Talent Directors

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

Industry: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Other Job Titles for Talent Directors:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Review performer information such as photos, resumes, voice tapes, videos, and union membership, in order to decide whom to audition for parts.
• Read scripts and confer with producers in order to determine the types and numbers of performers required for a given production.
• Select performers for roles or submit lists of suitable performers to producers or directors for final selection.
• Audition and interview performers in order to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
• Maintain talent files that include information such as performers' specialties, past performances, and availability.
• Prepare actors for auditions by providing scripts and information about roles and casting requirements.
• Serve as liaisons between directors, actors, and agents.
• Attend or view productions in order to maintain knowledge of available actors.
• Negotiate contract agreements with performers, with agents, or between performers and agents or production companies.
• Contact agents and actors in order to provide notification of audition and performance opportunities and to set up audition times.
• Hire and supervise workers who help locate people with specified attributes and talents.
• Arrange for and/or design screen tests or auditions for prospective performers.
• Locate performers or extras for crowd and background scenes, and stand-ins or photo doubles for actors, by direct contact or through agents.
• Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information as necessary.
• Design and produce displays and materials that can be used to decorate windows, interior displays, or event locations such as streets and fairgrounds.
• Coordinate the removal of sets, props, and exhibits after productions or events are complete.
• Select set props such as furniture, pictures, lamps, and rugs.
• Confer with conservators in order to determine how to handle an exhibit's environmental aspects, such as lighting, temperature, and humidity, so that objects will be protected and exhibits will be enhanced.
• Assign staff to complete design ideas and prepare sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings of sets, or graphics and animation.
• Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
• Design and build scale models of set designs, or miniature sets used in filming backgrounds or special effects.
• Read scripts in order to determine location, set, and design requirements.
• Attend rehearsals and production meetings in order to obtain and share information related to sets.
• Arrange for outside contractors to construct exhibit structures.
• Provide supportive materials for exhibits and displays, such as press kits and advertising, posters, brochures, catalogues, and invitations and publicity notices.
• Incorporate security systems into exhibit layouts.
• Coordinate the transportation of sets that are built off-site, and coordinate their setup at the site of use.

Emerging Tasks

• Direct shows, productions, and plays.
• Teach acting classes.
• Determine the emphasis, length, format, and layout of a story, publication, or broadcast and organize the material accordingly.
• Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.
• Participate in community events, make public appearances, and conduct community service.
• Review written, audio, and video copy and correct errors in content, grammar, and punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.
• Take pictures and video and process them for inclusion in a story.
• Oversee the development and management of the sports program budget and fundraising activities.
• Perform activities that support a team or a specific sport, such as participating in community outreach activities, meeting with media representatives, and appearing at fundraising events.
• Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, and/or tours.
• Teach instructional courses and advise students.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• assess staff or applicant skill levels
• audition performers
• convey moods or emotions through music
• direct talent
• evaluate qualifications or eligibility of applicant for employment
• evaluate talent or individual
• give direction in audio recording studio
• interview job applicants
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• make presentations
• negotiate business contracts
• obtain information from individuals
• review film, recordings, or rehearsals
• select applicants meeting qualifications
• use interviewing procedures
• use marketing techniques
• use negotiation techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• inspect project operations, or site to determine specification compliance
• interpret artifacts, architectural features, or types of structures
• make presentations
• negotiate business contracts
• order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
• organize commercial artistic or design projects
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• plan construction of structures or facilities
• purchase furnishings, artworks, or accessories
• schedule work to meet deadlines
• sketch or draw subjects or items
• use creativity in graphics
• use creativity to art or design work
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use diagnostic software in electronics repair
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use government regulations
• use hand or power tools
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use oscilloscopes in electronics repair
• use precision tools in electronics repair
• use soldering equipment
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• use creativity in graphics
• use graphic arts techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use stage lighting controls or instruments

Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

• n/a

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 11.05%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 10,286
• Employment (2006): 93,074

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