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Talent Director

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What Do Talent Director Do?

Job Description & Duties Audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.

A Day in the Life of a Talent Director

  • Read scripts and confer with producers to determine the types and numbers of performers required for a given production.
  • Locate performers or extras for crowd and background scenes, and stand-ins or photo doubles for actors, by direct contact or through agents.
  • Serve as liaisons between directors, actors, and agents.
  • Negotiate contract agreements with performers, with agents, or between performers and agents or production companies.
  • Maintain talent files that include information such as performers’ specialties, past performances, and availability.
  • Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.

Skills Needed to be a Talent Director

These are the skills Talent Directors say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

  • Artist and Repertoire Manager
  • Production Coordinator
  • Photo Studio Assistant
  • Artistic Associate
  • Extras Casting Director

Are There Job Opportunities for Talent Directors?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 134,700 jobs in the United States for Talent Director. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,500 new jobs for Talent Director by 2026. The BLS estimates 14,100 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Talent Director are Utah, Georgia, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Talent Director Salary

Talent Directors make between $34,450 and $163,540 a year.

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Talent Directors who work in California, New York, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Talent Directors in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $57,040
Alaska $61,280
Arizona $62,760
Arkansas $58,750
California $115,080
Colorado $68,290
Connecticut $84,900
Delaware $59,680
District of Columbia $89,390
Florida $70,630
Georgia $84,570
Hawaii $73,200
Idaho $55,600
Illinois $77,960
Indiana $48,300
Iowa $46,610
Kansas $56,680
Kentucky $60,530
Louisiana $56,290
Maine $51,310
Maryland $78,760
Massachusetts $70,480
Michigan $65,910
Minnesota $73,110
Mississippi $44,310
Missouri $65,560
Montana $51,920
Nebraska $51,620
Nevada $67,190
New Hampshire $59,830
New Jersey $92,180
New Mexico $75,110
New York $115,610
North Carolina $73,980
North Dakota $42,570
Ohio $60,590
Oklahoma $55,670
Oregon $68,280
Pennsylvania $76,050
Rhode Island $65,660
South Carolina $57,200
South Dakota $55,930
Tennessee $65,040
Texas $69,280
Utah $67,800
Vermont $58,760
Virginia $69,750
Washington $71,430
Wisconsin $57,110
Wyoming $45,930

Tools & Technologies Used by Talent Directors

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Talent Directors may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Database software
  • Linux
  • UNIX
  • SAP software
  • Amazon Web Services AWS software
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
  • Appointment scheduling software
  • Microsoft operating system
  • Blogging software
  • Website development software

How do I Become a Talent Director?

What kind of Talent Director requirements are there?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Talent Director?

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Talent Directors Sector

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The table below shows the approximate number of Talent Directors employed by various industries.

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References:

Image Credit: {} via Creative Commons CC0

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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