Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephany Burns.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and I was a commercial actress with the famous Iris Burton Talent agency until I was 8. I decided I wanted to be a Girl Scout and hang out with my friends like all the other kids my age, so I quit the business. But, I still loved to act. So, I kept performing, and when I got my BA in Theatre at Arizona State in 2001, I moved back to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an adult.
I continued studying with Sanford Meisner’s apprentice, Martin Barter, at the Meisner Center in Hollywood, and I studied Improv at Second City for a few years. I did small indie parts here and there, wrote and produced a short film, and starred in a few live shows including The Vagina Monologues, Godspell, and The Marriage of Bette and Boo. But, I never felt it was the right path for me. I truly was not enjoying the process. So, I went into event planning for five years.
Still, the entertainment industry kept pulling me back. I missed the energy of it all – just not as an actor. I started interning with commercial casting directors like Amy and Jane at SOBO Casting, James Levine at Action Casting, and Laurie Records Casting (who would become my mentor, and help me get to where I am today) to see if it was something I wanted to pursue as a career.
Once I was back in the world of commercials, I was approached to be a junior commercial agent at a boutique agency. I saw the opportunity to have a stable job, so I took it! I worked at a few small agencies until I found my home at Avalon Artists Group. I have been the head commercial, print, hosting and voice over agent for over six years and still enjoy every minute of it. I truly feel I have come full circle being the agent I never had but always wanted.
Has it been a smooth road?
Surprisingly, It was a smooth transition! Like it was meant to be. I tell people all the time that I fell into this career somehow, and am just enjoying the ride!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with AVALON ARTISTS GROUP – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Avalon Artists Group is a bi-coastal, full-service agency founded by Craig Holzberg. Avalon first opened in New York 15 years ago and branched out to LA in 2005.
With so many New York talent moving with Craig to LA, Avalon quickly became known as the agency with very strong Broadway actors, National tour stars, and all-around solid theatrical triple threats. I was hired in 2012 as the head of the Commercial, Hosting and Print division and specialize in booking on-camera talent. I have actors that have appeared in well-known Super Bowl commercials, to every National mainstream product you can possibly think of.
About two years ago, I created a voiceover department within my roster and it has been soaring ever since. We now represent the voice of Google, have booked voice over jobs for McDonald’s, Lexus, Century Link, Constant Contact, Papa Murphy’s, numerous video games including the most anticipated video game of 2018 Red Dead Redemption 2 with SIX Avalon actors voicing the game, and so many more!
What sets us aside from other agencies is the family we have created with our talent and the communication we have with everyone on our roster. We love our Avalon family!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love all the cool shows we have that no other cities get to experience. I’ve been to comedy shows where Chris Rock suddenly decided to do a set in a room of 50 people, to circus-like burlesque shows, music events where different bands get together and play covers you would never hear anywhere else, I pinch myself every time it happens and it happens quite a bit! LA really is a cool city to live in.
Nowhere else can you have dinner at a restaurant that serves food in a birdcage, can see a secret Foo Fighters show in someone’s backyard, and have a unicorn Jameson shake at an ice cream bar!
I LOATHE traffic.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5455 Wilshire Blvd Suite #900 Los Angeles, CA 90036
45 West 29th Street, Suite 403 New York, NY 10001
1755 The Exchange Suite #350 Atlanta, GA 30339 - Website: www.avalonartists.com
- Phone: 323-692-1700
- Email: stephany@avalonartists.com
- Instagram: @avalonartists
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=avalon%20artists%20grouppublicfanpage
- Twitter: @avalonartists
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/avalon-artist-group-los-angeles?osq=avalon+artists+group
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
