Here’s the latest on what’s cooking. You’ll find business thoughts, inspiring ideas and of course castings. Note: Most clients don’t announce their castings publicly, so this is a fraction of actual projects for which Talent are being booked!

Project Updates: Delta still pending for main roles, booking extras soon too, GA Lottery still in play and Spokesman too! Busy day in the Soup

Friday July 30, 2010 by Chef

Just some quick updates..

Casting a Spokesman (that word looks odd...). Pays $3250 if you land it....not bad for 8 hours work.

Thursday July 29, 2010 by Chef

An Atlanta manufacturer is using TalentSoup to find their next spokesmodel (ok, spokesman might not be the right word). We've submitted talent and the initial screening is done, now we are working toward reducing the number to call in for a closed reading.

Just another reason to be in the Soup.

Our Tech Chef Eric Adds Another Startup - And A New Baby Boy Today Makes 3!

Wednesday July 28, 2010 by Chef

Congratulations to Eric (our insanely smart Jedi developer) and his wife Nikki on the birth of their baby boy today. No stats yet but he promises to make life even busier for the couple, with 2 siblings already keeping them busy!!!

Congratulations Eric (but of course the real congratulations goes to Nikki, his wife!!)!!

Voicemail Blast Wonky - Hey Atlanta Pro Talent - It's For A Closed Call Job $2500

Friday July 23, 2010 by Chef

To our Atlanta Professional Models and Actors, you should have received an automated voicemail blast yesterday about a closed casting call we are sending you on. It's a nice gig @ $2500 so check your email too.

Our voicemail blast system was having an end of the week meltdown apparently.

Ps. If you did not get an email from us, you were not in the demographic the client needs. Thanks.

Wow, Almost 10,000 Talent In The Soup! We love cupcakes but would rather you celebrate with us here: http://bit.ly/9DNluM

Thursday July 22, 2010 by Chef

TalentSoup is a day, or so, away from crossing a huge milestone: 10,000 talent in our community!

As a rule, we are quick to celebrate and this is a huge deal to us but instead of looking ahead, we've chosen to look around. Around our homes, our business, our city (well, "cities", as we are growing strong in Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Seattle, etc.)... and while patting ourselves, and our talent, on the back is fun, it doesn't fit our credo~

You see, we exist because we are For People. That is, we believe in an individual's greatness and want to do everything we can so support, encourage, and grow everyone we come in contact with.

Based on that idea, and our monumental 10k Talent milestone, we thought to celebrate by pouring into those with unlimited potential for greatness - kids.

So in lieu of gifts, cards, cupcakes (although we really, really like cupcakes) or accolade, we noticed the Tim Ferris http://bit.ly/cBUrKo , is matching all gifts to an incredible organization called Donors Choose. So if you give $33, he'll give an additional $33!!! That's good math if you ask us.

http://bit.ly/9DNluM

So go look around and let's invest in some kid-greatness!

For extra credit, go watch this trailer (get the tissues ready)- http://www.WaitingForSuperman.com/

What can we say. TalentSoup are amazing and we are honored you've partnered with us. We take our job of putting you to work seriously.

"Death of the Movie Star" http://bit.ly/aYzPS0 . Crumbling of empires in Hollywood....

Friday July 16, 2010 by Chef

Like it or not, technology is really good at blowing up walls, knocking down castles, and generally wreaking havoc in locked down industries.

Hollywood is no different and is now feeling the full effects of disintermediation.

From where we sit, this is a great thing!! Now the power to make or break careers is in the general market and your own individual efforts. No longer is someone holding the keys to the kingdom and forcing anyone to jump through their hoops.

Of course, there are still hoops to jump through but they are not "controlled" by a small, powerful group.

Articles like this one get us pumped up...democratizing the movie business, or the acting business, or the modeling business, is ultimately good for our talent!

Individual Greatness - Who's cheering for your success? Are you waiting for permission to be awesome? (thanks @kplawver !)

Wednesday July 14, 2010 by Chef

Yes, yes, your mom thinks you are the next (fill in the blank with someone you think is awesome) but really, who's cheering for you? Who stands to gain nothing from your success but supports and pushes you anyway? Anyone?

It's a hard question really. When we think of the people in our lives that are our cheerleaders, we usually separate them out based on their obligation to cheer for us. Moms and family: well, they are obligated by blood. Co-workers: perhaps they are cheering or perhaps they are masking a fear that you will succeed (and they won't). Your boss: heh, you succeed, so does she. Your pastor, or priest, or community leader: that's their job, right? They have to cheer for everyone by default (Don't stop cheering for TalentSoup Pastor Smith!).

For talent, there is a unique tension between your peers, your agency, and the marketplace as it pertains to success. Amazingly, most of the talent we are around have a huge heart for the success of others. It's really amazing to experience. There are a few agencies out there that want their entire crew, and even others, to succeed because they know how hard it is. But of course, agents don't win unless their talent does. And here's the tough part, all agents know that most of their talent won't succeed in this business.

They know that a small percentage of their talent will bring the vast majority of their revenue. This makes most agencies very focused on the few for the sake of the many. We are not blaming them after all, if they go out of business no one succeeds. But what if there was a better way?

We began to notice a couple of years ago that unexpected (by the industry definition) success is finding our talent. Talent who would normally be overlooked in the traditional sense in our industry are getting booked. We are seeing what the economists now call, the Long Tail of talent booking. This is only possible because of our technology, the size of our talent marketplace, and lots of repeat clients. The clients are finding new faces and new talent because they now have a choice of the many, instead of just seeing the few. While this is really exciting to us, we are using this knowledge to develop new tools to make our dedicated talent even more marketable, which will result in more bookings. When you have technology we have, and crazy-brilliant developers, amazingly valuable features for our talent are the only option.

When asked, "Who Is TalentSoup For?", we always respond, "We are for individual greatness". Because what we are learning, is that everyone, yes everyone, has Face Value. Everyone can realize their greatness!

The Face of Advertising Continues To Change - Different Skin Color Sells Too!

Tuesday July 13, 2010 by Chef

From Ad Age's site:

Agencies are putting multicultural actors, spokespeople and models front and center to bring that message home

That's why TalentSoup loves all-color people...come on rainbow-colored peeps, get in the Mix!!

http://bit.ly/9A336X

Professionalism Is Key...No One Wants To Work With High Maintenance Talent

Tuesday July 06, 2010 by Chef

As talent, you have to be especially purposeful in how you interact, communicate and treat others in our business. Not only is this idea good for your soul, it's good business. You never know someone might pop up on your radar and bring you work.

Everyone in our business works very hard and we all have up and down days but don't we all want to work with folks that are nice to each other? That come prepared and ready to do their jobs?

Of course, it's rhetorical, but keep that in mind the next time someone (like TalentSoup) calls to book you for a job. Make sure you have your brings (personal wardrobe), be on time, be pleasant, helpful, listen intently and take direction. It comes back around, I promise!

We are honored by our talent regularly so this post is not directed at anyone in particular, just keeping everyone on their toes!

Grocery Store Casting Closed - Atlanta and Tampa included

Monday July 05, 2010 by Chef

What amazing talent we've seen coming in from Tampa! Welcome new faces! Atlanta talent, you are still spectacular....

This project has closed for both the Atlanta and Tampa markets. All talent have been notified and confirmed.