Whatever your talent, we can help you nurture it
“I was recently introduced to Ryan at The Talent Scout®, I only wish I had been in touch with him sooner as I can’t wait to continue our next conversation and work together. Ryan offered me some fantastic career advice and presented me with some eye opening and exciting options about how to take my career to the next level. It’s clear Ryan has worked incredibly hard to have built up his reputation and place in the industry, his wealth of experience speaks volumes as he has helped so many other actors already. The proof is in the pudding and he is definitely someone I want in my corner.”
Career Consultations
Whether you are a seasoned pro, or an absolute beginner, our Career Consultations offer unique insights into the realities of the industry marketplace, balanced by essential marketing tools & powerful business strategies that will maximise your current credits.
Whatever the situation, we’ve never met a client yet that didn’t require our artistic, legal, business and marketing expertise to refine his or her online presence and marketing tools. We feel sure you will come away from your consultation feeling empowered and focused; with a clear set of steps to take so you can appear more attractive to the industry.
Career Consultations
see how you are seen by industry pros
maximise your credits
move ahead with a steady plan
Consult with a Unique Professional
Founded and developed over more than two decades by the entrepreneur, talent agent, legal scholar and multiple award-winning artist, Ryan J-W Smith, MA Law (Dist), The Talent Scout® has helped countless talented professionals to find their way in the entertainment industry.
Ryan J-W Smith, MA Law (Dist)
Agent
Ryan J-W Smith, MA Law (Dist), is best know to some as the Founder and Senior Talent Agent at the British Talent Agency®, based in London. BTA® is a well-renown talent agency that represents top talent all over the world, and Smith's skills as an agent have been widely recognised by his clients and the industry in general.
Master of Laws
Smith graduated from law school with a Master’s in Law, awarded with distinction. During the course of his master’s, Smith received many distinctions in examinations. Most notably, in respect of negotiating and advising on employment contracts, he received distinctions in Contract Law; Equity & Trust Law, and EU Law.
Not content with having one master’s degree in law, Ryan is now studying for his second master’s degree in law – an LLM in Medical Law and Ethics. Ryan has been admitted as a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn – a professional association for lawyers. Lincoln’s Inn is the largest inn of the famous Four Inns of Court in London.
Festival-winning Filmmaker
Smith is also a festival-winning filmmaker. His films have been shown, selected for, nominated or won their categories at over 25 international film festivals, including Cannes. He has conducted over 60 documentary interviews with leading international figures including Noam Chomsky, Ed Asner and the last known unreleased interviews with both Gore Vidal and Tony Benn.
Rogue Shakespeare®
In 2001, Ryan founded his internationally acclaimed theatre company, Rogue Shakespeare®, which has performed the world premieres of all six of Smith’s award-winning verse plays, across three continents. Further to this, Smith has written over 2,000 Shakespearean sonnets. His first 500 sonnets were published to high-acclaim in 2012.
Smith won the Hollywood Fringe International Award two years running in 2015 & 2016
Award-winning Poet-playwright/Director/Actor/Producer
Excluding film festivals, Smith's industry accolades include: two-time Hollywood Fringe International Award Winner; two-time Encore Producers' Award Winner; Hollywood Fringe Comedy Award Nomination; Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award Nomination; Gandhi Foundation Award Recipient; two-time Arts Council England Award Recipient, and countless 4 and 5-star reviews.
Composer
Ryan is also a recording artist. His first two albums were originally released with Universal Music.
Career Guidance is Essential!
Career guidance is essential for everyone – and saves vast amounts of time and money by pursuing the right path sooner.
Below are just a few testimonials from happy clients.
“No half promises here, no teasers, no hard-sell, no bullshit. A polite and affable approach to delivering detailed and clear tailored advice, left me feeling understood and resolved. Refreshingly honest and well founded suggestions have me excited and secure in the knowledge that with Ryan on my side, with his extensive experience in many branches of this industry, I’m on to a winning result. ”
“The session was very good – I now feel strong and specific in what I need to do to make myself look better in the acting industry”
“Dear Ryan, thank you, for what was a very enlightening Career Consultation… your sound advice and knowledge of today’s market place is outstanding. Having spent the last 50 years growing and selling some of the world’s biggest brands, I now realise, by your suggestion, that I have neglected my own! Your astute observations, with reference to my ‘online presence’ are spot-on. Thank you again for your excellent guidance. The fee for your consultation is the best £66 I’ve ever spent.”
“My consultation was so refreshing, particularly gaining insight to Ryan’s worldly views and experience, all of which where shared with me through the lens of a successful British actor. He is a Legend!!”
“Ryan helped me to see the missing holes, and where I was not highlighting my skill set to my advantage. His advice was precise and to the point, I think it has helped to save a lot of time and probably a lot of money in the long run, in knowing exactly what I need to do to gain the representation and type of work I am seeking. The great thing is that it’s all completely achievable – it’s often at times only ourselves that are in the way. Ryan has a very funny and charming nature about him, making him easy to talk to and guide you through the process.”
“Dear Ryan, Thank you so very much. I feel empowered and inspired. Your advice makes perfect sense when you spell it out so succinctly and above all it’s perfectly do-able and achievable, you simply have to know what it is you should be doing! Thank you, again.”
“Very helpful, great advice and knowledge of working and living in London, New York and Los Angeles. Everything you need to help further your career in this highly competitive international industry”
“Thank you. A few great ideas to work on. And some obvious things I should have known myself!”
“Thanks again – I found it invaluable and you certainly seem to know your stuff.”
“Ryan’s consultation unravelled some important factors in acting particularly to show versatility. With his help I have identified hidden acting talents that I have yet to show.”
“Really enjoyed the session, full of practical solid advice. Gave me a good awareness of what I need to be doing and of what the evolving industry is looking for to be employable. And it was good to hear from a guy who’s been, and still is, involved in some really interesting original projects.”
“Hi Ryan, Thank you again for your candid advice, it’s exactly what I’ve needed and now feel I can progress towards really furthering my career. Again massive thank you.”
“Thank you very much, your advice was invaluable. It was like a wake up call on how I should be presenting myself to the industry. Some great ideas to work on! Thanks!”
“Ryan helped me to sort out my short term goals and to find a few different ways of achieving them, which has really made it easier to just start focussing and progressing. The headshot and showreel advice was also great and once I’ve moved onto the next stage of my career, if I am in need of any other advice, I will definitely book another consultation! Thanks again.”
Producing at a Fringe Festival this year?
Another benefit to your consultation with our founder, Ryan J-W Smith, is that he’s an awarding-winning producer that has had huge success at the world’s largest theatre festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Ryan took his third verse play, Love Labours Won there in 2006 and 2007 where it was lauded with countless 4 and 5-star reviews and was ‘Pick of the Fringe’ both years running.
The large size of Smith’s audiences (see video below) was unprecedented for a high-culture fringe theatre show with no stars in it, and Smith was named ‘Promoter of the Year’ by both the Observer and the Herald Scotland national newspapers.
Not only that but Smith has won many awards at other fringe festivals, such as the Hollywood Fringe in Los Angeles. There he was awarded the Hollywood Fringe International Award two years running in 2015 & 2016, as well as the Encore Producers’ Award both years and was nominated for the Hollywood Fringe Comedy Award in 2016.
“Thanks so much! I am SO pleased I decided to have a consultation with Ryan. It was so refreshing to have an open and direct conversation with someone so knowledgeable about the business in three wildly different cities, who could give me an honest and unbiased opinion about what makes sense for me professionally. Ryan is candid and direct, and also incredibly encouraging.
The unexpected and added benefit of the consultation was Ryan’s knowledge about producing for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I’m producing my first show there this year (Bebe+Luna Present…The Cabaret Farce!), and Ryan was able to give me loads of great ideas about how to approach producing and promotion and marketing of the show. That combined with his enthusiasm for the concept of the show itself made me surer than ever that this is what I need to be focusing on at the moment, and that injection of confidence is absolutely priceless.
So, it’s fair to say Smith knows a thing or two about promoting a show, but don’t take our word for it – check out Amy Burke’s testimonial, above.
We accept your currency
We accept payments via paypal, so you can pay with your local currency. Once we have received payment we will contact you within 48 hours to schedule your consultation on Skype.
Career Consultation
We accept all currencies via Paypal which will be converted to £GBP
Just £66 (inc. VAT where applicable) for a 45 minute phone consultation.
Superlative Quality. Affordable Price.
Some industry pros charge a small fortune for their advice. Right now we charge a mere £66 for a 45 minute consultation with our founder – a man who has lived and worked in London, Paris, New York, L.A. and Australia on both sides of the casting table for over 20 years. We look forward to hearing from you.
“Thank you again, Ryan, for all your priceless practical advice, business tips and inspiration. It is especially great to hear it from someone who knows the industry from the inside out. All your advice is specific and personal. I very much appreciate your time, intelligence , detailed answers – and opening my mind in all aspects. Thank you Ryan!!!”
“Had a great consultation with Ryan! He gave me truly sound advice on my headshots, showreel and online presence, pointing out areas that could use change, showing me how to cultivate myself as a brand/business and giving me something to work on straightaway. He also laid out the facts from the fiction of moving to LA, which is really important to me. The whole interaction was down-to-earth, honest and empowering. I am looking forward to his input and further guidance as I take full reign of my career.”
Your right to cancel
Prior to a consultation, we are very happy to provide our customers a ‘cooling off’ period of 7 days within which they may cancel their consultation payment without penalty. After 7 days, unused consultations are not refundable – but they are, of course, still honored! You will get your consultation. We obviously cannot give refunds on consultations given.
“Thank you again for your kind words, you instilled a new sense of determination in me which was greatly needed.”
The Talent Scout is privileged to have been selected for, and participated in, a Consultancy Project with University College London
