Q: I met a successful actor recently who gave me his personal manager's card. Is a manager the same as an agent, and if not what does a manager do?

A: Personal managers are specialized type of entertainment professional, and many young or aspiring actors are confused by their function. Unlike an agent, a personal manager cannot legally book work for an actor, sign or write contracts, or negotiate deals. Only legally certified agents and lawyers can perform these functions. Personal managers are also not regulated by state laws or by unions, unlike agents and other entertainment professionals.

So what does a manager actually do? Think of managers as personal trainers for your acting career. Their main purpose, as stated in their voluntary code of ethics, is to provide "advice and counsel" to their clients. This can include planning long-term career goals, finding scripts for the actor to read, giving recommendations on roles to take or reject, and how to build the actor as an entertainment property. The personal manager acts as the middle-man between the actor and agents, publicists, producers, directors, and the like. They also screen incoming information in order to best benefit the actor's career. They function as a sales representative and go out to "sell" their client; they network so the actor doesn't have to.

All levels of actors employ personal managers, though many actors also don't see the benefit. For an aspiring actor, a manager can:

• Help launch his career by introducing him to the right people
• Give him important recommendations
• Put him in touch with agents
• Help him find the right acting coach
• Select appropriate audition monologues
• Find the right kinds of projects to establish a brand

One major benefit to having a manager earlier on in your career is that he will do most of your critical early networking for you, which can be difficult and intimidating for an outsider.

For a successful working actor, the manager's job focuses more on maintenance. A rising star needs a manager to:

• Keep him out of trouble and avoid tabloid scandals
• Avoid making a career-halting bomb
• Minimize negative press
• Manage an increasingly hectic schedule
• Stay wired in to the network of producers, agents, directors, publicists, and whoever else needs to keep tabs on the actor.

Just imagine the trials and tribulations of "E," Vincent Chase's put-upon personal manager on Entourage, and you'll get a good idea of the varied responsibilities a professional manager has.

Because self-described personal managers are unregulated, there is no shortage of stories out there of actors being burned by con artists and incompetents. Before you commit to anything with a personal manager, make sure you check out that he is legitimate. Also see if his other clients are doing well. Unlike an agent, who has dozens of clients and can devote very little time to each one, a manager rarely has more than ten. It should be easy to get a clear sense of how successful they are at their job. Another downside to having a personal manager is that they generally take 15% out of your earnings in addition to the 10% that goes to the agent. Together that's a quarter of your money without counting all the other costs that go into promoting your career. Also, be wary of any contract you sign with a manager. There needs to be a clear exit clause that allows you to terminate the working relationship should it become necessary. Many less-reputable managers have contracts that virtually trap clients for indeterminate amounts of time.

Now that you know the pros and cons of hiring a personal manager you are one step ahead of the game in getting started in the entertainment industry. Some actors swear by their managers and others wouldn't hire one under any circumstance. You'll have to find which approach is the best for you as you learn about the business and gain experience.

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