VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[Bruce]

Many of us have agents, one or more, and occasionally when we hit or aim for the Big Time we look at bringing in a manager. Managers are critical it seems for most actors in Hollywood and some of the top voice people have them too.

They mostly help "steer" your career into good directions and introduce you to people you should know. The good ones are worth every penny of the 10% they take of your earnings as well as the 10% you pay your agents, and the fees you pay your lawyer and the fees you pay a publicist.

Bad managers, and I've heard a couple of stories recently, promise the moon, ask you for your contacts so they can work their magic for you and then.....

.....take that list of your contacts and use it to make money elsewhere for others and maybe not you. Like any position where someone can leave you vulnerable and exploited, get references. Find people who love their managers and have spent years with them. Caveat emptor as they say.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[yarg28]

Thanks for the wisdom.

[Philip Banks]

Absolute or abstract?

I had a conversation with a manager in NYC about his company looking after my interests. The initial mistake was mine as I thought I was approaching an agent.
During the exchange it was made clear to me, emphasised 3 times in minute detail so I was in no doubt that from the day of signing 10% of all my income would be theirs. I was fine with that. Absolutely.

"Ok, what will you do for me?"

During the exchange I wanted him to make clear to me, I emphasised 3 times in minute detail so he was in no doubt that from the day of signing the nature of his commitment to me.

After 10 minutes or more it became clear to me that he had never been asked such a question before and had certainly never considered absolute financial responsibility/accountability TO his clients.

If anyone reading this has a Voiceover dream please note that to make it happen you need to be awake.

[Tre M.]

This is actually happening to me right now. I sought out one manager, only to have another one (which I didn't know at the time) interested in me. No contracts signed, although they send me auditions. My agent is leaning towards one over the other though...as am I.
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Tre@trespeaksforyou.com
Www.trespeaksforyou.com
Skype: TKM32246

Source Connect: http://source-connect.com/tremovo

[Philip Banks]

Do you know for certain what these managers have been able to achieve for their clients? Do they simply send you/their clients auditions or do they have the credibility to recommend an artist electing to submit auditions if the selection/casting process was down to the last three?

[Tre M.]

[Philip Banks]

Never trust anyone who looks like a failed 1980's game show host.

[Tre M.]

[Philip Banks]

But for a NEW CAR would you swap him for a spot in tonight's final?

[Tre M.]

[Jack Daniel]

A fair warning. I recently joined forces with a manager--pretty much a requirement in the trailer world here. His reputation is stellar and his % only applies to the trailer work I do. It's a terrific arrangement, in my opinion. And it's one we worked out--everyone is free to make his or her own deal in this and other avenues of life. Outside of the general parameters, there are no hard and fast rules about what your deal has to be. But Philip's right: if you can't articulate exactly what someone is doing for you, then something's amiss.
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Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town

[Tre M.]

[Dan-O]

They aren't, Tre.

[Tre M.]

[Jack Daniel]