Welcome to Unmuted – The Talent Times’ new series shining a light on the talent managers behind some of the biggest names in the creator space.
Each week we sit down with the people working behind the scenes to get their honest takes on everything from deal-making and signings to the everyday realities of a job most people still don’t quite understand.
This week we spoke with Harrie Dearing, Senior Talent Manager at Sharper Group.
Let’s get into it!
Q. What's one thing you can't get through a day without?
A coffee and listening to true crime podcasts on the way to the office.
Q. Green flags when signing a talent?
A willingness to take feedback and having original ideas. I’ve spoken to hundreds of creators over the years, and you can almost instantly tell whether they’re going to be easy to work with by how they react to feedback and what their goals/ideas are. Extra points for organised profiles (email in bios, up-to-date highlights, etc.) and replying to emails within an hour or two!
Q. The biggest ick when negotiating brand deals?
Anything over NET30, and noticing a sneaky “in perpetuity” clause when reviewing a contract.
Q: A talent you think is going to blow up in the next 12 months?
Honestly, the continuing rise of comedy creators. In the past, super polished and overly edited content was the goal, but we’re seeing a shift in what audiences actually want, and that’s often relatable content and creators who don’t take themselves too seriously. Authenticity is leading the way (as it should).
Q: What type of content do you like to consume on social media / what does your FYP look like?
Currently, it’s cute baby elephants, Instant Pot recipes (my new purchase), and true crime clips.
Q: Right now I'm obsessed with…
Planning my trip to DisneyLand next month and rewatching old Below Deck episodes
Q: The biggest misconception my family/friends have about my job is:
That all I do is go to fancy events and somehow convince brands to spend millions of pounds a day, but really it’s a lot of emailing back and forth and admin. But I love it this way!
Q: Something everyone working in this industry needs to hear…
Make sure the people you work with align with your values and that you genuinely get on with them. You can’t force relationships with creators, your manager or your coworkers so make sure they are the right fit for you. If you try to force it, it will ultimately work against you in the long run.
Q: The best piece of advice I've ever been given is…
Don’t make anything harder than it needs to be, pick your battles carefully, and make sure you stand by what you believe in.
The creator industry moves fast, but one thing hasn’t changed: good relationships still matter more than anything else. Harrie’s take is a reminder that the best careers – for both talent and managers – are built on alignment, trust and authenticity.
Know a talent manager we should feature in Unmuted? Get in touch with The Talent Times at hello@ttt-news.com.
