Booking Agent

When I became the booking agent for Tru Talent Management in April 2010, I set a few goals for myself and my department. One goal was to get to know my talent base. Every person that comes into my office I try to form a one-on-one relationship with. This is so important for me as a booking agent because then I get to know what each talent’s strengths and weaknesses are and can work with them in perfecting their monologue and in general prepare them for the audition process.

 

Another goal was to provide a variety of opportunities to all talent. We have provided acting, modeling, hair shows, movie extras, commercials, voice overs, reality shows, Network TV casting opportunities, Theatre, etc. I wanted to provide opportunities not just for the talent but for their family as well.

 

My goal for 2011 is to make even more contacts in the industry to provide even more opportunities to our talent. As a screenwriter/actress/producer myself, I am continually out there meeting the movers and shakers of the industry and will continue to network finding new opportunities for my talent.

 

Now let me tell you why I absolutely LOVE my job. Yes, that’s right. I LOVE my job. I get the opportunity to meet lots and lots of new people. I get to know them a little and I am able to make a difference in people’s lives. However small, even just from a kind word I can impact someone’s life and make them feel better about themselves. I get to watch them grow as an actor and as a person through working with them one-on-one on their monologues, resumes, portfolios, scenes, etc. I get to see their faces light up when they see their portfolio pictures or headshots for the first time and they say, “I can’t believe that’s me”. It’s very rewarding to me and I treasure each experience.

 

One thing I am extremely proud of is the opportunity we gave to one young man, Joseph Dahle. He has a learning disability and he could not find anyone who would represent him. Tru Talent met him and felt his passion for his dream – acting. Tru Talent sponsored him and has since helped make his dream a reality. He appeared in his first film, “Chick Magnets”, all made possible because we here at Tru Talent truly care about our talent.

 

We Are A Full Service Talent & Modeling Agency

The first thing I would like to state is that we are a full service talent and modeling agency. Yes, we do offer all the tools necessary to help our talent to be able to go through our booking department and get out there to land jobs when they’re sent on auditions. Most people who come in here did not possess such natural talent that we would feel comfortable with them using our name to go out on auditions but we feel confident with some proper training and with a professional portfolio those individuals would then be ready and better equipped to go out on auditions and perhaps even land roles!

Tru Talent Management provides all the tools one would need to be a successful actor or even a model! Utah is one of the few sates that have a ton of movies and films that are shot within the state! This allows for a lot of opportunities for those people that are interested in breaking into the industry, and Tru Talent Management is one of the top booking agencies in the state!

If someone is truly committed to making it big in the movie world I would recommend starting out with a smaller agency to build your resume and your skills. Tru Talent Management is a perfect company to start with. Unfortunately in today’s world of the internet the golden rule is now if you don’t have something bad to say, don’t say it. You cannot always believe what you read but need to rather see what success a company has and have faith in yourself before deciding not to do something just because someone has written something negative about a company on the internet.

Signing With Tru Talent

I signed up with TRU Talent Management in September of 2007 just to help out a friend who was employed there at the time. Not knowing exactly what it was all about or what kind of company TRU Talent Management was. Once I came in for my audition and met with my signing agent Cowboy, we discussed the acting and modeling talent I had and discussed all the opportunities that were available. With me doing some modeling a couple years prior to meeting with Cowboy, I was pretty excited and nervous at the same time. He then signed me up for Acting I and I began training with Rob Diamond for about 6 weeks. I have to say, with me having no experience in acting, I had a lot of fun and learned a lot more about acting than I thought I would. Doing the role playing and putting myself in the actors/actresses position was a lot of fun. I didn’t think I would but Rob made me feel very comfortable and at ease.

I continued to take acting for the next month in a half and when I was finished I had the choice of doing Acting II or Modeling I, so I chose Modeling because I had experienced it and I knew I would have a lot of fun. I began modeling about a month later, learning everything from how to take care of your skin and body, to practicing walking on the run way and turns, and just the etiquette to have when in the modeling industry.

While I was in modeling I scheduled a photo shoot with TRU’s professional photo crew. I remember how excited I was when I arrived for my shoot. All the different looks and personalities you have in your photos are amazing. Letting someone else critique you and help put together an amazing shoot and have you look great at the same time!

It is now December 2008 and I feel that I have gained a lot of knowledge and more experience than I thought possible and the staff was amazing to work with through everything. I also made a lot of friends and see myself getting booked and doing more and more auditions and have a lot of extra work. I would see the possibility of and acting/modeling career with Tru Talent Management in the future to come. I really hope others are able to experience what I have at Tru Talent Management and all the career possibilities here. With Tru Talent Management having their own booking department, it makes it very easy to get started with this company. I wish the best to anyone person(s) who chooses to pursue with TRU Talent!!

Tru Talent Tip: Quality Portfolio Photos Are Crucial For Models

High quality portfolio photographs are crucial for Models. Your portfolio is the first impression for clients. It will determine the quality, type, and amount of work you get modeling professionally. Your Portfolio says a lot about you. It provides prospective clients insight to your personality, as well as how photogenic you are. Your portfolio should not only reflect who you are, but should also prove you are easy to work with and are willing to take on many different looks. Your photographs must enhance your best features, plus show your body and face clearly. Editors, agencies, advertisers, and producers often want a specific look in order to stand out and get their attention. It is very important to have a variety of your looks in your portfolio.

Tru Talent Management’s on location fashion photography is the best. It is so exciting to shoot outside the typical studio look. Creative and fun locations can enhance any model. Great backgrounds make everything work and add an edge to your portfolio.

Why Professional Photography Services Are So Important.

Advances in digital technology have changed the way businesses market, sell, and compete. In the commercial photography industry these advances have reduced the cost of production and distribution of images, increased the supply and demand, and created dynamic techniques. For effective professional commercial quality photographs, photographers need technical expertise, imagination, and creativity. At Tru Talent Management, our photographers have been trained in an assortment of the latest photography techniques, equipment, and software programs. With over 30 years of experience within the photography industry our chief photographer has developed a true eye for photography that effectively markets to the right people. For clients of all industries, nationally and worldwide, Tru Talent Management’s photography team is the right choice for professional modeling portfolios with a widespread appeal that enhances every model.

Are you ready to take your shot?

We understand that deciding what steps to take and where to take them can be unclear and often overwhelming. Tru Talent Management helps to overcome that by preparing aspiring or professional models and actors to handle the many challenges and rewards of the industry.

Photo Shoot Tips & Tricks

If there is anything I would tell someone who is preparing for a photo shoot, especially their first, it would be RELAX and HAVE FUN!

There will be plenty of people to help you out and give you guidance and direction. The main thing you need to do is have fun and enjoy the experience. If you are letting loose and enjoying yourself, your pictures will look amazing. So many people come in nervous and their pictures end up looking stiff. Forget the camera is even there and remember what it was like to be a kid and play with nothing more than your imagination.

All pictures tell a story. Some may be extremely simple while others can be much more complex. Whatever photo shoot you may be doing it will almost always be for the final product to convey some sort of message. Once you’ve relaxed try to get a feel for the story you are suppose to be telling as the model. Then when you have that idea in your mind take your imagination and tell that story in as many different ways as you can come up with.

How do you tell the story? Tell the story simply by using your expressions and body language. Still need help, or maybe having a little artistic block? Look at as many different magazines and ads as you can. Pay attention to their facial expressions and their body language. What are they trying to sell? Why does the ad work or not work? Can you see or create a story line for the picture? Make it a game for yourself.

Remember the biggest key is to have fun. Don’t worry about the pictures that may come out with you looking goofy. We all have those and they are easily deleted. And as always if you have any questions just ask.

Modeling: Developing Talent & Managing Your Talent

1. This industry is all about fashion trends, and keeping up with the fashion world. Keeping up with the fashion world is more than just clothes. You have read and understand the concept of styling and why there are trends. Keeping up with make up and hair design trends are an everyday life style. Make up and hair styles can make or break any look. Stylists have a very important job. They have the power to turn an ordinary look into something that is very marketable. Make up artists can make every day looking people stand out and look glamorous. Your hair and make up say a lot about you and your personality as a whole. With out the proper training and knowledge, you can not work as a model. You need be consistent and have the passion, drive, and desire to accomplish your goals.

2. It takes a lot to be a successful model. You have to be very self confident, driven, trusting, a happy person in general and aware of fashion and trends. You have to be self confident because if you aren’t it will show in your pictures. If you aren’t driven you will have a hard time making it in this industry. Trust is also important in that you need to trust the photographer and make-up artist. If you are uneasy, unhappy, or self conscious it will shoe in your pictures. This industry is very competitive and you need to be able to compete. Fashion and being aware of trends as they come and go, so you can be at the top of your game, always looking good is important and being healthy is a big part of. Nutrition and diet is important to being healthy and fit for not just modeling, but also for your own health.

Modeling: Can You Handle It?

Lights, Camera, Action. The bulbs are beating on your face as you pose in different stances and directions. The beating of your heart begins to quicken and you begin to ponder “Did that look right?” 5 minutes goes by, ten, an hour and its over. 8 looks, 8 outfits and you have quality pictures to use in your portfolio.

So many people ask the question today “Could I be a model really?” and the answer is Yes! The modeling industry is so diverse and so large that pretty much any person with a true interest and desire can succeed.

There are models for hands, feet, hair, make up, fashion, runway, the list goes on and on. This industry is rapidly growing and is large enough even for me and you!

Now you might ask “Do I have to pay?” well let’s put it this way, have you ever heard the saying “You get what you pay for?” well that is exactly true with modeling. But it is a small fee compared to your dreams.

Take me for instance, my soul dream in life was to play music, tour the world, and be a rock star above all else. Now some people would say “That’s every boys dream” but on the contrary I was determined to succeed.

Just for starters I had to purchase musical equipment to have a quality sound on stage, next pay for a record to be recorded, mixed and mastered and packaged, following that had to pay for a tour van, merchandise to sell on the road and pay gas for any stops.

Here is a rough price sheet of what my band and I spent in the last year:

2 guitars: $1500

1 bass: $500

Custom Drum kit: $5000

Key board: $200

Mics: $150

Amplifiers: $4000

T shirts: $600

Recording: $5200

Tour van: $2500

Total-$19,650 roughly

Now you may think were crazy, but that was just to get started! Without proper planning, management representation and drive we would be no more than a basement band with expensive equipment.

My point is, modeling is simple, modeling is affordable, and modeling will change your life. You’ll never know what you’re good at until you take that first step!

Who Needs a Talent Management Agency?

Everyone needs help in some kind of way. You need reliability, durability, proven work and great relationships. Just like when you go to buy a car, do you wake up, get dressed, head to a car lot, close your eyes, point aimlessly and say that’s the one!

Or… Do you take your time, do research and see what kind of company it is that you’re dealing with?

My recommendation would be the latter; you must be educated before you make a decision. There is a process and education that everyone must know and learn before they can actually do or perform a job. You have to be trained properly, have the tools, and the confidence to get any done in life.

Our agency has booked thousands of auditions, movies, fashion shows, and the list is endless. We work directly with our talents to understand their dreams and make them a reality.

If it’s acting, we will provide the classes to teach proper technique that producers are looking for. If it’s modeling and run way, we will teach you how to walk, dress and impress the audience. Whatever you need you will find it here?

A quality modeling agency is not much different than a great record label for musicians. I myself coming from a touring professional band can say that without proper management and representation from your label you will go no where fast, even if you’re the best band in the world.

If you don’t have proper marketing and promotion you’re in a boat without a paddle, and you’re going to sink.

I urge you to think clearly, and realize in order to succeed, you need help. With Tru Talent Management I am confident you will not only succeed but also make some great friends to take with you forever.

Continuing Talent Education

Well to start off acting is like any other profession/career that you may want to be involved in. It is going to take time, education, training, and a few other elements I will explain later on.

Let’s say for example you would like to be a doctor that is going to take a quite a bit of schooling, training, and education. A lawyer, this is pretty much the same it is going to take a lot of schooling, training, and education. Basically any professional career you go into you are going to have to have the proper education and training to be successful at it.

Now let’s say you get the proper training, education, and schooling to do any of these careers does that mean you are going to be successful? NO not at ALL does it. There are two elements missing in this equation for becoming successful. 1. Commitment; there HAS to be a level of commitment in becoming successful at any of these careers including acting. Without it you may as well NEVER start. 2. Passion; if there isn’t a passion to become a Doctor, Lawyer, or Actor how do you expect to be successful at it and continue through the hard work that it takes to become successful.

Regardless of how many films, commercials etc that you film an actor are ALWAYS a work in progress. There is not an actor/actress that doesn’t constantly work on themselves either through coaching or training. If that is the case how can they grow and develop in the industry. They can’t! You have to constantly work on your skills and talent. It is the ONLY way to progress with ANYTHING!!!

Training/education helps anyone fine tune the talents that they already posses as well as it helps extract and teach the actor/actress talents that they either didn’t know were there or didn’t know how to tap into.

It also helps them develop new talents and skills which is obviously what these casting directors/producers are looking for when they cast for a film.

So in essence what I am trying to say if you want to constantly to grow and develop into an amazing actor/actress you have to constantly learn by continued education.

The Concept of Acting

Acting: is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theater, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play.

Now when it comes to acting there are MANY different types of acting that can be refereed to. The most common method of acting that most of us are accustomed to is the acting that we see on a daily basis. Such as television sitcoms, movies, and commercials. Now that is the most common types that we see on a daily basis. This type of acting is definitely a talent driven type of acting but there is room for error during a performance since it can be done as many times as needed to get the right take.

There are other types of acting such as live acting. This would be things such as theater, plays, and any other live performances that we see live and not on film. This is a more demanding and rehearsed type of acting.

There is hardly any room for errors while doing a performance since an error can mess up the flow of the performance.

So as you can see there are many different types of acting in the industry but the basic concept behind all of them are; you MUST be talented, committed, and passionate about being an actor or actress. You will need all these attributes in order to be a believable and successful actor/actress. An actor/actress must be able to get into character basically on the spot. This mostly is important for film actors/actresses since the scenes are not filmed in order as they are in the film/movie.

As for live performers this is a bit different since their performances are done in order. There is a bit more stress put on this type of acting since it is live and you CAN’T mess up.

So to me the concept of acting is the expression, skill, and delivery an actor/actress possesses and expresses to their audience. Whether it be a live performance or filmed.