Whatever your talent, we can help you nurture it
Career Consultations for ANY industry
Humans respond to the same stimuli irrespective of the market
Whether you are a seasoned pro, or an absolute beginner in your field, Talent Scout Career Consultations offer unique insights into the realities of your marketplace. Balanced advice comes with essential marketing tools & powerful business strategies that will maximise your current credits to help take you to the next level.
Whatever the industry, 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 your industry.
Career Consultations
see how you are seen by industry pros
maximise your credits
move ahead with a steady plan
“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.”
Whatever your situation, we can help you improve it
Life Consultations for ANY situation
Human nature has been the same for thousands of years
Since his early twenties, Ryan has been studying and using Buddhist philosophy to improve his life and deal with countless issues and situations – from the very serious and life-threatening, to the quotidian and trivial. His spiritual wisdom has since been demonstrated to high critical acclaim in his plays and poetry. Now distributed worldwide by Virgin Music, anyone can get a taste of Ryan’s moral, spiritual and philosophical codes, by listening to the wisdom in many of his sonnets via the links below.
As described further below, Ryan has also been through law school and holds a masters degree in law, awarded with distinction. During his masters he received distinctions in areas of law such as Criminal law; Contract law; Equity & Trusts law; and EU law.
A serial entrepreneur, Ryan has used his legal training, along with over 30+ years in the entertainment industry, to create highly regarded, well established and recognisable trademarked brands in the industry such as his talent agency, the British Talent Agency®, and his artistic alter ego/theatre company, Rogue Shakespeare®.
Ryan is also fortunate to have interviewed countless high profile whistleblowers, former spies, politicians and political commentators over the years for his documentary films and new podcast.
Ryan has also lived/worked and thrived in over 15 different states around the world, learning French and Spanish as a result. Given all of this, Ryan feels he has a very firm understanding of the political/cultural/social systems of planet Earth, and likely outcomes in the real world.
Now in his fifties, Ryan delights in helping others to see their situations and the world from a different perspective – using spiritual ideals to guide in the hard and fast reality of the ‘real world’.
Using Smith’s dualistic approach – spiritual training and legal training – receivers of Smith’s wisdom can find morally correct and practical step-by-step ways to improve their immediate present, with a realistic plan to securing their long-term future.
Life Consultations
see the BIG PICTURE view of your life
identify your relative assets and burdens
move forward with a realistic plan
LISTEN TO SMITH’S SONNETS
Consult with a Unique Professional
Founded and developed over three 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 their industry, and in life in general.
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.
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 3,100 Shakespearean sonnets. His first 500 sonnets were published to high-acclaim in 2012 and more books and albums of his sonnets have been published in 2025.
Ryan J-W Smith winning an OFFIES Award in 2025 for his Pretty, Witty Nell® photo: Piers Allardyce
Award-winning Poet-playwright/Director/Actor/Producer
Excluding film festivals, Smith's industry accolades include: OFFIE Award-winner 2025; 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 (aka 'Rogue Shakespeare') is also a recording artist. His first two albums were originally released with Universal Music and have since been re-released with Virgin Music. In 2025, Smith released a further 3 albums and an EP!
Career/Life Guidance is Essential!
Career/life 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.
“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 money I’ve ever spent.”
“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”
“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!!”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.
Smith returned to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008 with his blistering 5-star rated 1-man show, New World Order, which was again loaded with praise from reviewers, and was nominated for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award. In 2025, Smith returned to Edinburgh with his OFFIE Award-winning, critically-acclaimed 1-woman show, Pretty, Witty Nell, starring Clarissa Adele.
Beyond Edinburgh, 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 (and was nominated again in 2019), as well as the Encore Producers’ Award in 2015 & 2016, 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.
Better Advice. Bespoke prices
If you would like to inquire about booking a career or life consultation (usually given via Zoom), kindly complete the contact form below and we will get back to you asap with a price and potential time slots.
Please give us as much detail as possible about your career/life history, current dilemmas and future goals.
Contact Us
Superlative Quality. Affordable Price.
Depending on your industry and financial situation we will tailor a special price for your Zoom consultation with our founder – a man who maintains several recognisable brands worldwide, and who has lived and worked in more than 15 different states around the world, including London, Paris, New York, L.A., Spain, Ireland, Denmark, Norway and Australia.
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.
Legal disclaimer – no reliance
The contents of your consultation session with Ryan J-W Smith (the ‘advisor’) will reflect his honest opinion only; nothing in it is intended to be, nor should be taken as legal or professional advice. Any advice is provided in good faith, however the advisor makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any such information. The advisor hereby directs the recipient to seek advice elsewhere to confirm or dismiss any advice given before taking any action in respected of such information. The recipient accepts that under no circumstance shall the advisor have any liability to the recipient or any third party for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of the advice given or reliance on any information provided within the advice. Your use of the advice offered, and your reliance on any information provided, is taken solely at your own risk.
“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
