Talent Manager Vickie Frankmano Gives a Preview of Your First Meeting with a Manager
By Vickie Frankmano
My first conversation with a new client always includes a list of things for them to do:
1. I always ask where they see themselves in five years. I can map out clients' careers better if they already have a vision of where they'd like to be in the future.
2. Start applying. If they are brand spanking new, I tell them to start looking for casting calls, which are available in publications like Backstage and on websites like InstantCast, and submit themselves to every showcase or extra job they are right for. New actors need experience. They need to start working with other actors with more experience to raise their game. I'll even go see them perform!
3. Take classes. I tell them to enroll in an acting class, a scene study class, and a movement class.
4. Have photographs taken that really represent them.
5. Call in and call in often. I like to hear from my clients. Frequent calling keeps them at the forefront of my mind and focused on their career. Plus, these discussions bring new ideas about breaking into a tough industry.
6. Be tenacious. One rejection is not a failure. Rejection is a way of life for actors. Believe me, you'll hear "No" about a thousand more times than "Yes." Don't take it personally.
If a potential client is not completely new to the industry, I'll review their photos or headshots and give them feedback. I will also check out their resume and help them rewrite it if necessary. I'll make sure they have at least two monologues ready at all times. If they're a singer or dancer, I'll make sure they have two of every kind of song and that those songs are appropriate.
The next step for me is to call around and get them meetings with agents. Remember, I'm a manager, not an agent. My job is about guidance and direction, not casting movies or television shows.
Here are some things you should know:
I cancel appointments with people who want me to represent them all the time. It can be frustrating, but people seeking representation take second priority to the people I do represent. So if I do cancel an appointment with a non-client, it's because I'm needed by someone who is already signed to me. If you become my client, you'll be very happy about that.
Never go anywhere without a photo and a resume. One of the most frustrating things about meeting new talent, like at InstantCast LIVE!, is not having anything to refer to later. Always bring some kind of picture with you if you are going to meet someone at an industry event, even if it isn't a headshot. It can be a simple snapshot with your information written on the back. At InstantCast LIVE!, I've met many talented people, but do not know their names and I'm unable to get in touch with them. If you don't have your resume and photo on you, you will waste both of our time and miss out on the opportunity that InstantCast LIVE! has afforded you.
Vickie Frankmano, Talent Manager at V&M Talent Management, has over 30 years of experience in Personal Management. At Selma Rubin Talent Management, she worked with clients on many major projects including Fame, Fame the T.V Show, Good Times, Happy Days, Roots the Second Generation, Ain't Mis Behaving, Annie, Ryan's Hope, and King and I. In 1988, Vickie became co-owner of Cuzzins Management. Bringing clients to projects such The Cosby Show, Moesha, Getting By, The Steve Harvey Show, Spanglish, Falcone, The Audrey Hepburn Story, Object of My Affection, Sister Sister, and One Life to Live, she turned the commercial agency into a bi-costal management company that handled feature films and television shows in addition to commercials. In 2004, Vickie went on to start V&M Talent Management, which has clients involved in projects including As the World Turns, Law and Order, MTV productions, One Life to Live and more. She has also expanded her clientele to include musical acts, and has launched the career of an international singer who was named Best International Pop Artist in France. Vickie currently represents clients working in television, commercials, feature films, Broadway, and music.
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