About Managers

A manager is a person hired by the actor to find work, give advice, and generally guide the actor's career. For this service, managers typically take a 15% commission on everything the actor earns.

Many people assume that agents and managers are pretty much the same thing. However, managers are prohibited by law from negotiating contracts (at least in California). So even if you have a manager, you will still need either an agent or an attorney familiar with contracts and the entertainment industry. A manager's main focus is on guiding the actor's career and making connections, and although most of the best managers out there are former agents, the two have very different roles.

Unfortunately, some of the most common scams in the entertainment industry involve people who call themselves managers, as this occupation is not regulated by any of the actors unions. These unscupulous people will often promise the newcomer fame and fortune, but only for an upfront fee. Or they will require you to get new headshots, a portfolio, and acting classes (all of which may be either very expensive or totally useless... or both).

Of course this is not true of all managers. But you should always be cautious and do your research before signing with a management company. Find out the names of other actors they represent and ask those actors about their experiences with the manager or company in question. Contact the Better Business Bureau or Screen Actors Guild and ask other people in the business if they've heard any bad rumors.

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