Dubai Star Talent Agency
Introduction
In its 10-year history, Dubai Star Talent Agency has risen steadily to become one of the most respected and sought-after talent agencies in the nation. Indeed, 1994 was perhaps its finest year as we have discovered several new talents and obtained plenty of work for our existing clientele. While the agency started out badly in the first quarter, we finished well during the fall months, giving us our most productive year to date.
Fiscal Overview
Our company is getting work for many clients. We are in the black for the first time since 1988, and we are making the right decisions.
History Of Dubai Star Talent Agency
In 1988, Dubai Star Talent Agency was born. After three months of business, the fledgling UAE company ran into some bad luck. The manager rejected everyone who applied. “They had no talent,” he later remarked. “Seeing all those people walk in and out of the office was like watching a parade of silly people.” Refusing to give up, Mohammed Al Shamsi, the manager, decided that if no talent would go to him, he would go the talent. He declared bankruptcy, sold all of his belongings to pay off his remaining debts, and hitchhiked to Oman. Mohammed walked through the streets of Muscat with a notebook in one hand, a loaf of bread in the other hand, and Dh100 in his pocket. Two years later and a few lucky breaks, Mohammed Al Shamsi is the proud CEO of a Dh14 million company, Dubai Star Talent Agency, which is now the seventeenth largest in the world. Based in Dubai, the company now works with over three hundred clients at any single time. “The world needs a lot of talented people.” Mohammed said. “I’m just trying to make the world a better place.”
Company Organization
Dubai Star Talent Agency consists of four divisions: Acting, Music, Writing, and Dance. At one time, Mime was a separate division, but in 1990, Mime became a subdivision of Dance. An experienced talent agent manages each division.
Acting
Sharon Maki manages four talent agents in this experienced group. She lost two capable young agents who decided to pursue acting careers of their own; fortunately, she was able to replace them without breaking stride. Sharon’s connections to Galaxy Studios and her ties with cast directors such as Terry Gillman and Patricia de la Hoya make her invaluable to the agency. Of the 56 actors who were with us during 1994, 53 were able to work in at least one movie or play. Sharon is perfectionist, so she cleverly cut ties with the three actors for whom she could not find work, which not only reduced the size of her talent pool to a more manageable size, but also made possible her goal of finding work for 100% of her clientele.
Music
Trent Sanchez heads a talented cast of three talent agents. Harold Spencer, who left the company for three years to live in Saudi Arabia, returned to the agency with an empty bank account and a sunburned face. The other member of the Music staff, Janice O’Brien, has been somewhat erratic. The three-member team is working with eight rock bands, three nightclub singers, a blues musician, and a singing ventriloquist. The staff is looking for a producer so that two of the groups, The Desert Sand and The Midnight Blues, can cut their first albums. Meanwhile,
Sanchez and his crew stay busy booking gigs for the rest of the singers.
Writing
Our writing division actually comprises two separate sections: screenplay writing and fiction writing. Juanita Cubillas-Patrick leads the talented cast of agents responsible for television and movie screenplays. Thirteen writers have had eight screenplays accepted this year. The future looks promising as two writers have signed television contracts that will last through to the year 2000.
Derek Coy has recently replaced Jared Palmtree, whose eye was perhaps too critical. After a lengthy discussion that involved a few threats, Derek finally agreed with the plan to reduce the number of poetry and short story writers while increasing the number of romance novelists and humorists. For more information on this change, see the section, Company Direction.
Dance
The flamboyant Charles de Chardonnay manages two talent agents in the Dance division. Perhaps it is de Chardonnay who has best captured Mohammed Al Shamsi’s vision of what a talent agency should mean to society, allowing only the most talented dancer to be represented. Indeed, dance companies have complained that de Chardonnay is a bit too severe in his scrutiny of talent. Yet whenever Charles picks up a new talent, dance companies compete for his attention. Sadly, Charles has threatened to leave the company to pursue a new career in river rafting. Contract negotiations are still ongoing.
Company Direction
“If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it!” “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!” “Don’t switch horses midstream!” These cries were heard among many executives at the annual June Redirection Meeting. In spite of some conservative pleas for not changing the structure of the company, several changes were made, including both additions and reductions.
Additions
Dubai Star Talent Agency introduces two new divisions for the new year: Comedy and Variety Show Talent. “Comedy clubs are popping up in every city, even in small towns,” said Winston Wiley. Peter Kim, who will manage the new Comedy Division, has already lined up several comedians.
Aldernon Scott heads up the new Variety Show Division, which includes ventriloquists, jugglers, and yo-yo artists. In fact, he was willing to forfeit his position on the executive counsel to assume the new role. While some considered that Aldernon had perhaps lost his wits, Mr. Scott argues that ventriloquism and juggling are coming back, as evidenced by the stunning success of his nephew, who can juggle seven knives at one time.
The Writing Division will also take on more romance novelists and humorists, and the executive counsel has asked Charles de Chardonnay to take advantage of the new dance trends by increasing the number of dancers in his group. He agreed!
Reductions
The only major reduction this year is the controversial elimination of Mimes. “We were throwing effort after foolishness.” Said executive counsel member Joshua Christiansen. “We lost a bunch of money trying to find gigs for mimes, and all we were able to manage was a couple of birthday parties. Mimes just aren’t happening anymore.” Research suggests that Christiansen is correct. Erin Simpson of America’s Guide to Talent reports that as late as 1977, more than 7,000 people earned a living as mimes. In 1994, only 178 people earned a living as mimes.
Conclusion
Some less significant reductions will take place. Trent Sanchez will decrease the number of jazz singers, and Derek Coy has been asked to reduce the number of fiction writers he is representing. Other than these changes, the talent agency will maintain status quo.
Bibliography
Carter, Alice. “The Real World: Are There Too Many Actors?” Acting, American Style.
Crabtree Publishing, Inc., Orlando, Florida, 1997.
Gomez, Javier Sanchez. “Silence Has No Voice: The Rise and Fall of the Canadian Mime.”
Outdoor Talent Today. Crandall Publishing House, New York, 1996.
Simpson, Erin. America’s Guide to Talent. Harblaugh, Grace, and Guttierez Publishing
Company: Boston and New York, 1997.
Wiley, Winston. “Talent Prospects: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” Make Money Happen. Crandall Publishing House, New York, 1993.