You have incorporated some new innovations into your business and are recruiting talent to inform the world about these innovations. Whether you are holding a talent search for voice-overs for a radio commercial, actors for a television commercial or entertainers for a live show, it might be in your best interest to glean advice from professional talent scouts.

Even if you want to search on your own without an official talent agency, there are several steps you can take to guarantee a professional-looking outcome for promoting your business.

1. Start your talent recruiting locally.

2. Work closely with talent managers, letting them know exactly what you are looking for in regards to talent.

3. Double-check to make sure a talent agency you use is legitimate.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Interview several talent agencies in your area

If you live in an urban area, you will have a plethora of agencies to choose from either online or in person. For those in rural areas, consider the Internet as your first stop to find an agency that specializes in what you need. An agency specializing in providing runway talent is very different from one specializing in providing voice talent or models for an art class.

I recommend: For one-stop talent shopping, Talent Management offers an easy-to-use web site. TalentNetworks, Inc. allows you to search a city for local agencies by map or keyword. Instead of searching through all of New York for an agency, type in "Buffalo" and find all the agencies in that area, including links to available websites you can view while recruiting talent.

Participate in talent recruitment alongside professionals

Work with a talent recruiter or a talent scout to optimize talent search results. Use the Internet to show professionals what your advertising goals are and find out if your talent scouts are using up-to-date industry information.

I recommend: MyTalent Networks, Inc. showcases talent from actors to dancers and models who post their information and clips in the global online community along with contact information. If you are looking for voice talent for professional materials, you might want to consider The Great Voice Company, Inc.

Ensure the talent and talent managers are legitimate before signing a contract

Not all scams take your money and run. Some fraudulent companies add in extra charges or fees. Ask for a company's credentials and do a little research on your own.

I recommend: The Association of Talent Agents has a list of states and their talent agency license requirements. Find out if the agency you are dealing with adheres to these credentials. Another method of checking legitimacy is to see if the talent agency is part of a talent union such as the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA).

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Avoid signing contracts before you procure talent; legitimate agencies always provide a service before billing.