The topic of talent management may seem like the wild west for those who are new to the process. In this article, we home in on what talent management means and break down the specific functions.
What Does Talent Management Mean?
To define talent management, we need to look at the specific roles and responsibilities of the individual doing the work. The job of a talent manager is to organize and advance the career of a talented individual.
Modern talent agents are affiliated with all areas of art, sports, and diverse fields of business. It is likely you will come across talent managers with clients from varying industries. Talent managers are known to be gatekeepers of the futures of their clients by orchestrating various activities to serve their clients. In managing their customers’ business affairs and professional growth, a good manager must wear a lot of hats.
The talent manager’s duty is to oversee an individual’s day-to-day business affairs; to counsel and advise talent on professional issues, long-term strategies and personal decisions that may impact their career. The roles and functions of a talent manager undoubtedly vary from industry to industry; for example, a talent manager for an actor will likely have different duties to a talent manager for an author, artist or sportsperson.
What Are the Various Functions of Talent Management?
Talent managers are generally tasked to perform a wide range of activities that blur the lines between different job types – such as publicists or booking agents. Some of these tasks include constructing a brand for their client and building a fan base, the production and release of press kits, the preparation of promotional events, the management of social network accounts, and booking shows.
While every manager is different and not all activities are needed depending on the client, some of the daily operations carried out by a talent manager are:
- Developing and presenting pitches to potential clients;
- Evaluating talent to recruit;
- Conducting research on potential clients on and offline;
- Creating marketing strategies to promote clients;
- Negotiating prospective business deals on behalf of their clients;
- Securing and marketing gigs and performances, i.e. festivals, headline shows;
- Setting up meetings with clients or possible employers;
- Assessing the talent of prospective clients;
- Arranging performances or publicity events on behalf of clients, i.e. TV & radio appearances;
- Making travel arrangements;
- Creating and implementing advertising strategies, i.e. Facebook advertising, talent smart pages, billboards;
- Handling accounting matters;
- Establishing professional relationships with people and organisations.
Do you identify any areas in which you feel you need help? In this fast-paced & knowledge-rich society we live in, most of the tasks above can be completed with ease if you have the network, discipline and drive to repurpose them for yourself. However, talent managers and agencies are built to save you time and ensure you can focus your attention on what truly matters.
As an individual, you undoubtedly have your own list of duties you need to fulfil to compete amongst the best in your industry. Our job is to accelerate your growth by working alongside you to create a bespoke infrastructure that is designed with the very specific task of furthering your career’s goals.
Are You Ready to Take Your Career to the Next Level?
At Cue Talent Advisory, we handle all affairs business, management & lifestyle for individuals, businesses, and overseas clients in a variety of sectors. To find out more and set up a chat, get in touch via our contact form, email us directly or call us on 0203 815 8005.
