goes about getting work for their clients
• Talent agents usually work for talent agencies
• Talent agents are licensed by the state
• Talent agents have access to major casting sites that managers may not
• Talent managers are engaged in the day-to-day happenings of an actor’s career
• Talent managers have a smaller roster of clients than talent agents
• Talent managers coordinate actors’ careers beyond setting up auditions
• Talent managers’ duties involve scheduling, contract negotiations, reputation management, publicity, career development, and more

Can a Talent Manager Also be a Talent Agent?

Yes! A growing trend in the NYC talent scene is the hybrid agent/manager. This type of representation is generally a manager who is working more like an agent but is not affiliated with the talent unions and guilds. These personal managers procure appointments directly for their clients, negotiate contracts, work with entertainment lawyers, and perform a mix of the duties of both talent agents and talent managers.

Choose Up-To-Date Actor to Help You in Your Search for a Talent Agent

There are two ways you can start working with a talent agent: Wait for one to approach you or be proactive and reach out to them yourself! Use the database at Up-To-Date Actor to find a long list of talent agencies and managers to suit your needs. Sign up for an account with us today!