We were lucky to catch up with JT Scott recently and have shared our conversation below.

JT, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?

I’m signed with a few acting and modeling agencies in the Twin Cities. A classmate during an acting class at St.Cloud State University referred me to them, I was encouraged to apply, so I submitted the materials they requested, and the next thing you know I was signed with 3 different modeling and acting agencies, landing gigs for film, print, fashion, and TV commercials. I decided to work with them because I realized they were legit agencies, and they wanted me because I brought something different to the table as far as looks and my acting ability.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a 29 year old African American Acrobat, Actor and Model. Born and raised in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. I Admired performing arts, dance, acrobatics, and acting since I was a child. I started teaching myself acrobatics around the time I attended elementary school. By the time is was a high school freshman, my acrobatic ability was superb. My mom thought it’d be good to get me into a gymnastics program, not too long after that, I was training with the collage gymnast at Hamline University, though I was a high school student, my skill matched that of higher level gymnast! My skill was so great that I caught the eye of one of the gymnastics coaches, who suggested that I apply to be a performer at circus juventas located in East St.Paul Minnesota. She offered to show me what happens at circus juvents, what their performances are like, so I tagged along, when we got to the circus she brought me out to the stage to meet the director of the circus in the middle of them setting up for the next act, he had me show him something as proof that I was good enough, I tumbled from one side of the stage to the other, the audience went nuts, he had me immediately measured for a costume for the upcoming show. I ran away with the circus for 2 years, winning the award for best acrobat for both years, and landing an interview with the Star Tribune News because of my spectacular performances. After my circus days, I attended St.Cloud State University where I majored in Theatre, which at the time my classmate referred me to the agencies I’m currently signed with. Getting to where I am has been a journey, I faced a lot of rejection starting out, but as I learned how the industry works, what clients, designers, agents, and casting directors are looking for in models and actors, and what to expect at auditions, I’ve been booking work like crazy. I’m proud of myself for not giving up at the times I wanted to, because now my face is up on Targets website and in the Target stores on canvases, now my face is in 50 different fashion magazines which I got the cover for 8 of them, now I do commercials, now I’ll be in my first 2 big feature films starting production soon, this is the result of doing what you love, holding on when things get tough, and not giving up. The way I got to where I am may not have been easy, but I wouldn’t change a thing about the journey, I learned a lot, it made me better at what I do, and I’m living my dream.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I inspire people to do what they love. A lot of people have told me that I have inspired them to do what they have always wanted to do. They see me booking big gigs in the acting and modeling industry, and it reminds them that whatever it is they have dreamed of doing is possible! It feels good to know that what I do encourages others to continue working towards that dream of theirs, or to start working on getting there.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There was one agency I applied to for representation as a actor and model, I sent in my photos and acting resume, and was rejected. I didn’t know what was keeping them from signing me, I tried getting in for 3 years, I got rejected the whole time. I looked at the pictures I submitted to them, and wondered what was missing. I looked at the photos of the models on the agencies website, and looked at the photos their clients took, so I could get an idea of what they are looking for in model images. I realized what kind of photos and acting work gets their attention, I got together with photographers to take images similar to what I saw on the agencies and clients websites. Then I applied one more time, submitting all of my new and improved modeling and acting work. I got a call back from the agency, they set up a meeting with me to see if my look was current, and if my acting was good enough. They loved my images, and what I could do as far as acting, and BOOM! I was finally signed with them as a actor and model, after all of the years of rejection!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jt_scott__/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.121580568249651&type=3

Image Credits
Photographers: -Kayla Hammell -Kevin Monio -Jeff Sorenson -Ravi -Sainte Reign Hair & Makeup: -Breanna Allen -Sainte Reign -Viktoria Brabec