New California laws making it harder for aspiring actors?
In California the average actor, model or talent has both a manager and talent agency. The personal manager attempts to create an image and 5 year plan for their client. While the talent agency helps find jobs for the client to pursue. In return, the personal manager will receive a commission. Until, the California Talent Agency Act was passed.
The California Talent Agency Act, prevents managers from finding jobs for their clients.
While many personal managers for actors do find employment for their clients. Managers are not involved in the deals. That duty is left to the agents and lawyers. However, managers do help their actors, models, and talents by finding jobs. But, due to the recent California Talent Agency Act, an actor can get out of paying the manager’s commission by accusing the manager of having procured employment for them, a violation of the Talent Agency Act. The law requires that anyone who find employment must be licensed by the state Labor Commissioner, something that managers are not.
Actors who have recently disputed their manager’s commission fees include Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, Richard Pryor, Jennifer Lopez, Rosanne Barr, Arsenio Hall, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Sean Hayes and many others.
But, personal managers are not going down without a fight. The National Conference of Personal Managers is going on the PR offensive to overturn the California Talent Agency Act.
“Personal managers nationwide have forfeited an estimated $500,000,000 due to either the California Labor Commissioner voiding management contracts and ordering disgorgement of compensation or managers being forced to settle artist disputes rather than face the risks and legal costs of a TAA hearing and subsequent litigation,”
The National Conference of Personal Managers argue that due to recent legislation they are less likely to sign new talent that currently do not have agency representation. Thus, less aspiring actors have a lower chance of getting auditions in California.
“TAA controversies have resulted in financial hardship, bankruptcy and personal adversity for managers and other talent representatives nationwide. Plus, the TAA has had a chilling effect on the willingness of managers to sign younger talent who do not have agency representation.”
What do you think? Do you think personal managers deserve a commission? Should an actor only have a talent agent or do they need both a personal manager and a talent agent? Have you ever been scammed by a personal manager? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below!
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