How to Become a Talent Scout
Hello Creatives!
Have you ever wondered how Hollywood and Broadway find their next big heartthrob of an actor or actress? How do record labels find the next big bands? Well, today I’m breaking down the role of the Talent Scout, who is tasked with this very job.
What is a Talent Scout?
A talent scout (also called a talent agent or booking agent) is essentially the person who finds, recruits and manages the relationship between a creative professional and the company or agency they work for. They can either work directly for a film studio and record label or work for a talent agency, kind of like how head hunters work for staffing agencies in other industries. So, basically, talent scouts are head hunters for the entertainment industry.
What’s it like to be a Talent Scout?
The day-to-day can be very different. If there’s one thing for sure, a talent scout must be a people person. Finding talent means attending university or off-broadway plays, meet-and-greets at indie film festivals and sometimes sitting in on casting auditions. For talent scouts in the music industry, this means seeking out fresh new faces at local bars and venues or seeing who are the opening acts at a regional music festival. Essentially, talent scouts must master networking.
Being a talent scout also means knowing the art of negotiation because the creative professionals don’t have to sign with any particular talent scout. It’s a weird position to be in because the talent scout has to sell the creatives on being their agent and then turn around to the studios and record labels to sell them on taking a chance on the creative professionals. Knowing how to negotiate contracts is a critical component.
How do you become a talent scout?
Becoming a talent scout means doing grunt work for another talent scout for a year or so, either as an intern or as an assistant. During the learning curve of being an assistant or apprentice under another agent, two decisions must be made: move up or move out. Either make your moves based on getting promoted within the agency you are interning or have an entry level role in, or through your work find where you need to jump ship to to get in the environment most conducive to your success. Maybe that means starting your own agency in a different niche.
Learn everything you can about where to find the hidden gems of talent, the ins and outs of contract negotiations, and who in the industry are key gatekeepers for talent. Relationship building is vital to career success in any field, but in Hollywood, especially.
Some states require licensing for talent scouts. The Association of Talent Agents has a plethora of information on the industry as a whole, including job postings and licensing.
Is pursuing a career as a Talent Agent right for you?
If none of the above has scared you off, then it might be for you. Other aspects of the job to consider when wondering if becoming a talent agent is right for you is to seek out established talent scouts that you might want to intern or be an apprentice for and ask to chat about the job and career potential.
This job is certainly for the self-motivated and assertive. Hollywood is no joke. You’ll have to be someone who is comfortable with tight deadlines, buoyant client relationships, cut-throat competition and who may never be able to fully “turn off”.
Now, you might be wondering: How do talent scouts get paid? Much like literary agents in the publishing world, talent scouts get paid on commission from securing the contract on behalf of their clients. While demand for the job is expected to grow, it’s important to understand that depending on the type of scouting you’re interested in, the potential salary expectations are wildly different.
So, as you can see, talent scouts are like the grease on the wheels of Hollywood and Broadway. Their jobs are vital to staffing many major projects with actors, filmmakers, and musicians. Which means, we get to keep fawning over movie stars, binging tv shows, and singing along to musicals.
That’s all I have for today. Let me know if you have ever interned at a talent agency in the comments below! What was your experience like?
Until Next Time,
Rochele