Expert: Charles Taylor - 3/29/2007

Question
Hello,

Me, and a partner are interested in forming a talent agency.  We live in Charlotte, NC.  Neither one of us come from backgrounds that are directly applicable to working as talent agents.  He owns, and runs a landscaping company, and I work in the security field. Both of us are trying to learn more about the adult entertainment industry in general, and more specially, an agent's place within it to gain an overall understanding of things.  I've had little problem finding information on the adult industry in general, but I have had a problem finding specific information on talent agencies directed to  the people who are either interested in starting one, or who are running one.  I've tried looking in a number of places without luck.  I came across the xbiz.com site which had a few articles of interest, however, they were written with a content provider/webmaster audience in mind.  I have also looked at many of the talent agency websites that are out there to gain some understanding, but these sites are mostly directed towards prospective models.  Even tried looking in wikipedia for some sort of something on the subject.  

Do you know of any informative website that is geared directly towards both new, and experienced agents, or managers that work specifically within the adult entertainment industry?  I have many questions, and I'm particularly interested in the details of female recruitment.  So far, the answers that you have provided to others have been some of the most useful information I have found about the industry in general.  

The first part of what I want to know is:  What kind of industry is the adult talent biz?  Is it very cut-throat one, every man for themselves type of thing, or do agencies ever help one another out?  Do agencies ever work co-operatively, or is the closest thing to it finder fees that an agency would pay anyone?

The second part of what I want to know is:  What makes an agent successful besides word-of-mouth referrals?  When, where, and how is the best way to find women that are interested in adult film work?  Maybe during spring break, wet t-shirt contests, or on college campuses?  What are other ways of finding women that are interested in adult film, and what are the pros, and cons of each?  What about myspace, or through websites?  What about strip clubs, or swinger's clubs?  Is it better to recruit in person, or through ads?  How does the law apply to the agent's efforts to recruit women?  Is pandering & prostitution law any more of an issue for the agent that greets women in person with a business card, and an offer than it is for those that use an ad?  Which methods are best for finding amateurs, and which are best for professionals?  Which methods are best and worst for getting the greatest return on investment, and why?

I'm just trying to understand this inside out.

Thanks

Answer
This is a rather complicated question. you will need to know the laws of the state you will be doing business in as far as to if you can legally operate as an "adult" talent agency. As far as adult being cut-throat....yes very much so. you would be better off just being a scout in the industry and sending new girls off to LA & Miami rather then doing all the hard work of forming a business in a state that is not known for making adult movies.