We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karla Huff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karla below.
Karla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Covid has brought about so many changes – has your business model changed?
As with all tragedies, and COVID had more than its share, if we look we can find the little gifts they leave in their wake. For me and my business, the gift was being able to be more connected to my clients. I am a talent manager for over 18 years. Typically our wonderful clients would get auditions, go in and perform for casting directors, and then we would all wait and see if they get the callback, We had confidence that they were all training with wonderful coaches but at the end of the day we could not see the results ourselves as all auditions were in person. And we could not see our clients growth as they trained and developed their processes. NOW almost all auditions are done via ZOOM. It was a big adjustment – and a big change with clients having to set up audition rooms in their homes, learn about backdrops, how to film auditions etc. There was a big learning curve. But we all got up to speed over time – and now I realize this for the blessing it is! We get to see every audition before our client’s get seen by casting directors. It is so helpful to be able to provide feedback PRIOR to casting seeing a tape, and truly watch our client’s and their amazing gifts. We fell in love with those gifts when we signed them, either as established actors or upcoming actors full of potential. Now we feel so much more a part of their journey being able to fully participate in all aspects of what they do!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am the mother of an amazing actor. He expressed interest when he was 12 years old and as he is my only child we put everything behind him to help him pursue his dreams! The road was rocky, lots of pitfalls (vultures) in Hollywood and had to learn while doing how to navigate that and protect him, In the process I fell in love with the industry! And the talented people pursuing their dreams. When my son wanted to venture off on his own at about 16 and go to his auditions by himself, etc., I asked one of my friends with a son in the same headspace if she wanted to open a management company with me and we could be the kind of managers we wish we had! We have truly realized our own dreams being able to play a significant role in helping these amazing artists reach theirs! So 18 years later we are one of the top boutique talent management companies and still have that same passion we had to start with. Every day is different – a new challenge – a new opportunity – and new dreams to help come true. We are truly blessed!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Well this is a timely question! Right now has been one of the most historic times in my industry. Both the Writers and the Actors are on strike at the same time! No one knows how long it will last, but we all know its necessary for these talented artists to be appropriately taken care of and protected. As we are a commission only business, and only make money when our clients work and get paid, you can imagine as this has gone on for months, short term pivots were necessary to keep our own households going! It has been an interesting time looking for side hustles to help out while we stand in solidarity with the unions. But it is truly causing us to be creative! And pull out any old skill we might still know how to do and see if its temporarily marketable! All I want to do is manage talent – but sometimes a short term pivot is neccesary for the good of everyone!
How’d you meet your business partner?
We were both parents of young actors who met at our mutual talent managers offices. The boys hit it off and we decided two heads are better than one and worked together to help our boys navigate things. We were extremely taken advantage of, expected to work for our managers helping them do their job, our managers were taking kickbacks off recommendations they gave us, and on and on. When we figured it out and finally started learning what was right and wrong, the boys flourished. Eventually they turned 16 and wanted to do things on their own so we started this Dream business!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dreamtalentmanagement.com
- Instagram: @dreamtalentlife