Today we would like to introduce you to Michael Grepp of The Talent Spot.
Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The Talent Spot was founded by Annabell Escutia and I in 2020 as a means of helping new and working actors navigate the changes in our industry. From continuing training in a new virtual format to connecting with agents and managers who weren’t meeting in person. There was a major shift, and we were here for it. Once the industry went to self-tape auditions, we found virtual work was a perfect environment to continue to work with actors on a very important but often neglected part of their work, auditioning. And we have stayed with that format due to how successful it has been for helping talent work on their audition and camera technique. It also lets us prepare them for how things operate in Los Angeles without being here.
How did I get started as an actor? I literally stumbled upon an acting school in 2010 while recording a rock album in Cleveland Hts, Ohio. The recording studio I was working out of happened to be above an acting school. My curiosity eventually got the best of me, and I began taking classes with the owner, Jessica Houde. She had been an actor in Los Angeles and worked with some actors you might have heard of, James Franco and Scott Caan, to name a few. My experiences in the Cleveland acting community helped me book my first theater, TV and film roles. And working with Jessica inspired me to take things further. But back in 2010, you needed to be in Los Angeles to have a real career. I already was building a music career in Cleveland, so I figured why not move to LA to pursue both acting and music.
For Annabell, around that same time she began following her dreams of working in high fashion. And the relationships that she fostered pursuing that industry led to her working as a stylist, running photo shoots, and working with emerging designer brands in the fashion district. The name she built for herself with celebrity clientele led her to fostering invaluable relationships in the entertainment industry. She has a knack for supporting people and still works with some local brands here in LA. It’s truly one of her passions. Annabell brings a lot of heart to her work along with a tremendous attention to detail. People sometimes forget just how much this is a detail-oriented industry, but really caring and being passionate about it helps a lot too. People notice.
When we first met in 2018, I had a manager I was pretty unhappy with and joked that Annbell should manage me. I had been in the industry for almost ten years and thought I knew it all, but she helped me refine myself and smooth out the edges. And in 2020, Annabell and I decided to combine our forces professionally to start helping other actors. The Talent Spot formed from a desire to take my years of experience working in TV, film, and music and Annabell’s years of working behind the scenes, developing and connecting people. I bring the point of view as an actor, a writer, and a producer. While Annabell brings the point of view of a casting director, an agent, a manager. She can see things how gatekeepers do, while I’m able to put myself in the shoes of someone who’s trying to connect with those types. We share our journey and experiences with our performers to demystify this industry and make it fun and accessible to everyone. That’s how it should be, fun and approachable.
Our team extends beyond just the two of us though. It’s a large network of relationships that we’ve fostered over the years. And we couldn’t do this without them. You could say the combination of our different backgrounds are what make The Talent Spot possible. It allows us to help new and aspiring actors to get where they need to be. Not feel overwhelmed, but empowered.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The unpredictable nature of this industry, coupled with the human element, is probably what makes what we do so challenging. It’s also what makes it so rewarding. One of the biggest struggles for us is conveying to people that this is a marathon, not a sprint. We work with some really special agents and managers who have made careers and discovered stars on Euphoria, Stranger Things, Wednesday, Nickelodeon and Disney shows, Marvel films and more. We understand signing with an agent, or a manager, is exciting. However, you still need to put the work in. You tend to only hear the stories that make people sound like overnight successes. You rarely hear about the work those actors put in to book their first role or their first agent.
It’s important to understand that having an agent or major booking doesn’t mean you have “made it”. It just means another door has opened and it’s your job to walk through it, then find the next door. And sometimes, it isn’t a door; it’s a wall. You have to be prepared to knock it down or even be knocked down in the process. I know how hard it was for me to begin my journey, and we want to make things easier for the talent we work with and encourage them to keep going. This is the kind of industry where almost anything is possible. We are here to open doors, but our performers still have to walk through them.
We’ve been impressed with The Talent Spot, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We like to think of The Talent Spot as a virtual acting school that covers so much more than just acting. It’s important to have talent, but if you don’t know how to navigate this industry or present yourself professionally, you may not go as far as you could. That’s why we don’t just teach our talent how to act, we show them where to find auditions, the tools you need to pursue and book those auditions, and more. There is a lot of rejection in this industry and it’s easy to be discouraged. We want our performers to see the big picture. Our final goal is to give all of our performers the chance to show everything they have learned and worked on for the agents and managers in our network. Whether it’s someone who has never auditioned and wants to learn how to get started or a seasoned actor who needs a tuneup, we are here for them. No matter the actor’s skill level or background, there is something for them here. For new and current talent, we want to be as encouraging and as welcoming as possible. We recently saw one of our performers from 2021 in a national commercial, we were so happy for her! This is the kind of industry that is full of surprises. And we love seeing current and past performers be successful.
For actors that want to learn more about this industry and what we do, we hold regular virtual auditions. They are offered as a means to teach new actors about this industry and help us find new talent. Part of our development process is training and learning how to be truthful in their material. But the other side and this is maybe the most challenging, is the business side. This is where we help them develop and polish their headshots, resume, acting reel, websites, and more. And when they are ready, we give them an opportunity to perform live over Zoom for different agents and managers. It lets our industry partners see what those performers would be like on a self-tape audition and their potential.
We have had performers from all across the country receive callbacks and even sign with various agencies. Even international talent! Our performers have booked roles on commercials, tv shows, both in local and national markets. We receive emails asking if you need to move here, and it’s not necessary anymore. Technology has made it an exciting time to be an actor. In early 2020 I flew across the country to audition for a lead role in a Hulu series. It was exhausting, but those days were over. I’m currently working on an animated TV pilot and our table reads have been virtual, I haven’t even met my cast mates in person! Now, this does make auditions more competitive. Self-tape auditions lower the barrier to entry because it means more actors are submitting for roles. This means casting directors are looking for the smallest reason to pass on you. It’s why we stress how attention to detail is so important in every step of the audition process. It’s why we have talent audition for us before we work with them. It helps us learn so much about how we can help them and where they need to be. We can tell pretty quickly if you are ready. We are very selective and hands-on. Our sessions aren’t lectures, we are giving our talent the personalized feedback and guidance they need.
What sets us apart though, is my personal experience of being a working actor here in Los Angeles, combined with our relationships with the industry partners we work with. In some cases, we have known them for over a decade. These are people where we know what they are looking for in the talent they sign. And that has resulted in them repeatedly signing various performers of ours and continuing to work with us; reputation is important. What I think Annabell and I are the most proud of though, are the relationships we have fostered with our talent and their families. They trust us to steer them in the right direction, and we trust them to put their best foot forward. We have a high level of expectation for the talent we develop, and we think they appreciate that. We push them to be the best they can be while still staying true to themselves and having fun along the way. When you are auditioning or rehearsing, it’s easy to feel like you are all alone, with no real feedback or direction. And when taking acting classes, sometimes we feel like, where is this taking me? That’s why we give our talent the opportunity to have all of their hard work seen by various agents and managers. It’s important to have a tangible goal to work towards, and we give that to our performers.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Absolutely, as cheesy as this sounds, just be yourself. Too often, we go into situations saying what we think people want to hear instead of listening to ourselves and saying what we truly think and feel. Annabell and I have fostered relationships with our industry partners and the talent we work with by just being true to ourselves and doing what’s best for them. We get a lot of emails and DM’s on social media from people just telling us how badly they want to be an actor or how this is their dream. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming of being an actor, but you need to show how much you want something by your dedication to it. The way to stand out is to approach work from your unique point of view. Think about how you connect and express yourself to others. Be bold and truthful in your choices as an actor. That’s what makes people stand out, but it’s also true in regular life. People are so afraid to share their truths when in reality, that’s always the most interesting thing about ourselves and what brings us together. Being vulnerable and putting yourself and your ideas out there is a recipe for success in any industry, but especially this one.
Pricing:
- Our training and development programs range from $255-$365 a month.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheTalentSpot.org/auditions
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetalentspotla/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-talent-spot-los-angeles
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTalentSpotla
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetalentspot
Image Credits
Main image, Michael Grepp of The Talent Spot 2nd image Morgan Demeter 3rd image The Talent Spot 4th image Parker Wallace 5th image The Talent Spot 6th image Sergio Sanchez of Beskar Studios
