Gadget Mania

Association of Talent Agents
The Association of Talent Agents (ATA) is a non-profit trade association representing the talent agencies in the industry. ATA was founded in 1937. ATA agencies represent the vast majority of working artists, including actors, directors, writers, and other artists in film, stage, television, radio, commercial, literary work, and other entertainment enterprises.

History
Established over 65 years ago, ATA is a Los Angeles based nonprofit trade association of over 100 talent agencies mostly based in the New York and Los Angeles areas. Almost all of the agencies that deal with film, theater, television, and other forms of entertainment are part of the Association of Talent Agents. According to the company's website, virtually 1000 talent agents are represented by ATA.

Originally established in 1937 under the name, Artists Managers Guild, the ATA comes out of the the Wagner Act upheld by the Supreme Court which established many of the unions and guilds that regulate people who work in the entertainment industry such as the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America, and Writers Guild of America.

Talent Manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry. The responsibility of the talent manager is to oversee the day-to-day business affairs of an artist; advise and counsel talent concerning professional matters, long-term plans and personal decisions which may affect their career.[1]

The roles and responsibilities of a talent manager vary slightly from industry to industry, as do the commissions to which the manager is entitled. For example, a music manager’s duties differ from those managers who advise actors, writers, or directors. A manager can also help artists find an agent, or help them decide when to leave their current agent and identify who to select as a new agent.[2] Talent agents have the authority to make deals for their clients while managers usually can only informally establish connections with producers and studios, but do not have the ability to negotiate contracts.