What do I major in if I want to be a talent agent?

Question

Also, are there any specific colleges that I should go to?

Answer 1

A good place to start is to understand artists, art, performance and business.

Talent agents deal with the business of performance, and in some cases visual arts.

Therefore, understanding how things work both artistically and business wise is important.

If you were to major in business and minor in an artistic field, that would likely help you get where you want professionally.

I would pick a college that is strong in the arts, particularly in the field that you feel you are most interested. Be sure to find out what the alumni of the college are doing in performance. Some of your peers might be your first clients. Also, what connections does that college have to the entertainment industry? Can they help you land a good internship? That will make all the difference. In the business of entertainment, personal connections are important.

If you are interested in film, or theatre, which is the category of this question, then I would research a college with the Princeton Review that ranks high for undergraduate theatre.

You can then assess your resources and what each college has to offer you.

Good luck

Answer 2

It depends what kind of talent agent you want to be. Several schools have music business/industry degrees. For those look into: Belmont University and SUNY Oneonta. There are plenty of others also. I agree that you should find a school where you can double major in business and your chosen field (music, dance, theater). Find an intership every summer be it in the business side of things or just being an assistant props person. Start your own booking agency in whatever town you end up in and begin connecting performers with events. I would then suggest getting an MBA from a school that has entertainment connections. Then you'll have to enter the business at a ground level position and work your way up. The good thing is with a MBA you'll never be under-qualified and you will always be able to apply for jobs outside the entertainment business. If you don't want to rush to an MBA you could always start looking for jobs out of undergrad and go back to school if you need to. It is a very competitive business but if you work hard and make as many connections as possible you should be able to make something work out.

Answer 3

The funny thing is that 90% of talent agents don't have a degree in being a talent agent! Most were either actors/models/artists etc at one time. Others are just friends of said talent. What you really need to be good at is communication, organization, and people skills. Buisness majoring (especially in entertainment buisness) is great so you have a professional handle of being a buisness but also take classes in the art form you want to represent so you understand what it means to be what you will representing. (whether it be sports, actiong, music, etc.) That's why so many talent agent's know what they're talking about because they were once there. INTERN, INTERN, INTERN. It is the most powerful tool in the entertainment buisness. If you want to get anywhere you have to start there. Apply to a local talent agency (they are everywhere!!) learn, network and experience through it. Also, research to fully understand what a talent agent does and how are their lifestyles. You are entering a HIGHLY competive industry so learn all you can to get the edge! BEST OF LUCK

Answer 4

Hon, Talent Agent is NOT a recognized college course!
Write a letter to the Talent Agencies where you want to work and ask if you can be in an intern in their office.

Find an internship prior to completing your college courses.
Agency internships are valued and those that strike first, get the internship.

Answer 5

Marketing. Specific colleges probably don't matter as much as planting yourself in an area of the country where "talent" is generally considered a practical profession - like L.A. or New York, for example.

Answer 6

Arts Managment. I would recommend taking business courses as well. Your best shot is to intern at an agency while you are in college and get your foot in the door!

Answer 7

Go to the best school you can get in to (Harvard hopefully) and I would recommend majoring in business with a double-major or minor in something related to the arts. Show biz is an image-driven world and the better school you go to the better your chances are of getting your foot in the door - once your foot's in though, it doesn't really matter where you went as long as you're good at your job.