Tru Talent Management Essays

I signed up with TRU Talent Management in September of 2007 just to help out a friend who was employed there at the time. Not knowing exactly what it was all about or what kind of company TRU Talent Management was. Once I came in for my audition and met with my signing agent Cowboy, we discussed the acting and modeling talent I had and discussed all the opportunities that were available. With me doing some modeling a couple years prior to meeting with Cowboy, I was pretty excited and nervous at the same time. He then signed me up for Acting I and I began training with Rob Diamond for about 6 weeks. I have to say, with me having no experience in acting, I had a lot of fun and learned a lot more about acting than I thought I would. Doing the role playing and putting myself in the actors/actresses position was a lot of fun. I didn’t think I would but Rob made me feel very comfortable and at ease.

I continued to take acting for the next month in a half and when I was finished I had the choice of doing Acting II or Modeling I, so I chose Modeling because I had experienced it and I knew I would have a lot of fun. I began modeling about a month later, learning everything from how to take care of your skin and body, to practicing walking on the run way and turns, and just the etiquette to have when in the modeling industry.

While I was in modeling I scheduled a photo shoot with TRU’s professional photo crew. I remember how excited I was when I arrived for my shoot. All the different looks and personalities you have in your photos are amazing. Letting someone else critique you and help put together an amazing shoot and have you look great at the same time!

It is now December 2008 and I feel that I have gained a lot of knowledge and more experience than I thought possible and the staff was amazing to work with through everything. I also made a lot of friends and see myself getting booked and doing more and more auditions and have a lot of extra work. I would see the possibility of and acting/modeling career with Tru Talent Management in the future to come. I really hope others are able to experience what I have at Tru Talent Management and all the career possibilities here. With Tru Talent Management having their own booking department, it makes it very easy to get started with this company. I wish the best to anyone person(s) who chooses to pursue with TRU Talent!!

Working with Tru Talent Management has been a wonderful experience. The whole environment and industry is way different than any other jobs I’ve had. My job is to schedule appointments and make sure the people who have been scouted come in for auditions. Everyone treated me with a lot of respect and I was actually really intrigued with the professionalism. I also had a great experience working in the make-up room. I’ve done hair and make-up for people getting their photo shoots done and it was amazing! Getting to work with people and making them look like celebrities and having them change from one style to another was an unforgettable experience. I definitely enjoy doing hair and make-up especially in the end when I get to see people’s reaction as to how different they look. I love putting a smile on people’s faces, it lets me know that my job was well done, and to me, there’s nothing more important than that! When I see the kids I worked with come in for their classes they are always happy to see me and always give me hugs. Working in the agency has helped me learn a lot about what really goes on in the industry. It’s fun and exciting, and at the same time, it can really help your career out if you want to pursue your dreams as an actor or model.

My experience with Tru Talent Management has been short but promising so far. I felt my son could succeed in the entertainment industry. After signing with an agent for lifetime photography I set up a photo shoot date for my son. I received a wonderful portfolio of great pictures taken. I have attended three auditions for my son since. Nobody has spotted my shining star yet, but he is still at a very young age and is not as capable of filling roles as someone able to read lines. All three of the auditions were with people that are in constant need of talent so they will always keep in mind the pictures of kids and the children they have met. So just remember that whatever bad experiences that someone may have had with Tru they just didn’t want it bad enough. Tru Talent will help you bring that shining star out of yourself; you just have to be willing to put forth some work too. You have to give a little to get a little. So if you feel that it’s not a good investment to make to better yourself or your children to provide stability for them or to make their dreams come true, then you don’t want it bad enough.

They have an awesome website with daily updates you on all of the events we have coming up including auditions, commercials, movies, videos, etc. Tru works with a lot of different people in the entertainment industry. Don’t get discouraged if you haven’t been booked for a job yet, it takes practice, determination, drive, motivation, patience, and heart. Of course there will be a lot of disappointments and let downs, but that is part of being in the entertainment industry. That’s why there are many different types of people for many different types of things in this business. So if you don’t fit a certain look when you go to the audition, that doesn’t mean you are not going to fit another look when you go on the next. When the casting directors come down to hold auditions they look for many different types of individuals for different types of roles. If you really want to be in this industry and you want it bad enough you are never going to give up on yourself. Keep trying and try to stay positive and focused and all your dreams will come true and Tru Talent can help you get to where you want to be, you just have to be willing to earn your way there!

I have not had much experience in the modeling and acting industry, but the experiences that I have had, have taught me a lot. I have always been interested in modeling and acting, or any other type of performing for that matter.

All through high school I was in theatre, on the competition dance team, and in competition choir. I have been in many performances, most of which I was the lead role. Some of these roles consist of; Danny Zuko from “Grease”, Romeo from “Romeo and Juliet”, lead vocalist in many choir concerts, and choreographer/ solo dancer in many dance shows. I have never really been the type to follow the crowd, but to stand up and create my own crowd.

While I was working at Anchor Blue, a retail store, I organized a fashion show for the winter selection coming in. I was also featured in a teen awareness fashion show, held at a local youth group. I have also done a few things with Tru Talent Management. I signed with Tru Talent Management after getting hired as a scout, and I was very eager to get my acting and modeling career started. So, I got myself booked for a photo shoot, and anticipated the shoots arrival. When I arrived at the office the day of my shoot, the photography team was already there, waiting to greet me with a smile. They did my hair and make-up, and went through the selection of clothes that I had brought with me. They chose four different outfits, for me to shoot in. The photo shoot was amazing, and a ton of fun. Afterward I did my photo-review. Their professional helped me choose the best possible pictures for my portfolio. A few short weeks later I received my photos back from their graphics artist and I was very pleased with them.

I also took a modeling class and I learned a lot, then came the time for auditions! I auditioned for David Anthony, a local casting director. Tru Talent’s booking agent thought that David would like to hear me sing, so I prepared an audition piece to sing for him. I did the audition very well, in my opinion, and he loved it. Now all I can do is wait for him to call or e-mail!!! All of this thanks to TRU Talent Management!

The first thing I would like to state is that we are a full service talent and modeling agency. Yes, we do offer all the tools necessary to help our talent to be able to go through our booking department and get out there to land jobs when they're sent on auditions. Most people who come in here did not possess such natural talent that we would feel comfortable with them using our name to go out on auditions but we feel confident with some proper training and with a professional portfolio those individuals would then be ready and better equipped to go out on auditions and perhaps even land roles!

Tru Talent Management provides all the tools one would need to be a successful actor or even a model! Utah is one of the few sates that have a ton of movies and films that are shot within the state! This allows for a lot of opportunities for those people that are interested in breaking into the industry, and Tru Talent Management is one of the top booking agencies in the state!

If someone is truly committed to making it big in the movie world I would recommend starting out with a smaller agency to build your resume and your skills. Tru Talent Management is a perfect company to start with. Unfortunately in today’s world of the internet the golden rule is now if you don’t have something bad to say, don’t say it. You cannot always believe what you read but need to rather see what success a company has and have faith in yourself before deciding not to do something just because someone has written something negative about a company on the internet.

I think in my perspective what it takes to be a good model is the learning ability and intelligence, self confidence, good organization skills, a healthy body and lots of get-up-and-go! Not everyone is born a model, they have to work for it and achieve that part of their career. A model that is comfortable in setting goals and not afraid to go after them with an aggressive determination.
Attitude in a model is important as well to set them into a character of advertisement. They are to show many angles of different moods. In every shot they take they have to be in the mood to sell to the fashion industry, and to be a hit in the modeling media.
The model has the ability to represent them into a fashion icon when they are walking down the stage. They are changed into character a couple times a day. For every photo shoot they take they are put out there for an advertisement to represent a product and sell themselves and the merchandise.
A model is set to look good, he or she is determined to be fit and be healthy, to also be a role model for the rest of us who are watching. They're a fashion icon that is moving around rotating roles and lifestyles. They represent high fashion, haute couture and even just a simple catalog. The truth is that without them we wouldn't be able to see what we could look like in clothes or with other merchandise out there. Thanks to all the models out there they are beautiful in their ways and do their jobs that many of us wouldn't be able to keep up with!

Your Portfolio

For a model, building a portfolio is not only a necessity but also a never-ending process. Your portfolio is like your business card to the industry.
Your portfolio can consist of any recent photo's from any photo shoots or tear sheets from magazines that you have done, you do not want to have any out dated photos in your portfolio It looks very unprofessional to you as a model. Generally your book holds photos that are about 9 inches wide and 12 inches high. Additionally, a model can utilize any of the recent photos from resent shoots to put in to build their portfolio.

Arranging Your Portfolio

If your portfolio isn't full of photos and tear sheets, don't add things that don't belong.Contract sheets, pictures of boyfriends and other personal things don't belong. Anything that is not suitable to represent yourself as a model should not be in your portfolio. ONLY images that can directly increase your chances of working belongs in your book.

Consult with your agent BEFORE you make changes to your book, hair, piercings and/or other dramatic changes.

If you don't have the services of an agent, here are a few guidelines to follow:

Find a good booking agent, go on a few auditions and go with the agent that you are the most comfortable with. It is vital to your career to be able to establish a connection with your booking agent and be able to have open communication on how they can fulfill your needs and what is it that you exactly want out of this.

Only have your best pictures in there, and don't stuff it with stuff that is out-of-date. If the styles aren't current, make sure your photos are. A model should update their portfolio at least once every year as needed. Unless you have an exceptional photo's, tear sheets that far exceed anything else in your book. Always begin your portfolio with your strongest photo, keep them interested and end on a strong note as well. (Which you MUST own the copyrights)

If you only have a few photos, put them on the right side of every page, so that there are more pages to flip. Don't leave sections blank!!

Try to vary the contents so that you don't have one large section of black & white, followed by a few color shots then back to lot of black & white. Instead, make it more interesting for the viewer.

If you are filling both sides of the book, try to have the pictures facing in to the middle of the book. If the body is facing left, have it on the right side of the book. If the eyes are looking right, try to have that picture on the left side of the book, so that they are facing inwards.

Keep your book CLEAN! Messy books can not only make your look unorganized but may come off as unprofessionalism.

Don't keep your portfolio in your car!!! The material that your photos are protected by will melt and look EXTREMLY unprofessional!

If you really want a copy of your own to show friends and family, get a second copy made, by either ordering additional prints. Models often get an extra copy of their photos. Always have extra copy of your book available, so you always have one available for both yourself as well as the agency.

Training

First and foremost a model/actor MUST have talent! Talent is something that cannot be taught. Workshops and training is the key to success for any modeling or acting careers.
Now training could be intense, it's not just walking and looking glamorous. You will learn a Varity of things from photo movement to poise, posture, fitness, nutrition, skin care the business aspect of modeling and much more. For myself, I believe there is always room for advancement. Training is kind of a never ending process in this industry.

This is a very glamorous job. Look, my thing is you have to undergo professional training especially if you have no experience in this industry. It is the exact same thing with sports business school, becoming a Doctor you have to invest in yourself to build a solid foundation underneath you so your confident in what you are doing. Realistically what are your chances of booking work with no training? About slim to none
You need to have something going on inside you for you that separates yourself from every other model that is auditioning as well. When you hit that runway you should be fierce and make every jaw drop. Forget the whole you have to look like a stick thing, as long as you are fit and don't have your tummy in folds you can do it, also personality is everything.
You don't have to be as tall as a basketball player either, as long as you have a good walk, personality and the right look you might get the opportunity! You never know what they are looking for so keep consistent with auditions and update your photos as needed; you could go very far in this industry. The sky is the limit, reach for the moon fall for in stars!!! The ball is in your court, you're going to get out of it what you put into it as with anything in life. With the right tools and knowledge for success in this industry you should be able to book out work.

Working in the Modeling industry many people ask me the question, "Why do I even need a portfolio?" or "Can't they just look at me in person and decide if they want to use me?" Little do people know, a portfolio is the most important tool you will need to "make it" in the modeling industry. I'm sure you've heard the expression, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well to a model, a portfolio is worth a million bucks. Now you can't just have any portfolio thrown together in a day. The portfolio must be filled with only pictures that WOW not only you, but anyone who looks at them.

When you meet with a photographer or agency, first impressions are EVERYTHING! Not only is it important that you look your best, but that you have all the best tools needed. A Portfolio being number one! When whoever you are meeting with is looking at the portfolio, the one thing that will stick in their minds the most is "the worst picture". That is why it is so important that you have only amazing pictures in the portfolio. You want to market yourself like you have been a model your whole life, even if this is your first audition. Amazing pictures will give you that experience that you need. Lets put you in their shoes, say you are craving a cheeseburger, but you cant decide between Mcdonalds and Burger King. So you decide to look at their photo's and menu online. Lets say Mcdonalds has professional pictures taken of their big mac's, they called in the top food specialists to construct the burger, and then hired a professional Photographer to take the pictures. Their big mac looks like the best burger you have ever seen in your life. Now you go to Burger King's sight, Their manager took a picture of a whopper that they had made and posted that on the sight. As a consumer, which one will you choose, the unprofessional whopper, or the beautifully crafted Big Mac? Never be the Whopper in this situation, if you want to succeed, you must do things right.

Back to the question of "why cant they just look at me in person and decide if they want to use me?" When a photographer is looking at you, he's not just thinking of whether you are beautiful or not. He wants to see you in different characters, outfits, hairstyles to help decide if you will fit the description of what he is looking for. Sure we can just take a head shot and a full body shot of you, but that would not show any variety of you. They want to see you at every different angle. They want to see if you can play different age ranges, and most importantly, they want to see if you have any personality with the camera. Anyone can take a photo, but it takes a good model to be able to connect with the camera and photographer. Many people think that all you need to do to be a model is be skinny and beautiful. While these are important, they are not the most important. You must have the personality, you cannot shy away from the camera or what the photographer tells you to do. You want amazing portfolio pictures that can show you are able to portray this.

Another common question about portfolio's is "do all of my photo's have to be in color?" Absolutely not! It is very important that you have black and white in your portfolio. Not only is it an artistic medium that can portray many different things, it is also important that you show how your skin and features look in a different color. There are some photographers out there that only want to shoot in black and white. If they cannot see how you look, they will not want to work with you in the fear of their photo's not turning out, and their wasting time and money.

So I hope you have learned how important a portfolio really is, but you will only be able to truly find out all the answers to your questions from experience. So if Modeling is a dream of yours, Jump in and try it, you never know when your dreams will come tru.

I believe it is safe to say that any potential actor/model looking for a career in the industry may be under the misconception that "if I am that pretty they should pay for me." However, this is not true. Training is crucial for any up and coming talent for any agency. This is to benefit them and potential work they may land in the future. Many agencies are more than willing to provide the necessary classes that are needed in order to further pursue modeling. This also gives potential talent the knowledge they will take with them as they progress.
The training and classes taken will also give the actor/model more experience needed for their resume. Resumes are critical for agencies to review, as this sets you aside from other actors/models. The training and classes will also allow an agent the opportunity to see what natural capabilities one may have. This is turn can help them accentuate their natural talents for any up and coming auditions.
Any schooling anyone make take, (whether it be a college, university, tech school or vocational school), has certain requirements that allow the student to further progress. As a full time student myself I would not expect a school to pay for my schooling if I had "a sweet spirit and a good personality" when I apply. I would have to fill out applications, have my transcripts, and any other requirements and qualifications that may set me aside for the admissions office to even consider me. I would never expect to show up with a smile and a funny joke and then be disappointed or tell others the school is a "scam" because I was cute and they did not accept me. Of course not. You must meet all requirements before even getting accepted.
This is also true for my grades. I cannot expect to study one hour a week for a twelve credit semester and to pass all courses with straight A's. Absolutely not! This is also true with once you are accepted and sign a contract as a model. One should not expect to show up to an audition dressed and manicured unprofessionally. One should not expect to get the part of the job with no portfolio, no head shots, no resume, or any experience under their belt. The training and classes required before acting or modeling are guidelines to show potential talent what others will be expecting.
Competition is very intense and there are hundreds of thousands models waiting in line to "make it big" and to be in movies, runway shows, magazines and print work. However, they must not expect to show no incentive or desire and get the highest end of results. This is hard work and some models and actors must maintain a steady job to pay bills. While the rewards may be great a t times, there are weeks and sometimes months where there is no work for them. Unless you are an "A List" model/actor nothing will fall into your lap.
It may be expensive at first but in the long run, according to potential talents' desires and determination, it will all pay off. There is not one agency out there that would dare consider someone unless they show up on time and prepared. Resumes must include previous work experience, and work ethic. They must update resume after any type of work they may have done and always look for an opportunity to get your foot in the door. That's what an agent does for you. They are highly trained and have experience in the program. Agents are there to represent you representing yourself.
Models and actors must understand that the demands are high in their profession and the more experience they receive through training will be a knowledge that will last them throughout their career. In my opinion the classes are essential. Without these any prospective talent would get nowhere. This too will prepare you for rejection and constructive criticism down the road. In the end any potential talent will be grateful for where they were and where they will be after the classes.

-Melissa Voyles

Out of all of the decisions I've ever had to make, joining TruTalent has been the best one yet. Not only have they provided so many useful opportunities for me, but they have also given me better support than a family and an extraordinary guidance that has made all the difference. I think it's safe to say they have changed my life in many ways.

When I moved to Salt Lake City, I'll be honest, I didn't know what I was going to do with my life. I had a clean start, ambition, and will, with no outlet to put it into. Then one day I was sitting outside, contemplating exactly what I was going to do with my life, and a face agent approached me and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I had never thought about modeling or acting before as a career and honestly didn't feel it was a forte of mine, but I figured it was only an interview and I had nothing to lose, so I scheduled an appointment with my agent.

The moment I walked into the lobby I felt I had made a good choice. Everyone was so welcoming and straight forward with me that I immediately felt at home. I had my audition with my agent and luckily they were interested in representing me. However, I had no experience whatsoever in acting or modeling so I was very nervous to start auditioning and too afraid to take classes at a school.

I then found out that TruTalent offers classes through the agency so of course I signed up. My agent gave me a tour of the whole agency and introduced me to everyone so that I could become familiar with how the agency works. I loved that it has always felt so family-oriented from the very beginning.

Since then I have taken acting class and it has been such a wonderful experience, I know now that I made the right decision in coming in. Rob Diamond is the best acting coach anyone could have. I was so nervous for my first class, I have always had stage fright and had never acted in my life. I knew I was going to make a complete fool of myself.

By the end of my very first class, not only did I have a completely new outlook on what acting is, but I was not nervous at all anymore and found myself getting more and more excited for the each class. Rob always gives you the drive to improve, the will to do more, the strength to take criticism, and teaches you everything you could possibly need to know to perform a successful audition. I feel that in my acting class I have done nothing but learn new things and enjoy improving from week to week. Rob has taught me such a good attitude on how to handle a "no" and how to turn criticism into a positive thing, I have even applied it to everyday life. There aren't many things in life you can walk away from feeling completely benefited, but my acting class was one of them. I will always be grateful for the things that Rob has taught me, as they have affected my life in more ways than I can count.

TruTalent does an incredible job of making you feel comfortable whether you're there for an audition, a photo shoot, or a class. Everyone I have met makes sure that you feel welcomed from the minute you enter the building. I no longer get scared of auditions or of getting turned down. All in all, I would recommend TruTalent Management to anyone. After seeing the way my experience has improved my life I would suggest it for anything from improving self-esteem, to learning about business. I have had nothing but good things happen to me since I joined TruTalent and since they're representing me for life I will have a lot more time to enjoy working with them in the future.

-Skye Danielle Barker

I started my career in the entertainment business in 2002 and found to enjoy every bit of it. From fashion shows to photo shoots to going out on castings were a few things that keep me in this business and remain to pursue my talents and gifts as an actor/ model. My experience as an actor/ model has been amazing for the past 6 years. I have been able to land many different roles in things such as Wal-Mart, Microsoft, some local commercials, and trade shows. I have gotten the pleasure to meet some very important people that helped me to become the person that I am today.

As a model I know that my portfolio is very vital to me. Having the ability to work with various photographers is beneficial to me in order to get my face out there and have amazing photos for potential client to not only enjoy looking at but for them to cast me.

As an actor I also know that in order to be casted for a project I must have a head shot as well as an 8 X 10 resume stapled in all four corners, which is industry standard. In the acting business I have learned that workshops are very helpful to pursue your career in the acting business. What I have done personally over the years with my acting coaches has taken bits and piece of their training and turned them into my own, which is one reason I have been able to land various roles.

The entertainment business is hard to pursue alone. I believe that working with a great agency, such as TRU Talent Management is also vital to ensure the success that many talents across the world have accomplished. I believe that working with great agents is something that every talent should try to accomplish. Working with the right agent will help you with your endeavors that you decide to overcome throughout your career.

Pursuing your career as an actor/model takes a lot of hard work and dedication. It is very important to never give up as a talent and you must have a drive for success. The best of the best become the best due to hard work, dedication, and the drive. I believe that you can have success if you imply those three traits and give it all you got.

There are many misconceptions of what people believe an acting and modeling agency actually is. One of the most annoying things people believe about what an acting and modeling agency is, is that they'll make you a big star without you even having to work for it. They think that an agency will pay them. They think an agency will bring them fame and fortune without them even having to raise a finger, throw them on a stage and plaster them with glitter. They think an agency will fly them to a movie set, throw them on there and blow sunshine up their @$$ so bright and hard it shines out their mouth... Well guess what? These are all WRONG.
If you want to get big, you've got to do that on your own, just like how a politician has to fund his own campaign. Just like how a band has rough beginnings and starves themselves. The same is true with a model and actor. YOU have to work on YOU. But what is an agency?
An agency/agent is something/someone you pay to find work for you and to represent you better than you can represent yourself. And keep in mind that I didn't say GET work, I said FIND work. YOU still have to do the work. Nothing is free in this world. An agency will find you auditions for acting and modeling, which some are very good at, especially ours at Tru Talent Management. The agency finds the auditions, and YOU go out and perform at the audition. Whether you get the work or not depends entirely on you and the person you're auditioning for. There's no guarantees, all you can do is do your best.
This is something you do because you love to do it. It's not about the fortune, it's not about the fame, its not about the girls... It's about acting and modeling. The people who will get somewhere, guaranteed, are the ones that could do acting and modeling even if they aren't getting paid $#!+. And that's because they do it for the fact that it's their life's passion, or at least one of their life's passions. People like this don't care about getting big, really. These people are content with their modeling or acting even if YouTube is as far as they'll make it... They do it because they love it, which answers the question: "Well, what if I just totally throw myself into it, put my money and time into it, and I don't get anywhere?" That's the remedy, you don't CARE that you're putting all this money and time into it, because you enjoy doing it! You love it!
If you now realize that the ball is really in YOUR park and that nobody's going to wipe your butt for you, you might be wondering how you can improve on your acting and modeling skills. You might be wondering where you can pick up the knowledge you need to be on a film set without looking like an idiot. Where do you learn your cold reading, your blocking, slating, movement, actors recall, and so on?
Now, here's something that Tru Talent can do for you unlike other agencies. Tru Talent can help you with your skills, they can help you know what you're doing when you're on set. They can refine you and give you the knowledge that you need to be an acting/modeling pro. Tru Talent Management has classes. (Tru Talent has to represent legit talent that knows what they're doing.) The classes are taught by professionals in the industry that have been dabbling and working within for years. here is Salt Lake, we have our acting coach named Rob Diamond. He's awesome. He worked with Mickey Rooney once upon a time. He's an independent film director. But most importantly... He's one of the most sought after acting coaches in the industry and he really knows his stuff. Deep psychological stuff, man. DEEP stuff acting is, and he's got it down pat. He's one of the most emotionally healthy men you could ever know, due to how therapeutic acting is, and he's a master at his craft. He does it because he loves it, and he can teach it all to you through Tru Talent Management.
Our modeling coach is named Tim Salisbury. Now Tim... Is a GREAT guy. He's awesome. his testimonial of Tru Talent is found on Tru Talent's site as well as some other blogs of ours on the web. Tim has a background in acting and modeling, lives a very healthy lifestyle, works out at Gold's Gym... Has been in the industry for a significant time. He has spouted out, more than once, if front of me, about his diet, workout routines and being a well rounded healthy person. He has knowledge that every model should know, and has knowledge that fits any part of the modeling industry-Runway, glamour, fashion, gothic, alternative, artistic- you name it. He'll help you know about the kind of lifestyle that every model needs to know. He is one of the few epitomes of health and the benefits thereof, something our society needs.
In closing, Tru Talent is Utah's #1 booking agency here in Utah. We can't throw success into your lap, or hold your hand through the whole thing like a baby, but we can sure help you get there. We have what you need to do so, and we do our job well. Don't come in and sign a contract thinking that we'll make you big... You have to do that yourself. And you have to do that because you love it as well, and not for the money... You'll have to work your way up with a lot of non paying work before you get there. It's the truth. It's life in any field. Get used to it.