All About Talent Directors

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

Daily Life Of a Talent Director

• Review performer information, such as photos, resumes, voice tapes, videos, and union membership, to decide whom to audition for parts.
• Locate performers or extras for crowd and background scenes, and stand-ins or photo doubles for actors, by direct contact or through agents.
• Hire and supervise workers who help locate people with specified attributes and talents.
• 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.
• Attend or view productions to maintain knowledge of available actors.

What Every Talent Director Should Know

When polled, Talent Directors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

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

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

Types of Talent Director Jobs

• Casting Agent
• Casting Assistant
• Talent Agent
• Contestant Coordinator
• Casting Associate

Job Demand for Talent Directors

In the United States, there were 134,700 jobs for Producers and Directors in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,500 new jobs for Talent Directors by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 14,100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Producers and Directors are New York, California, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Talent Directors Make A Lot Of Money?

The typical yearly salary for Producers and Directors is somewhere between $34,450 and $163,540. The median salary is $71,680.

How much do Producers and Directors make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

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

What Tools & Technology do Talent Directors Use?

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

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word

How do I Become a Talent Director?

Education needed to be a Talent Director:

What work experience do I need to become a Talent Director?

Where do Talent Directors Work?

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons