Welcome back to Unmuted – The Talent Times’ 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 Dylan Brown, Senior Talent Manager at Bev James Management & Literacy Agency.
Let’s get into it!
One thing you can’t get through a day without?
A good playlist. I like to keep it a real mix to stay entertained… one minute it could be Akon, then Rules, then Jamiroquai. No two songs are ever the same.
Green flags when signing a talent?
Personality, first and foremost. Before you even look at the career side, the brand deals, TV, publishing, an audience needs to buy into the person. People buy into, and from, people. That’s non-negotiable.
The biggest ick when negotiating brand deals?
When an agency gives the green light to present a formal offer, your client accepts, and then suddenly they haven’t had final sign-off from the brand. Please say it before you send it!
A talent you think is going to blow up in the next 12 months?
Brand founders. The push behind personal brands of entrepreneurs is only going to grow. The relationship between Sophie Milham and Aimee Smale at Oddmuse is a genius, and I think we’ll see that model replicated across many other businesses over the next year.
What does your FYP look like?
Travel, EDM (major Tomorrowland FOMO right now), and restaurant recommendations.
Right now I’m obsessed with…
Creator-led brands. We’re seeing a real boom here, and when it’s done right, it’s so impactful. This is what happens when a brand is built by its audience rather than for it: you skip years of trying to manufacture trust and community from scratch, because it’s already there from day one. SULT is a great example: Milly already had that community built in, which is exactly why it works. The audience isn’t being sold to, they feel like they’re part of it, and that loyalty is worth more than any ad spend could buy.
The biggest misconception my family/friends have about my job is…
That it’s all glamorous events and celebrity lifestyles. We’re lucky to get some of those moments, but it’s a small part of the job. What people don’t see is the negotiation, the contract drafting and reviewing, the strategic planning behind every move, and the hours spent building a talent’s story before anyone else sees it.
Something everyone working in this industry needs to hear…
AI is a brilliant tool and we should all be embracing it, but it’s not always necessary. Not every email needs to be AI.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
Keep it short and sweet. The brands, journalists, commissioners you’re speaking with are getting hundreds of emails a day, so get to the point. No huge blocks of text: clear headers, state the problem, state the solution, keep it snappy.
If Dylan’s Unmuted proved anything, it’s that the best talent managers know personality is the real currency. Follower counts might open doors, but genuine community and authentic connection are what build lasting careers. Keep it real, keep it relatable, and let the talent do the talking.
You can find out more about Dylan and the team at Bev James Management & Literary Agency.
Do you want to nominate a talent manager to take part in Unmuted?
Get in touch with us at hello@ttt-news.com.
