Entertainment Talent Scout Job Description, Career as a Entertainment Talent Scout, Salary, Employment

Education and Training Bachelor’s degree or apprenticeship

Average Salary $54,000 per year

Job Outlook Very good

Basic Job Description

Talent scouts in the entertainment industry work for various companies to recruit talented individuals to star in movies, Broadway plays or play on professional sports teams. Scouts can work for movie production companies, sports teams or for various producers in the music industry. Most scouts work by traveling to sporting events, talent shows or college plays to recruit talented members and offer opportunities that will allow for potential careers that utilize their skills. Talent scouts also work as part of professional sports drafts to help determine which teams need which players, or as part of movie and music industry auditions to find aspiring actors or performers.

Education and Training Requirements

Many talent scouts are previous performers or sports players that have experience in the industry, while others have made a career out of being a scout without previous experience.

There is no specific degree for someone looking to become an entertainment talent scout. For someone who is looking to go to school and get into the industry, a degree in communications or human resources may help in the field of communicating with potential talent and recruiting individuals.

For someone who is looking to get into the field but has no experience, one of the best ways to get experience is to speak with several experienced scouts and find out what they did to get where they are. Many experienced talent scouts are willing to mentor or apprentice someone who is looking to get into the field and can use them as an assistant while mentoring them and guiding them in the right direction. This is also an excellent way to gain resources and make connections with people in the industry.

Getting the Job

The ideal entertainment talent scout will know exactly where to go to find the best talented individuals for whoever they are working with. They will be aggressive and self-motivated, which will encourage them to attend various events looking for talent and contact various agencies in hopes of working for them.

In order to prove to a company that their services are needed, a talent scout will display excellent communication skills, be a self-motivated person who is willing to approach random people, and show that they have a good understanding of where to go in the area to find talented people that are right for the specific company. They will be able to show a proven track record of individuals they have discovered and had signed with record labels, sports teams or movie production agencies.

An entertainment talent scout will have a vast understanding of what the company looks for. A scout in the sports industry will be able to sit at a high school or college sporting event and determine what players will benefit the team they are scouting for and who possess true talent. A scout in the music or movie industry will attend theater performances and find someone who is perfect for a specific role in an upcoming Broadway play or movie.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook and Career Development

Employment for entertainment talent scouts is continually on the rise as more and more entertainment companies look for people who are able to depict true, unique talent from the masses of people who want to be in their industry.

Someone who works as a talent scout for a small company could develop into their own personal scouting business, where they work freelance for various companies and get paid according to who they discover and how the company will benefit from the person. The more talent an individual scout discovers, the more connections they make in the industry and the bigger their “portfolio” of rising stars they’ve discovered.

Similar to how the talent scout finds talented individuals, a larger company may pick up on a talent scouts track record of who they’ve discovered and want them working for their company. If a scout develops a big reputation, they can eventually work for professional sports teams in the NBA or NFL, or for companies developing big Hollywood productions such as Warner Bros. These companies pick up talent scouts to host auditions and judge talent to closely depict who would be best for specific roles.

The most important part of being an entertainment talent scout is that the person is passionate about what they do. A good scout will not stop looking until they find exactly what they need, and will not settle for anything less. They will understand that in order to move forward, a lot of their personal time and money will be sacrificed to attend events and find someone. A scout who possesses these qualities will always be able to find new career opportunities.

Working Conditions and Environment

Most talent scouts spend most of their work time attending events, contacting potential talent, and interviewing those who respond. The work environment is constantly changing for a talent scout and is often very entertaining. A scout has the benefit of literally being paid by a company to attend sporting events or Broadway plays.

While there is plenty of entertainment involved in the work of an entertainment talent scout, there is a lot of dirty work involved as well. If a scout is having trouble finding true talent, they will often have to attend several events to find one worthwhile person. Even then, if the scout believes someone is a perfect fit and the person is willing to try out for a part, the company could wind up hating the person and sending the scout out to find someone better. If the scout and company do not see eye to eye on what they’re looking for, the company could drop the scouts services and risk tarnishing their reputation. The business is extremely competitive and stressful, as a scout always has to prove they can see what others can’t.

Salary and Benefits

The average annual salary for a talent scout is about $54,000 per year. The salary is extremely variable for a talent scout, as one who works for a smaller local company will make significantly less than a talent scout working in Hollywood Studios.

While there is a lot of hard work and competition that goes into being an entertainment talent scout, there are many benefits as well. A talent scout almost always has somewhere to look toward advancing their career, as the entertainment industry is huge and there are many steps to take before making it to the top. Aside from the many opportunities, talent scouts are also lucky enough to get paid to attend events. Agencies will pay a scout to attend sporting events, Broadway plays, movie premieres and anywhere else where they could potentially find someone who is perfect for what they need.

Where to Go for More Information

National Talent Search USA
Las Vegas, NV
(888) 863-9553
http://www.nationaltalentsearchusa.com