Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Mangum
Hi Melissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my career in public relations, focused on the high technology sector. It was an exciting time – during the dot-com boom – and I worked with innovative companies and had the opportunity to do a lot of international travel. As my journey progressed, I transitioned into various in-house marketing roles, ultimately honing my focus on production. When my son was born, I recognized the need to adapt my career for greater schedule flexibility. I enjoyed the entertainment industry – working with agents, actors and casting directors – but needed to basically get off set. This led me to establish Minc Talent in 2010, stepping into the role of an agent. Being an agent has allowed me to capitalize on many skills I’ve developed along my career path, including that as an attorney. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to develop a core team that allows me to find a wonderful balance between work, watching my son’s soccer games, cooking and playing pickleball.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every business faces its share of challenges, but we’ve consistently moved forward, thanks to our commitment to flexibility, adaptability, and a focus on both personal and professional growth. From the outset, we envisioned who we wanted to be and how we wanted to operate. While we’ve made necessary adjustments along the way, we’ve remained steadfast in our core business model – collaborating with a select group of talented actors who not only align with our vision but also share our relentless work ethic.
When we launched in 2010, we quickly realized the potential to expand our roster to thousands of actors within a very short period of time. However, we deliberately chose to avoid that path, ensuring that each actor we represent holds a meaningful position on our roster. This approach allows us to foster genuine connections and provide personalized support.
That being said, our team has faced the challenge of balancing our investment of time and energy with actors who may not reciprocate in kind, resulting in less than desirable outcomes. We’ve learned the importance of focusing on what we can control – our responses to various situations – and maintaining a clear distinction between emotional involvement and business decisions.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Minc Talent?
Minc Talent is a SAG-franchised agency that provides commercial, print and theatrical representation.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love LA’s culinary and arts scene. I loved the same thing about living in New York City – but you get the beauty of California and the proximity to all of the outdoor things I enjoy doing year round. I also appreciate the cultural diversity of LA – it’s apparent in the neighborhoods, the food and art.
Transportation was easy in NYC and everyone knows that’s not the case in LA with the urban sprawl. I despise driving and rarely do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.minctalent.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/minctalent
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/minctalent
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/minc-talent-west-hollywood
