Managers Not Named Ned Yost

As I try to navigate the L.A. waters, the topic of managers has come up again and again. I've talked at length about agents and the role they play in submitting you for jobs and negotiating contracts -- two things a talent manager CANNOT do. A manager's role is a bit more amorphous; they technically can't submit you, but they do use their contacts to get you known around town.

Seems that there are two schools of thought about managers.
1) You don't need a manager until you have a career to manage. That is, until you reach a level of success where you need to decide which projects to take and turn down, why give away another 15% of your income (on top of the 10% you give to your agent) ? Before I got here, I was more in this camp...

2) You should try to get a manager as soon as possible. Most good managers are former agents, or have some other significant industry experience, so they have many connections around town - directors, producers, casting directors, and agents. Yes, often times a manager can get you meetings with agents who might not otherwise consider you. The downside? Well, again, you pay a 15% commission on everything you get -- whether or not the manager was directly involved. And you are signed for 3 years (longer contracts than with agents because often times a manager has to 'invest' some time in you before you really get consistent work). But, I'm inclined to think that paying 15% of something is better for me than keeping 100% of nothing. Another down side is that it's difficult to get a good manager. And finally, it's hard to know if a manager is indeed good or not. Unlike agents, talent managers are not regulated -- anyone can hang up a shingle and call themselves a manager. So, when searching for one, you need to be careful.

All this being said, I think I'm going to at least try to get meetings with a few managers that I've been researching. Easier said than done, but if I can spark some interest with the package I send them, who knows...

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Went to a preview screening of the new Luke Wilson film, "Henry Poole is Here" with my friend David last night in Hollywood. Eh, it was okay - very spiritual, Faith vs. Doubt, etc. A good family film if that's what you're looking for...