Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Talent Directors
Talent Directors audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
Table of contents
What they do
Talent Directors audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
- Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
- Prepare actors for auditions by providing scripts and information about roles and casting requirements.
- Select performers for roles or submit lists of suitable performers to producers or directors for final selection.
- Contact agents and actors to provide notification of audition and performance opportunities and to set up audition times.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Talent Directors maintain talent files that include information such as performers’ specialties, past performances, and availability. They hire and supervise workers who help locate people with specified attributes and talents.
A typical day for a Talent Director will also include:
- Review performer information, such as photos, resumes, voice tapes, videos, and union membership, to decide whom to audition for parts.
- Contact agents and actors to provide notification of audition and performance opportunities and to set up audition times.
- Select performers for roles or submit lists of suitable performers to producers or directors for final selection.
- Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
- Arrange for or design screen tests or auditions for prospective performers.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Talent Directors also attend or view productions to maintain knowledge of available actors. They may also locate performers or extras for the crowd and background scenes, and stand-ins or photo doubles for actors, by direct contact or through agents.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Talent Directors negotiate contract agreements with performers, with agents, or between performers and agents or production companies. They might also audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
In addition, they select performers for roles or submit lists of suitable performers to producers or directors for final selection.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them serve as liaisons between directors, actors, and agents.
To some Talent Directors, it is also their responsibility to read scripts and confer with producers to determine the types and numbers of performers required for a given production.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
68% said they were satisfied with their job and 49% said they found their job meaningful.
If I’m casting a job it’s a lot of correspondence and looking at faces to put together, I look at my work in casting as being a sort of “art director of people”. My duties as a casting director really depend on the particular job. Many variables factor into the work on any given project, … Read More
I’m Paula Stewart, director of The Animal Talent; a casting agency supplying ethically trained animals to film, TV, and creative media productions. I’ve been working in the entertainment industry for 20 years and my career has spanned music, TV, celebrity, and film. Although my job title and name of the business don’t sound particularly filmic. … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Talent Directors with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $36,070 to $51,760 per year or $17 to $25 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $184,660 | $89 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $118,020 | $57 |
Median | $76,400 | $37 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $51,760 | $25 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $36,070 | $17 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
They also like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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